This 13-day sailing adventure aboard Coral Discoverer travels through Western Australia. Explore the underwater wonders of the sea and be blown away by the stunning Broome’s famous “pearl strip” along Dampier Terrace. This trip also showcases the UNESCO-designated Ningaloo Marine Park's protected steam-powered whaling ships loaded with harpoon guns scoured the waters along the Ningaloo Coast. Watch for Rookeries of green, hawksbill, loggerhead, and leatherback turtles, along with the threatened flatback turtle in Little Turtle Island and learn about Australia's cultural traditions by visiting Aboriginal Rock Art.
Highlights
Discover different corals while snorkeling and diving
Explore and witness the seasonal feeding ground of marine animals
Experience bird-watching in the remote islands of Western Australia
Visit Little Turtle Island, an important nesting place for flatback turtles
Learn about Australia's cultural traditions by visiting Aboriginal Rock Art
Involves minimal physical effort and is typically associated with leisurely activities. Activities are low-intensity or last less than a few hours each day.
After a welcome brunch, join a sightseeing tour of Broome, Western Australia’s legendary pearling town and gateway to the wild Kimberley region. Broome’s famous “pearl strip” along Dampier Terrace is home to the hautest jewelry brands, and you’ll pass by numerous boutiques on the way to the recently-refurbished Coral Discoverer. Settle into your freshly updated stateroom before cocktails on the sun deck, followed by dinner.
Day 3: Clerke Reef, Rowley Shoals Marine Park | Sand Cay
Suit up for your first snorkel or dive in Rowley Shoals Marine Park, a trio of remote coral atolls recognized for some of Australia’s best diving. Spend the morning along Clerke Reef, the most popular of the three; its outside walls offer outstanding scuba opportunities or snorkel alongside angelfish, trevally, and turtles in the shallow lagoon. Later, set out for Sand Cay where fields of gorgonians and soft coral gardens crowd the outer slope.
The largest of Rowley Shoals’ reefs, teardrop-shaped Imperieuse is also the least visited because its lagoon passage is too narrow for most ships to navigate. Encounter coral trout, Queensland groper, and Maori wrasse—just a few of the nearly 700 species recorded here.
Day 5: Dolphin Island, Dampier Archipelago | Eaglehawk Island
Hit the water in the Dampier Archipelago, a chain of 42 islands and outcroppings scattered off the Dampier coast. First stop: Dolphin Island, where pods of bottlenose dolphin are often spotted. Underwater, you may discover dugongs and some 600 fish species; while on shore, search for birds or view ancient Aboriginal petroglyphs and rock pools where 19th-century pearlers collected fresh water. More adventures await off tiny Eaglehawk Island or stay dry in the ship’s glass-bottom boat.
Scuba enthusiasts have dubbed the 70,000-acre Murion Islands Marine Management Area the “Magical Murions.” Part of the Ningaloo Archipelago located to the north of Exmouth, South Murion is famous for Cod Spot, where thousands of golden cardinalfish, large potato cod, coral cod, and manta rays congregate. Other popular sites include The Spit, inhabited by tiny baitfish and giant manta rays; Dinner Plates, lined with plate coral; and The Gap, a fabulous drift dive between the two islands.
Remnants of a former whaling station on Norwegian Bay stand as testament to this remote region’s heritage. For most of the 20th century, steam-powered whaling ships loaded with harpoon guns scoured the waters along the Ningaloo Coast, which are now protected as the UNESCO-designated Ningaloo Marine Park. In addition to several species of whales, the area is also home to whale sharks, manta rays, dolphins, turtles, and more than 500 fish species. Explore a number of historic wrecks, or snorkel from the shore along Australia’s largest fringing coral reef.
Around 75 miles west of Dampier you’ll find Montebello Islands, one of Australia’s most important marine parks. Comprising more than 250 islands and a diverse range of habitats, the park nurtures some 150 types of hard coral and 450 fish species, while 640 species of molluscs have been identified, along with 170 echinoderms. Search for underwater denizens at Claret Bay, Willy Nilly Lagoon, and Alpha Island, or go ashore to search for white, Caspian, bridled, and roseate terns; sooty and pied oystercatchers; and white-bellied sea eagles.
As its name implies, Little Turtle Island is part of an important turtle nesting area. Rookeries of green, hawksbill, loggerhead, and leatherback turtles, along with the threatened flatback turtle, are found along its sheltered beaches. Migratory wading birds can also be found here, while dugong feed in the seaweed and grasses just offshore.
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Prices for are estimated based on inflation. Contact us to confirm pricing and availability for your desired departure date.
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Category 1
Staterooms are 195 sq. feet and feature two portholes, two twin beds or a double bed, a sitting area, a well-appointed en suite bathroom, large closets, desk, and individually controlled air-conditioning.
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Category 2
Staterooms are 195 sq. feet and feature two small windows, two twin beds or a double bed, a sitting area, a well-appointed en suite bathroom, large closets, desk, and individually controlled air-conditioning.
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Category 3
Staterooms are 160 sq. ft and feature a large window, two twin beds or a double bed, a sitting area, a well-appointed en suite bathroom, large closets, desk, and individually controlled air-conditioning.
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Category 4
Staterooms are 195 sq. feet and feature a large window, two twin beds or a double bed, a sitting area, a well-appointed en suite bathroom, large closets, desk, and individually controlled air-conditioning.
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Category 5
Staterooms are 195 sq. feet and feature a large window, two twin beds or a double bed, a sitting area, a well-appointed en suite bathroom, large closets, desk, and individually controlled air-conditioning.
Notes
- Rates are per person based on double occupancy.
- Singles may be available at 1.6 times the share rate.
Initial deposit is 25%, and most travelers will call our office and pay the deposit with a credit card.
Final payment is due 100 days prior to departure by bank transfer, check or credit card. All final payments by credit card may be subject to a surcharge and maximum of $20,000 charge
Our guide and driver were very good with their knowledge and were very helpful with our questions. It was a very pleasant visit that would have been impossible to do on our own. Hotels and restaurants were fantastic. The special places we got to go to, like the kitchens, were great. Enjoyed the entire trip!
Meyer Smolen
TrustScore 4.8 | 176 reviews
TrustScore 4.8 of 5
Based on 176 reviews on
9 hours ago
Adventure Life is always an excellent choice when planning complicated, extreme, or exotic vacations or expeditions. They provide friendly professional services and advice and are enthusiastic and encouraging in helping us to prepare and thoroughly enjoy our trip. They handle all the details which greatly reduces the stress of planning a difficult trip. I'm very impressed with Adventure Life and definitely recommend them to friends and family.
Scott Trochim
2 days ago
The response from Adventure Life to my first inquiry was prompt and promising. I worked with Jamie Broeckel, Trip Planner, via text, email, and phone calls- always extremely responsive and thorough with information and explaining the process to arrange a private tour for me to Malaysia Borneo. Within about week, the booking was complete and I made decisions because of Jamie's great customer service , friendly manner, and overall competence on behalf of the company's travel expertise. Now I have an itinerary, additional Trip Planner Assistants, several links for vital information for traveling to Maylasia, etc. Still many details for Sept. trip, but now the heavy lifting is done and I can enjoy the rest of the anticipation and research!! Thanks Jamie- you are amazing!!!!
Susan Campo
4 days ago
The trip was not only memorable for the amount of animals we saw but also for the people and accommodations at the two camps where we stayed. Our first guide, BK, was a wealth of information about the animals, landscape and down to the plants and what they were used for. Everyday out was a learning experience with him. All the people at the camps were gracious and the food was excellent.
Our second camp in the Okavanga was just as good as the first as far as the staff, accommodations, food and animals. After our experience at the first camp we amazed that the high quality remained the same. Our guide, G, made sure we were able to enjoy every experience including a rush through the bush to witness a cheetah and an ensuing hunt that he heard over his radio.
In both camps there were enough guides out that if they saw something the other guides were informed which helped in seeing as much as possible. It was also nice that the concessions were large enough that we did not have vehicles following each other throughout the day.
Normally there is always something in a trip of this length that we think could be improved upon but this is the rare case where we cannot think of anything. From the time we left the States to when we returned it was one of the most hassle free vacations we took.
Perhaps emphasizing the use of the laundry facilities at the camps would be useful because of the luggage restrictions would be the only thing I can think of as an improvement to future clients.
Kenneth Dropek
5 days ago
Mary was so pleasant and professional. She made sure all of our questions were answered.
