Your voyage of discovery begins in Darwin. This tropical capital, located at the crossroads of Australia, Asia, and the Pacific Islands, is rich in history, culture, and natural wonders. 

Welcome aboard. Settle into your spacious suite on board Scenic Eclipse II. Your butler will assist with unpacking and guide you through the pillow menu. Take some time to familiarise yourself with the ultra-luxury amenities that include eight bars and lounges, up to 10 dining experiences from casual to fine dining, the expansive Senses Spa, and the state-of-the-art theatre, to name a few. Explore each deck of Scenic Eclipse II and visit the open bridge, where your Captain and navigational crew will welcome you in the operational center throughout your voyage. Toast the beginning of your journey with a glass of champagne in the Scenic Lounge Bar or with a cocktail at the open-air Sky Bar on Deck 10.

Please book your flight to arrive in Darwin before 02:00 PM.

At 112 kilometers long and 100 meters wide, the thundering King George River Falls is an unforgettable experience. The highest twin waterfalls in Western Australia are accessible only by water or air. With her sleek, yacht-shaped design, Scenic Eclipse II was custom-built to access such remote locations. Make your way along the river’s tranquil waters through towering gorges – home to Brahminy kites, egrets, and kingfishers.

Discovery: Take a roundtrip by Zodiac for a breathtaking close-up of the falls. Weave past spectacular 80-metre-high sandstone cliffs and mangroves, where you might spot a sunning crocodile or birdlife such as ospreys, falcons, egrets, and kingfishers. April and May are when the falls are at their most thunderous. Weather and tides permitting, the Discovery Team may take you close enough for a natural shower.

After an overnight journey on board your luxurious Discovery Yacht, stop at the sheltered and secluded Vansittart Bay, a place of significant indigenous cultural history. Fitted with a state-of-the-art GPS Dynamic Positioning system, Scenic Eclipse II will be held close to Jar Island in the bay’s southwest pocket, negating the need to drop anchor on ecologically sensitive seabeds.

Discovery: Board a Zodiac for a transfer to a small sandy beach to explore the area with the expert Discovery Team. Join a hike to see what’s regarded as some of the oldest rock paintings in Australia, dating back approx. 17,300 years. The ancient and mysterious Gwion-gwion is one of two primary art forms in the Kimberley.

The morning is yours to enjoy as you wish. Book a Senses Spa treatment, a Yoga or Pilates session, plunge into the Vitality Pool, or relax and indulge in 6-star ultra-luxury on Scenic Eclipse II. After the day’s exploration of Australia’s most remote marine parks, Ashmore Reef, settle in at one of the eight bars and lounges to enjoy a beverage of choice. Indulge in over 100 varieties of aged whiskey at the Scenic Lounge Bar.

Discovery: Take a Zodiac cruise with the Discovery Team around the reef, where the three uninhabited islands are home to abundant bird and sea life. Internationally recognized, around 100,000 seabirds from 40 different species flock to the reef each year to breed.

Today, Swift Bay offers the opportunity to see both styles of Kimberley rock painting near each other. Gwion-gwion and Wandjina paintings are within a short Zodiac ride of your Discovery Yacht.

Discovery: Join the Discovery Team in viewing the ancient rock art gallery Gwion-gwion (formerly known as ‘Bradshaw’ paintings), which depicts enigmatic human figures in dynamic stances. Wandjina is a spiritual creator and rain provider who continues to feature strongly in Kimberley’s Indigenous culture.

Today, Scenic Eclipse II glides through York Sound to the mouth of the Hunter River. This is a true wilderness with jaw-dropping panoramas of wild escarpments, monsoon rainforests, and the four-tiered Mitchell Falls, carved out over millennia. Watch nature’s magnificent show as the sun sets, cocktail in hand.

Discovery: Tides permitting, the Zodiacs can take you past towering sandstone cliffs, pristine mangrove forests, and iconic landscapes such as Prince Frederick Harbour, Porosus Creek, and Hunter and Roe Rivers. Look out for ospreys and saltwater crocodiles within this prehistoric landscape.
Tides and timings permitting, a stop at Careening Bay in the Prince Regent National Park is where you may view the famous Mermaid Tree, an enormous bifurcated boab on which the ship’s crew of the HMC Mermaid carved the name of the ship and year, 1820.

Wake to an entirely new vista at Montgomery Reef, the world’s largest inshore reef that boasts some of the Earth’s biggest tidal changes reaching up to 10 meters (33 feet). As the tides rise or fall, soft and hard coral are exposed, falling below sea level to create a remarkable spectacle.

Discovery: Join the Discovery Team to explore Montgomery Reef by Zodiac. If the timing is perfect, discover thousands of small waterfalls cascading down the reef and see incredible marine life, including sea turtles, octopi, sharks, rays, dolphins, and more.

Go ashore at Freshwater Cove, located in Worrora country. Meet traditional Dambimangari guides of the Arraluli clan and be immersed in the importance of their culture. Hear about the Traditional Owners and the story of how the Wijingarra, or native spotted quoll, came into being and how the area’s freshwater was created.

Sir David Attenborough named the Horizontal Falls at Talbot Bay “one of the greatest natural wonders of the world.” Created by a unique combination of geology and massive tidal surges squeezed through two narrow cliff passages, this is the only place in the world where horizontal falls exist. After a full day exploring this fascinating region, relax in the Vitality Pool on the Sky Deck and observe the breathtaking panoramic views.
 
Discovery: Explore some of the planet’s most unique waterways by Zodiac. Conditions permitting, journey through the narrow Talbot Creek, locally known as Cyclone Creek, to reveal gorgeous sandstone folding where you may spot rock wallabies on outcrops and 18 different species of birdlife, including Australian ibis, Brahminy kite, and brown honeyeater.

Koolan Island and the Cockatoo Islands are known as the Iron Islands; they are of significant interest to geology and geography enthusiasts. Over thousands of years, powerful tides have forged rugged cliffs of deep orange ochre.

Discovery: Your exploration by zodiacs and ashore will reveal unique native flora and fauna, including sea turtles and nesting birds, that flourish in the wilds of this remote location.

Over lunch on board, sail to remote and beautiful Oolin / Sunday Island, once home to the Jawi tribe that lived on the mission established in 1899. You meet local Jawi woman Rosanna Angus, whose family lived on Sunday Island in the early days of the mission.

Today, visit a chain of four flat coral islands where tens of thousands of seabirds thrive, including over 50 bird species, such as frigate birds, crested terns, pelicans, and speckled ruddy turnstones.

As this is your last evening on board, gather with new friends in one of the eight bars and lounges, sharing stories and photos of your wonderful journey of discovery.

Discovery: Join the Discovery Team on a Zodiac cruise and learn about amazing wildlife, such as successfully eradicating rats in 1986 and rejuvenating these treeless islands into a wildlife haven. Notably, it's home to around 18,000 pairs of brown boobies, possibly the world's largest colony, and 20,000 roseate terns in the A-class Nature Reserve. It's Western Australia's most important breeding habitat for green turtles and where thousands of humpback whales come to calve.

Your Discovery Voyage concludes today. Enjoy your final morning and take the chance to reflect on the rare and incredible experiences and the remarkable places you've visited, some of which very few have been before. Bid farewell to your friendly crew and new friends as you disembark in Broome.

Please book your flight to depart out of Broome after 10:00 AM.

The Kimberly region's waterways are part of a tidal river system, which results in changing water levels. Every effort is made to keep to the itinerary stated above; however, based on tides and operational requirements, the itinerary is a guide only and may be amended. Please refer to the terms and conditions for further information. Spa treatments are at an additional cost.