Darwin to Fremantle

Darwin is the cultural hub of the continent’s northernmost region. The laid-back city got its name after the HMS Beagle sailed into the harbor during a surveying expedition in 1839. The famed naturalist Charles Darwin was so esteemed that its captain named this newest discovery for him. Today, it is the largest city in the thinly populated Northern Territory state. It boasts a rich and lively arts and culture scene, much of it centered on the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory. Its collection of art and artifacts reflects the region and its indigenous people.

Days at sea are the perfect opportunity to relax, unwind, and catch up with what you've been meaning to do. So whether that is going to the gym, visiting the spa, whale-watching, catching up on your reading, or simply topping up your tan, these blue sea days are the perfect balance to busy days spent exploring shoreside.

Koolama Bay is a remote and historically significant coastal bay located in the Kimberley region of Western Australia. Surrounded by rugged cliffs, dense bushland, and pristine waters, it reflects the raw and untouched beauty typical of this isolated part of the country.

The bay is best known for its connection to the Bombing of MV Koolama. During World War II, the passenger ship MV Koolama was attacked by Japanese aircraft and later brought into the bay, where it was beached. Today, remnants of this event remain, adding a layer of historical intrigue to the natural landscape.

Koolama Bay is also close to scenic features such as King George River and nearby waterfalls, making it a point of interest for expedition cruises exploring the Kimberley coast.

Remote and largely untouched, Koolama Bay offers a combination of dramatic scenery, rich history, and a sense of isolation, making it a fascinating stop for travelers exploring northern Australia’s wild coastline.

The Bonaparte Archipelago is a rugged maze of islands that stretch almost 150km along Western Australia’s remote Kimberley coast. Remaining relatively unspoilt and remarkably pristine, Swift Bay is landscaped by heavily fractured sandstone providing an abundance of rock shelters. On the walls of these shelters are examples of both Wandjina and Gwion Gwion style rock art. Join your expedition team ashore for a guided walk to a number of rock art galleries depicting these unique rock art styles.

Ashmore Reef is a sanctuary for seabirds, shorebirds, marine turtles, dugongs, and many other marine species. Each year around 100,000 seabirds breed on Ashmore Reef including great knots, crested terns and white-tailed tropicbirds. The sanctuary zone provides the highest level of protection for wildlife.

The Hunter River is home to an immense mangrove system surrounded by soaring red sandstone cliffs. Narrow mangrove channels shelter numerous bird species, mudskippers, fiddler crabs, and the infamous saltwater crocodile; the most aggressive crocodile species known to man. Naturalist Island at the mouth of the river has a stunning stretch of sandy beach that makes a perfect landing site for small helicopters that can pick up visitors wishing to explore some of the Kimberley's vast interior. The highlight inland is the famous Mitchell Falls where four tiers of waterfalls plunge into deep pools that flow out into the mighty Mitchell River. The headwaters of the falls are cool and a dip in the fresh water is a welcome reprieve from the heat of the heartland.

Roughly 800 islands of the Buccaneer Archipelago surround and shelter the impressive spread of Yampi Sound (from the aboriginal word for water, “Yampee”). The area was named in 1821 by Captain Phillip Parker King, in commemoration of William Dampier’s visit in 1688. Pearlers began visiting the area in the late 1800s, and more recently mining operators established open-cut mines on Koolan Island on the east side of the Sound. Some of the richest iron ore in the world is extracted here to this day. The coastline of Yampi shows rock layers wildly twisted and contorted into great folds. White-bellied Sea Eagles, Brahminy Kites, Ospreys, Common Sandpipers and Eastern Reef Egrets inhabit the archipelago and the area is rich in fish life, which in turn is an attraction for bottlenose dolphins that come here to feed. Yampi Sound is also occassionaly a calving ground for humpback whales and mothers and calves can sometimes be spotted in the relatively shallow turquoise waters.

Broome, a coastal town in Western Australia, is famous for its stunning beaches, rich history, and vibrant culture. Located on the Indian Ocean, it boasts Cable Beach, known for its white sand, turquoise waters, and iconic camel rides at sunset. Once a pearling hub, Broome retains its multicultural heritage, reflected in its cuisine and architecture. The town is also the gateway to the Kimberley region, offering breathtaking landscapes and unique natural attractions like the Staircase to the Moon. With warm weather year-round and a laid-back atmosphere, Broome is a perfect destination for adventure, relaxation, and cultural experiences.

Days at sea are the perfect opportunity to relax, unwind, and catch up with what you've been meaning to do. So whether that is going to the gym, visiting the spa, whale-watching, catching up on your reading, or simply topping up your tan, these blue sea days are the perfect balance to busy days spent exploring shoreside.

Rust-colored rocks contrasting with pale Spinifex grass, white beaches, and aquamarine seas create a scenic kaleidoscope in the Dampier Archipelago. Forty-two islands lie around the similarly colored Burrup Peninsula. The archipelago is named after William Dampier, the English pirate turned explorer, who was the first European visitor in 1699. But the occupation of the area is ancient. The archipelago and peninsula are known as Murujuga by the Aboriginal people. Clearly recognizable are animals and people, while mythical beings and geometric patterns require more interpretation. The Dampier Marine Park protects the archipelago’s coral reefs, sponge gardens, and seagrass meadows. A five-meter tidal range adds rocky shores and sand flats to this list of habitats. A high biodiversity of corals and fish is matched by 1,200 mollusks. Four turtle species live in these waters including Flatback and Hawksbill Turtles. Snorkeling here reveals a rich sample of this treasure trove of life. Flora and fauna on the arid rocky islands require good adaptations. Reptiles and the shy Rothschild’s Rock Wallaby escape the midday sun in rocky overhangs. Much of the birdlife, like Ospreys and Sea-eagles, rely on the sea for food. Look for their huge stick nests on seaside rocks. Some nests are decades old, an easier time span to grasp.

A spectacular collision of color spills across the seabed around North Muiron Island - which has to be one of the best spots in the world for snorkeling and scuba diving. Immerse yourself in this underwater universe as tiny fish flit between the corals, and elegant rays sweep gracefully past. Sitting off the North West Cape, the two utterly unspoiled Muiron Islands are part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site listed Ningaloo Coast. Warm Indian Ocean waters collide with the cooler waters of the West Australian Current here, forming a remarkable biological hot spot that thrives with rich life and incredible diversity. These unique conditions form masses of plankton for gentle giants of the ocean to graze upon - even luring groups of the ocean’s biggest fish - colossal whale sharks. From March to July, the cows of the sea carefully vacuum the sea bed for their food. Other massive mammals, like dugongs, dolphins, and pilot whales, also drop in throughout the year. Snorkel to look into the riot of activity below the undulating waves. Spot turtles, parrotfish, and butterfly fish among the thousands of species at home in these balmy waters. A true Gem of Western Australia’s Coral Coast, the remarkable reefs of North Muiron Island serve up a brilliant banquet of color and curiosity.

Shark Bay is Australia’s largest bay, with a beach stretching over 1,000 kilometers. François Peron National Park lies within the Shark Bay World Heritage area and adjacent to the Shark Bay Marine Park. This is where the rust-red desert sand meets the dazzling white-sand beach and the azure waters of the sea. At the northerly tip of the national park is Cape Peron, sitting at the confluence of two major currents, the cape attracts an impressive array of marine life. Take a hike with the expedition team from Cape Peron to the Skipjack Point viewing platforms, perched on the cliff edge with views out across the marine park. Alternatively, join the expedition team for an interpretive nature walk through the impressive landscape of acacia-cloaked red dunes and arid shrublands surrounded by turquoise water with views over the coastline.

The Houtman Abrolhos Islands are a spectacular chain of 122 coral atolls off the coast of Western Australia, renowned for their incredible marine biodiversity and crystal-clear turquoise waters. As one of the world's most significant breeding grounds for seabirds, the islands also host a thriving population of Australian sea lions and provide a sanctuary for vibrant coral reefs teeming with tropical fish. Beyond their natural beauty, the archipelago is steeped in maritime history, serving as the site of the infamous Batavia shipwreck and offering visitors a remote, world-class destination for fishing, diving, and snorkeling.

The port city of Fremantle is a jewel in Western Australia's crown, largely because of its colonial architectural heritage and hippy vibe. Freo (as the locals call it) is a city of largely friendly, interesting, and sometimes eccentric residents supportive of busking, street art, and alfresco dining. Like all great port cities, Freo is cosmopolitan, with mariners from all parts of the world strolling the streets—including thousands of U.S. Navy personnel on rest and recreation throughout the year. It's also a good jumping-off point for a day trip to Rottnest Island, where lovely beaches, rocky coves, and unique wallaby-like inhabitants called quokkas set the scene.Modern Fremantle is a far cry from the barren, sandy plain that greeted the first wave of English settlers back in 1829 at the newly constituted Swan River Colony. Most were city dwellers, and after five months at sea in sailing ships they landed on salt-marsh flats that sorely tested their fortitude. Living in tents with packing cases for chairs, they found no edible crops, and the nearest freshwater was a distant 51 km (32 miles)—and a tortuous trip up the waters of the Swan. As a result they soon moved the settlement upriver to the vicinity of present-day Perth.Fremantle remained the principal port, and many attractive limestone buildings were built to service the port traders. Australia's 1987 defense of the America's Cup—held in waters off Fremantle—triggered a major restoration of the colonial streetscapes. In the leafy suburbs nearly every other house is a restored 19th-century gem.