Coral Frontiers and Kimberley Icons - Coral Expeditions

Cruise Itinerary

Date	Port	Arrive	Depart
22 Sep 2027	Darwin, NT, Australia	Embark	08:00 AM
23 Sep 2027	King George River, Western Australia
24 Sep 2027	Swift Bay	or Bigge Island or Wollaston Bay - subject to tide
25 Sep 2027	Ashmore Reef, Australia
26 Sep 2027	Scott Reef Atoll, WA
27 Sep 2027	Montgomery Reef, W A
28 Sep 2027	Horizontal Waterfalls, Western Australia
28 Sep 2027	Buccaneer archipelago, WA
29 Sep 2027	Lacepede Islands, Western Australia
30 Sep 2027	Rowley Shoals, Western Australia
1 Oct 2027	Rowley Shoals, Western Australia
2 Oct 2027	Broome, WA, Australia	08:00 AM	Disembark

Coral Frontiers and Kimberley Icons

Day 1: Depart Darwin
Start your Kimberley adventure from either port. Darwin departures board at 8:00am for 9:00am sailing. Settle into your cabin and meet the expedition team over Captain's Welcome drinks as we cruise into Western Australian waters.

Day 2: King George River
Cruise down this scenic river through steep gorges carved 400 million years ago. Our Zodiacs get you close to honeycomb erosion patterns in towering sandstone cliffs. The flooded river system carved this path through the Kimberley landscape, creating dramatic walls that dwarf our small ship. Look for freshwater crocodiles basking on rock ledges.

Day 3: Ancient Rock Art Galleries
Land at galleries showcasing Wandjina and Gwion Gwion art. These sandstone shelters hold some of Australia's oldest continuous cultural stories. Our expert guides share the significance of figures painted on rock walls thousands of years ago. Stretch your legs exploring magnificent rock formations that provided perfect canvases for ancient artists.

*Note: This port of call is subject to tides - Swift Bay or Bigge Island or Wollaston Bay.

Day 4: Ashmore Reef
Visit uninhabited islands where 100,000 seabirds flock annually. This marine park encompasses the West, Middle, and East Islands, as well as their surrounding territorial waters. Declared a National Nature Reserve in 1983, the reef hosts over 70 fish species and 255 coral varieties. Watch for nesting marine turtles and migratory birds while snorkelling pristine waters.

Day 5: Scott Reef
Explore Scott Reef on the continental shelf. Weather permitting, snorkel and dive outer reef walls where diverse coral habitats thrive. The sheer drops and pristine ecosystems showcase nature at its most spectacular. These Timor Sea atolls offer some of the clearest water you'll find anywhere.

Day 6: Montgomery Reef
Twice daily, tidal shifts reveal a massive reef in cascading waterfalls. Named by Phillip Parker King, Montgomery Reef emerges from the Indian Ocean, exposing rock pools and rivulets. Our Zodiacs position you perfectly to witness the spectacle as expedition guides explain the formation of the reef and the behaviour of its wildlife. Birds feed in exposed pools while turtles, dolphins and dugongs hunt in swirling eddies.

Day 7: Horizontal Falls & Buccaneer Archipelago
Witness rapids through narrow gorges where massive tides create horizontal waterfalls. David Attenborough called this "one of the greatest natural wonders of the world." Ocean water builds up and forces its way through bottlenecks in the McLarty Ranges, creating rushing seawater falls. Talbot Bay is situated among 800 islands, many of which contain rocks that are over 2 billion years old.

Day 8: Lacepede Islands
Visit this protected Class-A nature reserve, significant for brown booby and roseate tern rookeries. Four low-lying islands provide crucial breeding habitat for green turtles. Australian pelicans, frigate birds, egrets and gulls frequent these waters. Weather permitting, explore lagoons by Zodiac tender vessels, observing wildlife in their pristine environment.

Day 9 - 10: Rowley Shoals
Spend two days at Clerke, Mermaid and Imperieuse Reefs, 170 nautical miles offshore. Captain Phillip Parker King named these atolls, offering some of Earth's best underwater adventures. Shallow lagoons contain 233 coral species and 688 fish species, many of which are found nowhere else. Giant potato cod and Maori wrasse patrol these waters.

Day 11: Arrival in Broome
Broome arrival: Disembark at 8:00am with transfers to the CBD or airport included. Visit Cable Beach or explore the historic streets of Chinatown.

Embrace the unexpected - it's part of the adventure. This itinerary is a guide. We adjust plans based on weather, tides, wildlife, and opportunities we encounter. Remote communities may be unavailable due to local customs. Flexibility makes expeditions special.

Note: This itinerary is an indication of the destinations we visit and activities on offer. Throughout the expedition we may make changes to the itinerary as necessary to maximise your expeditionary experience. Allowances may be made for seasonal variations, weather, tidal conditions, and any other event that may affect the operation of the vessel.

Launched in March 2021, Coral Geographer is the newest addition to our fleet, purpose-designed to access remote wilderness shores around the world that are often inaccessible to large cruise vessels. Sister ship to Coral Adventurer (launched in 2019), she has over 1000 square metres of open deck space, multiple bars, majority balcony staterooms and suites, and public areas featuring a collection of Australian Indigenous art.

Coral Geographer is as comfortable as she is capable – her design draws on the latest technical advances as well as Coral Expeditions’ 37 years of experience building and operating expedition ships. The ship’s lightweight dual Xplorer tenders, a trademark feature of all our vessels, extend the capabilities of the ship by allowing deeper exploration on shore excursions. These ‘safari jeeps’ of the sea are fast, sturdy, and comfortable and developed to allow easy boarding from the ship and walk-off disembarkation onto remote shores.

Able to navigate into shallow bays, disembark onto remote islands, and visit small villages without overwhelming the environment or community, Coral Geographer explores the hidden nooks and crannies of Australia’s Kimberley Coast, Australia’s West and South coastlines and international voyages including to New Zealand, Sulawesi, Mauritius, and Zanzibar.

Coral Geographer carries a maximum of 120 guests, delivering Coral Expeditions’ renowned warm Australian hospitality, intimate onboard atmosphere, and world-class expedition experience.

Started in 1983, our company’s original vessel, Coral Princess, a converted World War II submarine chaser, pioneered and set the standard for small ship expedition cruising in northern Australia with 5-night cruises on the Great Barrier Reef.

Today, the Coral Expeditions’ fleet includes three purpose-built small ships that can be found anywhere from the tropical waters of Australia’s north to the rugged shores of Tasmania, from the coastal villages of Papua New Guinea and the Spice Islands, to sheltered sounds and glacial fiords of New Zealand.

While our range of cruise itineraries has expanded into new regions, we have maintained our home in Cairns and continue to be the only major operator of extended small ship cruises on the Great Barrier Reef.

There are many reasons why our guests return to Coral Expeditions for a truly authentic expedition.

A TRUE EXPEDITION ETHOS
At Coral Expeditions, we pride ourselves on getting our guests up close and personal with stunning landscapes, fascinating history and vibrant cultures. We have deep respect and a strong connection with the places we visit. We maintain flexibility in our planning to make impromptu stops if extraordinary opportunities in nature present. Our expeditions focus on truly experiencing the regions we visit.

OUR HOME TURF
When it comes to expedition cruising, there is no replicating experience. For 40 years, we have steadily accumulated a wealth of local knowledge and contacts in the coastal regions surrounding Australia. Our crew know the charts, the tides and the winds like no other to ensure you are in the right place at the right time. Whether you travel with us in the ancient Kimberley, Tasmania’s wilderness, the frontier lands of Papua New Guinea, or New Zealand’s majestic fiordlands, you will be assured a local perspective, with local guides, authentic interactions, and a true taste of local culture and cuisine.

OUR SMALL SHIPS
At the heart of the Coral Expeditions experience are our purpose-built small expedition ships and unique tenders. In an age of glitzy mega-vessels, our ships are truly intimate, carrying no more than 120 guests. This means that we can navigate into shallow bays, step ashore onto remote beaches and jetties, and visit small villages to make connections without overwhelming a community. We have designed the fleet to explore tropical waters with comfort and ease and to allow you to connect with the landscape we explore.

OUR CREW
Our crew live and breathe our destinations and the opportunity to show you a true expedition experience. We are the modern day seafaring pioneers of Australia, and we are proud to share our knowledge on coastal explorations with guests from around the globe. On our ships, we have no ‘back office’ roles. From our chefs to our engineers, our crew are here because they love to interact with people and show you their world. Join our engine room tours, view our chefs in our galley or chat with our officers on the bridge – they will be delighted to share company with you.

OUR RESPECT FOR COMMUNITIES
We have always made a determined effort to support the communities we visit. Our guests join in enthusiastically. We visit remote villages, participate in art and cultural traditions, and interact in local schools. We initiate and contribute to regional projects to support conservation, provide training and employment, and distribute economic benefit and relief supplies, all with guest support and involvement. It is an enriching and rewarding part of our expedition experience that leaves a lasting joy for us all.

THE FUTURE
As Coral Expeditions enters its fifth decade in existence, we remain true to our pioneering foundations. We have a new fleet of technologically advanced ships that provide many of the comforts of a large vessel, but without the crowds. We have embarked on a series of new adventures exploring the small islands of the world and broadening our footprint around our home shores of Australia. Yet, our purpose remains the same – taking small groups of like-minded explorers to beautiful parts of the world in our uniquely Australian style!