Uncover the Kimberley Coastline: An Ancient Wilderness

Your Expedition Voyage begins in Broome, a characterful coastal town where red pindan soils meet the turquoise Indian Ocean and long sweeps of white sand. Tropical light, tidal flats and a laid-back atmosphere together create a distinctive gateway to the Kimberley. Welcome aboard Scenic Eclipse II, your ultra-luxury home for the days ahead. Settle into your spacious suite, with butler service on hand and thoughtful touches that range from a curated pillow menu to a mini-bar restocked daily to your preferences. Take time to explore the decks and find your favourite indoor and outdoor spaces, before toasting the start of your voyage with a glass of Champagne in the Scenic Lounge Bar or a cocktail at the open-air Sky Bar on Deck 10.
Please note: flights must arrive into Broome prior to 2:00 PM.
Meals: Dinner

After a relaxing morning aboard Scenic Eclipse II, arrive in the afternoon at the remote Lacepede Islands, located approximately 120 kilometres north of Broome. Designated an A-class reserve, this protected archipelago is renowned for its prolific seabird colonies and rich marine life. It is Western Australia’s most significant breeding ground for green turtles and, in season, a notable location to observe migrating humpback whales. As the day continues, enjoy a coffee or cocktail in one of the bars and lounges, or settle into the Observation Lounge library with a book. Later, join the Discovery Team in the theatre for an introductory lecture offering insight into the remarkable region ahead.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Sir David Attenborough named the Horizontal Falls at Talbot Bay one of the greatest natural wonders of the world – and experiencing them firsthand makes it easy to understand why. Created by a unique combination of geology and massive tidal surges squeezed through two narrow cliff passages, this is the only place on Earth where horizontal falls exist. Explore by Zodiac through narrow Talbot Creek – locally known as Cyclone Creek – where extraordinary sandstone folding frames the landscape and rock wallabies may be spotted on outcrops above. Eighteen species of birdlife inhabit this area including Australian Ibis, Brahminy Kite and Brown Honeyeater. After a full day in this extraordinary environment, relax in the Vitality pool as the panoramic views of the Kimberley coast stretch out around you.
Please note: guests will have the opportunity to view the Horizontal Falls but will not cruise through them.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Wake to Montgomery Reef – the world’s largest inshore reef, with some of the Earth’s biggest tidal changes reaching up to 10 metres. As the tides rise and fall, both soft and hard coral are exposed in a remarkable natural spectacle. Go ashore at Freshwater Cove on Worrora country for a deeply meaningful cultural encounter with Dambimangari Traditional Owners of the Arraluli clan. Hear the story of the Wijingarra – the native spotted quoll – and how the area’s freshwater was created in the Dreaming. Subject to conditions and approvals, explore Montgomery Reef by Zodiac with your Discovery Team, where sea turtles, octopus, sharks, rays and dolphins may all make an appearance.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Careening Bay is closely linked to the earliest chapters of Australian coastal exploration. In 1820, British surveyor Phillip Parker King careened his vessel HMC Mermaid here for repairs, marking the occasion by having its name carved into the trunk of a vast boab tree – an inscription that remains visible to this day. Guided by the Discovery Team, time ashore includes a visit to the historic Mermaid Tree and the surrounding shoreline, with opportunities to appreciate quiet beaches, distinctive boab trees and coastal vegetation. A small craft cruise around nearby islands and inlets may reveal mangroves, sheltered coves and marine life including sea turtles. As Port Nelson’s sandstone and basalt cliffs come into view, the interplay of light on rock and water provides a striking natural backdrop for photography and quiet contemplation.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today Scenic Eclipse II cruises through York Sound to the mouth of the Hunter River – a true wilderness of jaw-dropping panoramas, wild escarpments, monsoon rainforests and the four-tiered Mitchell Falls, carved out over millennia. Also known as Punamii-uunpuu, Mitchell Falls is an iconic Kimberley landmark of deep cultural and spiritual significance for the Wunambal people. Subject to conditions and scheduling, an optional helicopter flight offers magnificent aerial views of the Hunter River or the falls themselves. This afternoon, treat yourself to an indulgent session at the Senses Spa, relax in a Deck 10 cabana, or ask your butler to deliver afternoon tea to your private verandah as the endless wilderness drifts past.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Swift Bay offers a rare concentration of Kimberley rock art styles within a single area – Gwion Gwion and Wandjina galleries located within easy reach by Zodiac transfer. Towering sandstone escarpments and sheltered rock overhangs frame a landscape where culture and country are profoundly intertwined. Accompanied by the Discovery Team, visit ancient Gwion Gwion galleries where fine, elongated human figures appear in flowing headdresses and dynamic postures – painted tens of thousands of years ago by the ancestors of the people who still call this country home. Nearby, Wandjina rock art depicts powerful creation beings and rain-bringers that remain central to the living culture of the region’s Indigenous peoples. Subject to conditions and scheduling, there may also be an option to join a helicopter flight over the Mitchell Plateau to view the tiered cascades of Mitchell Falls from the air.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

This morning is yours to enjoy entirely as you wish. Perhaps book a treatment at the Senses Spa, join a yoga or Pilates session, take a plunge in the Vitality pool, or simply settle into a favourite spot aboard Scenic Eclipse II with a book and a beverage. Ashmore Reef – Australia’s most remote marine park – consists of three tropical islands surrounded by 583 square kilometres of protected coral reef. Scenic Eclipse II stops here for technical clearance, with no opportunity to go ashore, but the Discovery Team will be on the open decks for a fascinating birdwatching session as you sail around this extraordinary sanctuary. This evening, explore the Scenic Lounge Bar’s remarkable selection of over 130 aged whiskeys, or book a wine tasting to pair the day with the right drop.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Vansittart Bay is a sheltered inlet of quiet beaches, rust-red headlands and profound cultural significance for Traditional Owners. Here, traces of more recent history appear alongside ancient stories – including the remarkably well-preserved skeleton of a World War II Douglas C-53 aircraft resting in the landscape. A guided Zodiac transfer to a secluded sandy beach allows the Discovery Team to introduce the bay’s geology, history and cultural context at an unhurried pace, in one of the most remote corners of the Kimberley coastline.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

The King George River carves its way through the remote Kimberley region of Western Australia, culminating in King George Falls – a dramatic twin cascade dropping more than 80 metres over sheer sandstone cliffs. Accessible only by water or air, this immense gorge system reveals rust-red walls, tidal reaches and pockets of mangrove forest, with Brahminy kites, egrets and kingfishers often seen above the river’s tranquil surface. A Zodiac cruise takes you deeper into the gorge for a striking perspective on the falls, gliding beneath towering rock faces and along mangrove-lined banks where crocodiles sun themselves and ospreys, falcons, egrets and kingfishers wheel overhead. Weather and tides permitting, the Discovery Team may bring you close enough to feel the cooling spray of the falls themselves.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Your Expedition Voyage concludes this morning in Darwin after ten nights on one of the most extraordinary coastlines on earth. The Horizontal Falls, the Montgomery Reef cultural ceremony with Dambimangari Traditional Owners, the rock art of Swift Bay, the boab tree of Careening Bay and the twin cascades of King George Falls viewed from a Zodiac are all experiences that very few Australians will ever have. Disembark Scenic Eclipse II and transfer to Darwin Airport, noting that onward flights should be booked no earlier than 12:00 PM.