Broome to Darwin Holiday Package incorporating
Derby to Wyndham Cruise
4th April to 17th April | 6th September to 19th September
Discover the incredible beauty of the Kimberley, as Discovery One makes her way from the township of Derby to the historic settlement of Wyndham. You will experience 14 days and 13 nights in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere as we take you on a never to be forgotten journey through this pristine and spectacular wilderness. Our cruise includes famous natural wonders such as the Horizontal Falls and Montgomery Reef, sites of historic and cultural interest and, of course, all the great rivers, waterfalls, freshwater pools, beaches and more, of the region.
All transfers are inclusive in the price and will be from Broome or Derby at the start of the cruise and from Wyndham to Kununurra, then to Darwin, at the conclusion of the cruise. Also included in the price are all excursions, meals and GST.
Day 1:
Travelling by bus from Broome you will arrive at the Derby jetty where you will be greeted onboard Discovery One with a welcoming drink by our friendly crew (passengers in Derby will be picked up on the way). Settle in and relax, taking in 360 degree views from the top deck, as we cruise to the top of King Sound and the start of the Buccaneer Archipelago; anchoring at Crawford Bay for the evening.
Day 2:
This morning we take you to see Silica Beach with its pure white sands. We then travel on to take a close look at Cockatoo Island and its Iron Ore mine. Relax over lunch on the deck while we cruise to Crocodile Creek, where we take a refreshing swim in the stunning fresh water rock pools. Enjoy some sundowners and unwind in your surroundings as we anchor at Talbot Bay for the evening.
Day 3:
Wake up in Talbot Bay, home of the famous Horizontal Falls. The region's massive tides create a spectacular scene, sending huge volumes of water pouring through a narrow chasm in the land formation. We take you on an exciting fast boat ride around the falls before exploring Cyclone Creek, marvelling at the incredible marine life, including the impressive Tawny Nurse sharks, that often come to greet Discovery One.
Day 4:
Today we discover the beauty of Langgi beach where you will view the striking rock formations that nature has carved over millions of years. Returning to Discovery One, we do some relaxing cruising to Raft Point, home to some ancient and well preserved aboriginal paintings. We walk to the caves, where you will take in the breathtaking views over Doubtful Bay and Steep Island and learn about the Wandjina people who once inhabited this timeless land. Watch the landscape change as we explore the 400 square km’s of Montgomery Reef! This huge reef becomes exposed as the tides fall, creating a visual spectacle of waterfalls and sea life. This is an exceptional site only few get to see.
Day 5:
This morning we explore the first of the great rivers; the Sale River, with its beautiful estuaries. You will slowly cruise up Red Cone creek to enjoy a refreshing swim in the upper pools at the stunning freshwater Ruby Falls.
Day 6:
Today we pass the remote settlement of Kuri Bay, home to Australia's largest pearling operation. We take you on a visit to the pristine sands of Hanover Beach. It is here, in 1838, where Lt. George Grey unloaded his Timor ponies and began the first land based expedition of North West Australia, reporting back positively by describing the area as ‘lush and fertile’. This glowing report encouraged a group of optimistic farmers to establish a new settlement here in 1864. The historic landmark ‘Camden Sound’ is our next destination. Here we visit the 19th century ruins of that settlement that lasted less than two years, and appreciate the harsh conditions they endured. We also call in to Sheep Island and visit the graves of these tough pioneers.
Day 7:
Enjoy the view as we cruise through St George Basin, where we are welcomed by Mt Trafalgar and Mt Wellington, named by Philip Parker King during his explorations. Next we head down the Prince Regent River. Get your cameras ready as we experience some spectacular scenery on our journey down this remote and pristine waterway. See how many crocodiles you can count as we travel up Camp Creek to witness the waterfalls and striking gorges. Our next stop is the majestic King Cascade Falls where American model, Ginger Meadows, was fatally attacked by a crocodile in 1987.
Day 8:
This morning we stop at Naturalist Island at the mouth of the Hunter River, where you can do an optional helicopter ride over the Mitchell Plateau and view the stunning Mitchell Falls.* Next we visit Bigge Island, one of the Kimberley's largest islands and home to some amazing rock art galleries. View these important and ancient paintings or relax and take a walk on a sandy beach. Next on our agenda is Careening Bay, site of an ancient boab tree first visited in 1820 by Phillip Parker King whilst surveying the Australian coastline. We take you on a walk to see the boab tree where King and his crew careened the vessel HMC 'Mermaid' for repairs and decided to carve the vessel's name into the tree.
Day 9:
Today we take you to the Bonaparte Archipelago, a fascinating set of islands offering wonderful scenery and diversity. We travel across Admiralty Gulf to the mouth of the Mitchell River. There’s a chance to go for a swim in the cool waters of Surveyors Creek or simply relax on the sun deck and enjoy the panorama.
Day 10:
Our destination today is Vansittart Bay, where we take you exploring various coves on the perimeter. A major point of interest is the ancient Bradshaw or Gwion Gwion paintings. Joseph Bradshaw was the first European to record these amazing paintings in 1891, some of which have been dated at over 17,000 years old, predating the famous Wandjina figures. We also visit a site where a DC3 aircraft crashed on the beach during WWII after running low on fuel. You can explore the almost intact remains of this aircraft, getting a feel for this important time in Australia’s history.
Day 11:
This morning we visit the Drysdale River, one of the longest rivers in the Kimberley, where we take you exploring! See the unique flora, saltwater crocodiles, flying foxes and many species of bird life. Take a walk on a deserted beach or relax and enjoy the views of this “paradise” before returning to Discovery One for cocktails and a magnificent sunset on the top deck.
Day 12:
Today we make our way to the King George River for a cruise along this beautiful stretch of water. Heading towards the King George Falls through sandstone cliffs, we end at the base of the twin falls for a close up view of the tallest falls in Western Australia. We anchor tonight at the falls where you can relax and enjoy a drink on the top deck, followed by dinner in an incomparable setting.
Day 13:
Cruising down Cambridge Gulf towards the Berkeley River, we enjoy a visit to Koolama Bay, named for the 340ft vessel 'Koolama' that was beached following an attack by the Japanese during WWII. This is just one of many places of historic interest in the Kimberley. Travelling on, marvel at the stunning red and ochre cliffs bordering the Berkeley River and enjoy the scenery as we cruise through this magical region of waterfalls and freshwater pools. Keep a look out for crocodiles or do some bird watching. You may even wish to take a refreshing dip in one of the pools.
Day 14:
Relax on the top deck and soak up the 360 degree views as we enjoy the final stretch of this magnificent coastline before arriving at Wyndham Jetty in the afternoon. It is here that we bid you farewell, confident that you will take with you memories to last a lifetime. All passengers will be transferred to Kununurra by bus, and then to Darwin by plane.
*The availability of a Helicopter ride over the Mitchell Plateau depends on the number of passengers who choose this option. Price available on application.
This itinerary is intended as a guideline only. While all places of interest specified in this itinerary will be visited, the cruise sequence may change with tides and weather or at the discretion of the Captain. | 
