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.
Apologies for the inconvenience. Prices for not yet published. Below per person rate based on previous season. Contact us to confirm upcoming season pricing.
Prices for are estimated based on inflation. Contact us to confirm pricing and availability for your desired departure date.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
The persons I spoke with knew the material. I wont know until I actually take the trip if it was all correct but at this point they were helpful in finding a trip that met my criteria
SS
4 days ago
Creating a checklist was very beneficial and meeting objectives on certain dates helped as well (to keep my trip organized). The Adventure Travel personnel helped keep me on track which is why my trip was so successful. Communication from both travel agencies (AT/MT) was vital.
Iziah Carthens
5 days ago
This is an amazing company to work with. I generally do not use tour companies as I am more of an independent traveller so I was slightly reticent. They were fantastic from the start - 10/10 - from lining up a phone call to discuss requirements, then their ongoing communication in the lead up to the tour and during it (thank you, Franny and Phen). They also explored cost-effective options (eg group transfers). The tour was in Patagonia so Adventure Life organised a pickup from the El Calafate airport to the El Chalten accommodation, two day hikes with a private guide and then to the El Calafate accommodation. A tour coordinator came to the hotel to explain, using the maps, what was involved in each day tour and what should be expected, and patiently answered all questions. The tour guide Marcos was excellent - very professional, knowledgable, communicative and at all times felt very safe with his navigational skills (important in the Patagonian wilderness). On the second day I forgot to take hiking poles so Marcos kindly gave me his. I honestly wouldn't have changed a thing and would happily recommend and book through them again.
Petrina Sta
1 week ago
Adventure Life has been great throughout my planning process for our up and coming Galapagos cruise. Kevin Moore, in particular, was very helpful in assisting me in making choices and providing me with options. He was also very patient, as I worked through figuring out what I really wanted in this vacation.
Lucy Greenway
1 week ago
Adventure Life was a pleasure to work with. They helped us find different options for our charter and answered a lot of questions with patience and clarity.
