Tiwi Islands
Take part in a traditional welcome ceremony followed by morning tea of damper and billy tea. Join a guided tour to learn about Tiwi history and culture while exploring the old mission precinct. Visit Tiwi Design, one of Australia’s oldest art centers, known for ochre paintings, carvings, screen-printed fabrics, ceramics, glass and bronze sculptures, and limited-edition prints.
King George River & Falls (Oomari Falls)
Travel along King George River, which flows from the Gardner Plateau, to reach King George Falls, the tallest twin waterfalls in Western Australia at 260 feet. Cruise through steep-sided gorges formed by an ancient river system more than 400 million years ago. Early in the season, ride close to the base of the falls. Later in the year, view honeycomb erosion patterns in the surrounding sandstone cliffs.
Vansittart Bay (Banjal)
Visit Vansittart Bay, home to Aboriginal rock art galleries of Gwion Gwion (Bradshaw) figures estimated to be 20,000 years old. Explore Jar Island, named after pottery fragments left by Macassan fishermen who harvested sea cucumbers. On the nearby Anjo Peninsula, see the wreck of a U.S. Air Force C-53 Skytrooper that landed on a salt pan in 1942 after becoming lost during a flight from Perth to Broome.
Mitchell Falls & Winyalkan
Fly by helicopter (extra cost) to Mitchell Falls, where a series of tiered cascades plunge into emerald rock pools. Walk trails to view ancient rock art hidden in caves. The surrounding national park supports mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and birdlife drawn to permanent water sources. Sandstone terraces provide natural viewing points of the falls and pools. Alternatively, explore Wollaston Bay or Wollaston Creek to see sandstone caves shaped into tunnels, arches, and columns, once used as Aboriginal middens. In the evening, watch the sun set over the Indian Ocean while enjoying a barbecue dinner.
Prince Frederick Harbor & Bigge Island (Wuuyuru)
Enter Prince Frederick Harbor at the southern end of York Sound. The area features mangrove-lined shores, rainforest patches, and escarpments. Look for white-bellied sea eagles and other birds of prey. At low tide, view mudskippers and mangrove crabs on exposed flats. Cruise Porosus Creek by tender to see distinctive rock formations. Continue to Bigge Island (Wuuyuru), part of the Wunambal people’s traditional lands.
Prince Regent River & Careening Bay (Wunbung-gu)
Cruise the Prince Regent River, which follows a straight fault line, to reach King Cascade, a terraced waterfall about 50 meters wide. Water flows over sandstone ledges covered with mosses, ferns, and grasses. Stop at Careening Bay, where Lt. Phillip Parker King repaired his vessel, HMC Mermaid, in 1820. The ship’s carpenter carved “HMC Mermaid 1820” into a large boab tree. Today, the split trunk measures about 40 feet around, and the carving is still visible. The tree is listed on the National Register of Big Trees.
Montgomery Reef (Yowjab)
See Montgomery Reef, which covers more than 300 square kilometers, emerge as the tide drops by up to 36 feet. Ride tenders into channels and pools to view the exposed reef. Spot turtles, dolphins, dugongs, and sawfish feed, while birds take advantage of marine life trapped in shallow water. Watch as whirlpools and eddies swirl with the changing tide before the reef submerges again.
Talbot Bay: Horizontal Falls (Garaanngaddim) & Buccaneer Archipelago
Witness the Horizontal Falls, created as extreme tides push water through narrow gaps in the McLarty Ranges. Join a tender ride to experience the rushing tidal current. Explore Talbot Bay in the Buccaneer Archipelago, where island rocks are estimated at over two billion years old. At Cyclone Creek, see evidence of powerful geological shifts. Cruise past the Iron Islands and Koolan Island, and end the day with sunset drinks at Nares Point.
Note: Tender cruises through the First Gap run only until 2026. From 2027, tenders will operate up to the Gap for close viewing.
The Lacepedes
Visit the Lacepede Islands, a class-A nature reserve. The islands serve as major nesting grounds for brown boobies and roseate terns, along with pelicans, frigate birds, gulls, and egrets. Green turtles also use the islands for nesting. Weather and tide conditions determine access to the lagoons, which you explore by tender when possible.
Conclude the voyage with the Captain’s farewell drinks, sharing the final evening onboard with fellow travelers before disembarkation.
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