Cape York and Arnhem Land - 11 Nights Darwin to Cairns

The new Darwin cruise ship terminal at Fort Hill Wharf is adjacent to the convention centre, only one kilometre from Darwin’s CBD. Modern amenities, hotels and parking are there, plus a mini-market with beautiful local productions – Aboriginal art and crafts, diamonds and opals, and eateries, distinctive of the Top End. Darwin is a home port for the small luxury vessels Coral Princess and Coral Discoverer that explore the Kimberley coast to Broome. Read more about Darwin, Australia

Bathurst Island lies 75 km to the north of Darwin in the Arafura Sea, and together with the larger Melville Island makes up the Twi Islands, part of Australia’s Northern Territory. The largest settlement on Bathurst is Wurrumiyanga with a population of around 1450. Most residents are the indigenous Twi people, with Twi as their first language. Read more about Bathurst Island, Australia

The Cobourg Peninsula is located 190 km (direct line) NE of Darwin in the Northern Territory, Australia. It is a major Arnhem Land tourist attraction as the entire wilderness of this remote peninsula forms the Garig Gunak Barlu National Park, which also includes the surrounding small islands and sea. It is known for its pristine wilderness, and the turquoise water in which visitors are likely to see dolphins and turtles. Read more about Cobourg Peninsula, Australia

Elcho Island, located in the Arafura Sea off the coast of NE Arnhem Land in Australia’s Northern Territory, is a traditional Aboriginal community with restricted access and total alcohol restrictions. With its typical tropical weather, the best time to visit is from April to October, but magnificent sunsets are a feature all year round. The island is blessed with rugged yet beautiful tropical landscapes of stunning beaches, aqua seas, as well as mangroves that are home to numerous mud crabs and barramundi. Read more about Elcho Island, Australia

Yirrkala is a well-known indigenous community in Arnhem Land. The town is situated at the NE tip of the Northern Territory of Australia, 650 km due east of Darwin, where the Gulf of Carpentaria meets the Arafura Sea. Its 800 inhabitants are settled in the largest parcel of land in Australia owned by Aboriginals, and known for its isolation, bark painting art (found in galleries around the world), and Yolngu culture. Read more about Yirrkala, Australia

The Gulf of Carpentaria - aka the Gulf - is a large, shallow sea enclosed on three sides by northern Australia and separated from New Guinea to the north by the Arafura Sea. The land bordering the Gulf is generally flat and low-lying. To the west is Arnhem Land and the Top End of the Northern Territory. Read more about Gulf of Carpentaria, Australia

Read more about Badu Island, Australia

Thursday Island, or 'T.I.' as it's usually known, is the name of the island and the town that is the administrative and commercial centre of the Torres Strait Islands. The island group is off the far north Queensland mainland in Torres Strait, just 39 km north of Cape York Peninsula. The lucrative pearling industry founded in 1885 attracted workers from around Asia, particularly South Pacific Islanders, and this has resulted in a fascinating cultural mosaic. Read more about Thursday Island, Australia

Forbes Island- named by Captain Cook in 1770 – is one of three small uninhabited islands spread over an area of just 2km by 2km. Forbes Islands constitute the Wuthara Island National Park, inside the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area. The island group, surrounded by a fringing reef, is situated off the coast of Queensland about 40km NE of Iron Range National Park and Lockhart River in the Cape Weymouth area of the Coral Sea. Read more about Forbes Island, Australia

Our next stop is Flinders Island here we go ashore to see aboriginal paintings and by now everyone will also want to spend as much time in the water as possible! The delights of the Great Barrier Reef are just a fin kick off the beach and in swimming pool like conditions you will be astounded by the colour of corals and fish alike. Read more about Flinders Island, Australia

Lizard Island, named after the numerous large but harmless lizards living there, is a national park in Queensland, Australia. It is situated 90 km north of Cooktown at the northern tip of Australia’s World Heritage-listed Great Barrier Reef. It is also the location of an award-winning and internationally famous resort. Read more about Lizard Island, Australia

Cairns is a Far North Queensland city located on the northeast coast of Australia. This laid-back city is just over a 2 hour flight from Brisbane, Queensland’s state capital. With a backdrop of rainforest mountains, Cairns is known to be the gateway of 2 iconic Australian sites, The Great Barrier Reef and the Wet Tropics Rainforest. Read more about Cairns, Australia