PASPALEY PEARL Unexplored Kimberley

Renowned for its remarkable gorges and waterfalls that have carved their way into the sandstone escarpment over the past 20 million years, the North Kimberley coast boasts scenery of an epic proportion. The weathering of the ancient sandstones has created a spectacular color palette that contrasts with the azure waters of the Timor Sea to create picture perfect vistas. The red and orange hues in the sandstones vary with the light throughout the day, creating a continual changing wallpaper of passing scenery that is simply stunning.

The region hides some remarkable survival stories and tales of epic treks across vast swathes of harsh country. Despite its seemingly inhospitable nature the Wunambal Gaambera and Balanggarra peoples have been occupying the region for thousands of years and their traditions are given form in the rock art that makes up the greatest collection of outdoor galleries in the world.

The region is best known for the iconic destinations of King George Falls (Oomari), Vansittart Bay (Banjal) and Jar Island (Ngula). Your ship has special access to destinations inaccessible to larger vessels, including Cape Voltaire, Freshwater Bay, Drysdale River, Glycosmis Bay and Falls, Cape Bernier, Seaplane Bay, Berkeley River and Casuarina Falls.

The Bonaparte Archipelago is a maze of islands and islets stretching 93 miles (150 km) offshore from Collier Bay to the Admiralty Gulf known for its rich collection of Rock Art galleries. These remarkable artworks, created by First Nations Peoples, provide an insight into the oldest continuing culture on earth. The mainland is home to some of the most scenic parts of the Kimberley coast.

Prince Frederick Harbor and the Roe-Hunter River System are lined with ancient rainforest pockets, pristine mangroves and mosaic sandstone cliffs. The adjacent Prince Regent National Park is one of Australia’s most important conservation sites, regarded for its outstanding scenic grandeur and containing half of the known bird and animal species in the Kimberley.

Located 230 miles (370 km) north of Broome and 286 miles (460 km) west of Kununurra, Kuri Bay lies at the heart of the Lalang – Garram/Camden Sound Marine Park. It was the location of Australia’s first cultured pearl farm and is named after the company’s first principal, Tokuichi Kuribayashi. Today the clear pristine waters are the home of Paspaley, the world’s most important producer of cultured pearls. Such is the superior and widely recognized quality of the gems, they are in their own category and recognized simply as ‘Paspaley Pearls.’

Experience a behind-the-scenes guided walking tour of the Paspaley facilities and discover the intricate processes required to produce the most beautiful pearls in the world.

Located in one of the remotest regions of Australia, with no road access and the nearest town over 155 miles (250 km) away, the stunningly rugged Collier Bay and Camden Sound are home to the second largest tides in the world. This ebb and flow of the tide has shaped the ancient landscape into a breathtaking vista and created unique tidal phenomena such as Horizontal Falls (Garaanngaddim).

The region is of cultural significance to the Dambeemangarddee, a saltwater people who have been living along the coast for many thousands of years. Their culture and connection to the environment has evolved with an inherent association to these tidal movements. The rich marine environment is also home to the world’s largest inshore reef system, Montgomery Reef (Yowjab) and each year the world’s largest population of migrating humpback whales visit the region.

The region is best known for the iconic destinations of Horizontal Falls (Garaanngaddim), Montgomery Reef (Yowjab), Raft Point (Ngumbree) and Freshwater Cove (Wijingarra Bard Bard). Your ship has special access to destinations inaccessible to larger vessels, including Sampson Inlet, Hall Point, Red Cone Creek, Sapphire Falls, Ruby Falls, Sale River, Walcott Inlet, Prior Point and Langgi.

Extending from the Dampier Peninsula to the Southern edge of Collier Bay, the 800 islands of the Dampier archipelago and adjacent mainland offer a veritable playground of unique experiences, ideal for exploration by boutique expedition motor yacht. Named after the English buccaneer and privateer William Dampier, the archipelago is regarded as one of the most spectacular island groups in Australia. There are islands listed as Important Bird Areas by Birdlife International, whilst others are home to Western Australia’s largest population of breeding Green Sea turtles. The pristine coastline contains secluded white sandy beaches, mangrove estuaries and spectacular tortured landscapes, providing a geological insight into the formation of this remarkable land.

The region is best known for the iconic destinations of The Lacepede Islands, Yampi Sound, Adele Island and Cape Leveque. Your ship has special access to destinations inaccessible to larger vessels, including Hidden Island, Whirlpool Pass, Sunday Island, Strickland Bay, Tallon Island, Hell’s gate, Edeline and Cascade Bay.

Often referred to as the pearl of North West Australia, Broome is Western Australia’s coastal gateway to the magnificent wilderness region of the Kimberley. It’s also home to the world-famous white sands of Cable Beach, making it one of the State’s most popular holiday destinations. Situated 1,390 miles (2,240 km) north of Perth with a permanent population estimated at 14,436, growing to over 45,000 per month during the tourist season. The ship will disembark alongside the wharf in Broome.