Australia’s West Coast Odyssey

Broome, in the far north of Western Australia’s Kimberley region, is known for its pearling history and cultural heritage. Explore Chinatown, the historic city center, and visit the Japanese Cemetery dating back to 1896, reflecting Chinese and Japanese migration for the pearl industry. Witness the “Staircase to the Moon,” a natural phenomenon where the Moon’s reflection on sandbanks at low tide creates a glowing staircase effect across the water.

During your time at sea, take advantage of the ship’s facilities and activities. Relax in the spa, exercise in the fitness center, or enjoy the pool and sun decks. Attend onboard shows or conferences, browse the boutique, or meet the PONANT photographers. Head to the upper deck to watch the waves and spot marine life. This uninterrupted sea journey offers comfort, entertainment, and opportunities for observation and leisure.

Murujuga National Park and the islands of the Dampier Archipelago showcase what is thought to be the highest concentration of rock engravings of any known site in the world. Aboriginal people have been living there for more than 50,000 years and the petroglyphs (rock engravings) have been estimated to be as old as 40,000 years. The petroglyphs are diverse, depicting a record of what was meaningful to the Aboriginal people of the Pilbara and beyond. The sacred rock art’s traditional custodians are the Ngarluma-Yindjibarndi, the Yaburara-Mardudhunera and the Woon-goo-tt-oo and you will have the opportunity to visit Deep Gorge with a traditional custodian guide and marvel at the petroglyphs up close.

Located off the Pilbara Coast 120km west of Dampier, the Montebello Islands Marine Park covers more than 58,000 hectares of ocean and over 250 low-lying limestone islands and islets. The flat limestone islands range in size from Hermite, the largest, at about 1,000 ha, to several small islets and rocks of less than one hectare. They are the remnants of an old coastal landform and have been separated from the mainland for more than 8,000 years. They were named by the French navigator Nicolas Baudin in 1801 after the battle of Montebello. The area is rich in natural marine diversity and human history. They achieved international notoriety in 1952 when the British, in an operation code named Hurricane, detonated an atomic weapon in a bay off Trimouille island. Two further atomic tests were carried out in May and June of 1956 on Alpha and Trimouille Islands. You will have the opportunity to explore the marine park with the fleet of Zodiacs®. 

The Ningaloo Coast Marine Park is a place of spectacular contrast between lush and colorful scenery beneath the surface of the Indian Ocean and the rugged, arid landscape of Cape Range National Park. You will also have the opportunity to swim and snorkel on the largest fringing coral reef in Australia and the only large reef in the world found so close to a continental land mass, making it an easy snorkel from shore.

Cape Peron, named in honor of the French explorer François Peron, is a wild and isolated spot in the middle of Australia's Shark Bay, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Here the turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean contrast with endless white sandy beaches and ochre cliffs tinged with the red sand of the surrounding deserts. You can set out to discover the astonishingly rich underwater wildlife, including stromatolites: the oldest known life forms on the planet. You will be amazed by the unspoilt beauty of this nature.

With its white, sandy beaches, turquoise waters, rust-red sand dunes and abundant wildlife, Shark Bay became Western Australia’s first Wold Heritage listed area in 1991. The colorful and diverse landscapes, rare fauna and flora and world class examples of Earth’s ecological processes are what qualify Shark Bay for World Heritage listing – making it a truly remarkable place. You will have the opportunity to sail past the location of the first recorded European landing on Australia’s west coast at Cape Inscription where in 1616 Dirk Hartog left evidence of his landing in the form of a pewter plate inscribed with details of his journey.

The Abrolhos Islands Maine Park consists of three main clusters of islands that stretch from north to south across 100 kilometers of ocean, and includes the Wallabi Group, Easter Group and Pelsaert Group. Established as a marine park in 1983, the waters of the Abrolhos are famous for colorful coral, crystal clear waters and large breeding colonies of seabirds. Here, the southward flowing Leeuwin current has created a meeting place for tropical and temperate sea life. In July 2019 the Islands were declared a national park for their ecological and historical significance. You will have the opportunity to explore East Wallabi Island and its fringing reefs.

Jurien Bay Marine Park located 150 kilometers north of Perth, was named by Captain Nicolas Baudin aboard the Geographe in honor of the French naval administrator Charles Marie Vicomte Jurien. The marine park surrounds dozens of ecologically important islands that contain rare and endangered animals found nowhere else in the world. The marine park and its immediate surrounds is the only major breeding area for Australian sea lions along the western coast of Australia. It is also a primary breeding ground for seabirds and is populated with a mix of temperate and tropical plants and animals, courtesy of the Leeuwin Current.

The vibrant city of Fremantle blends the old with the new, creating an enriching cultural experience. Maritime, convict and colonial history can be explored in one of the best-preserved examples of a 19th century port streetscape on Earth, while buzzing markets, lively bars and casual street cafes give you a taste of 21st century life with the locals. If you're hitting the heritage trail, be sure to include a visit to the Western Australian Maritime Museum, World Heritage listed Fremantle Prison and Western Australia's oldest public building, the Roundhouse.