11-DAY KIMBERLEY EXPEDITION: WATERFALLS & WANDJINAS

Broome, situated on a peninsula in the Kimberley region of Western Australia, is known as the ‘pearl of the north’ due to its being the home of the South Sea pearls, among the largest commercially harvested cultured pearls in the world. In the 1800s Broome attracted pearl divers from Japan, Malaysia and the Philippines, resulting in the delightful multicultural town it is today. Visitors can witness first-hand how Broome pearls are cultured on a cruise to a local pearl farm, and hear the romantic stories of the original pearl luggers. Read more about Broome, Australia

Talbot Bay encloses the 800, rugged and sparsely vegetated islands of the Buccaneer Archipelago in the Kimberley region of Western Australia. The major attraction, drawing thousands of visitors each year, is the Horizontal 'two way' Waterfall' that results from massive tidal movements that cause a waterfall effect as water banks up against one side of a narrow coastal gorge, then hurtles through, sideways, up to 5 metres high, to be repeated again on the turning tide! Naturalist David described the Horizontal Falls as "One of the greatest wonders of the natural world". Read more about Talbot Bay, Australia

The Montgomery Reef is Australia's largest inshore reef system covering more than 300km2, near the mouth of the Sale River off the Kimberley coast of West Australia. At high tide you see very little of the Reef but as the tide drops rapidly away a raging torrent of water, cascading off the top of this 400ha reef erupts, as miles of surrounding reef appears to slowly rise out of the ocean. Read more about Montgomery Reef, Australia

Freshwater Cove, aka Wijingarra Bard Bard, lies in the heart of Worrorra country in the Kimberley region of Western Australia. Within an 85 km radius are the famous Horizontal Falls, Sale River, Montgomery Reef, and Kuri Bay for pearl farming. The waters offer great fishing, from open sea to creeks, including barramundi. Read more about Freshwater Cove, Australia

Hunter River has its headwaters in the Kimberley region of Western Australia and flows into the NE corner of the beautiful Prince Frederick Harbour and York Sound. The river was named in 1820 by the explorer Philip Parker King, after the surgeon, James Hunter, on the ship the Mermaid. Lined with green rainforest, mangroves and soaring red cliffs, the scenery is truly spectacular. Read more about Hunter River, Australia

Read more about Ashmore Reef, Australia

Vansittart Bay lies 530km WSW of Darwin, on the Kimberley coast of Western Australia, facing the Indian Ocean. A small stream, low rock platforms, and the sparse Truscott-Mungalalu Plateau face the bay. This is a protected large bay with numerous small islands and secluded coves that offer plenty of fishing. Read more about Vansittart Bay, Australia

King George River enters Koolama Bay and the Timor Sea from the Gardner Plateau in the Kimberley region of Western Australia. The 112km river was named after King George V in 1911 by the English explorer Chas Conigrave after a privately funded expedition in the area. Over many thousands of years the river has cut back into the plateau creating stunning sheer walls and majestic waterfalls at the end of several canyons. Read more about King George River, Australia

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