Travel Advice
Duration
11 Nights
Journey Type
Sailing from Australia
Ports
9 Ports
9 June
Setting sail from Darwin
More of a large town than a city, Darwin is less about what's contained within the city limits and more about the huge expanse of wild landscape that's outside it. Closer to Jakarta than Sydney, the city really does feel remote in its tropical perch. There are a number of waterfront restaurants and pretty parks, making it a pleasant place to relax after a long flight. For those with the energy we highly recommend a visit to Litchfield and Kakadu National Parks.
Our tip
Visit Litchfield National Park and embark on a crocodile-spotting boat trip, where you can see these intimidating, prehistoric beasts jump clean out of the water for a meal.
10 June
At sea
11 June
Australia: Ashmore and Cartier Islands
12 June
At sea
13 June
Australia: Wyndham
Wyndham is the oldest major settlement in the Kimberley region, a former gold rush town surrounded by mangrove swamps and mudflats. The town is also the gateway to the remarkable Bungle Bungle mountains, known to the local aborigines for centuries but only ‘discovered’ by the outside world in the 1980s.
14 June
Australia: Koolama Bay
15 June
Australia: Vansittart Bay
Vansittart Bay lies close to the northern tip of Western Australia, and is home to some interesting examples of aboriginal rock art. You can also take a trip across a lagoon to visit the intact wreckage of a C-53 aircraft that crash landed here during the Second World War.
16 June
At sea
17 June
Australia: Freshwater Cove
17 June
Australia: Montgomery Reef
Montgomery Reef was once described as the ‘Eighth Wonder of the World’ by Sir David Attenborough. At low tide the sea level drops so rapidly that the waters trapped inside the reef create a raging torrent as they escape, teeming with wildlife including turtles, sea birds, sharks, octopuses and even dugongs.
18 June
Australia: Horizontal Falls (Talbot Bay)
Talbot Bay is home to one of the world’s most unusual natural wonders, the ‘Horizontal Falls’. This amazing spectacle occurs when tidal movements force water through the narrow gaps in the ridges either side of Poulton Creek, with the water building up on one side quicker than it can flow through the gap, causing a spectacular waterfall effect.
19 June
Arriving in Broome
Western Australia is a closed book to many UK visitors, and those who do choose this coast often get no further than Perth and the Margaret River. For travellers by ship, however, Broome is the gateway to the extraordinary Kimberley region. But that's not all: it is also the pearling capital of Australia and boasts fantastic white sand beaches and memorable sunsets. Very relaxed nowadays, Broome was the centre of the 'pearl rush' in the 1800s, which resulted in a real melting pot of cultures here, with Japanese, Filipino and Malay influences.
Don't miss
Visit a local pearl farm to learn all about this fascinating process, not to mention the history of the first pearlers. Shop for samples in Chinatown!
Your home from home
The intimate and popular Silver Cloud is reborn as a stylish expedition ship, following an extensive refurbishment in August 2017.
What we love
The lovely Silver Cloud is now part of Silversea's Expeditions fleet, with a reduced capacity, an ice-strengthened hull and 18 zodiacs making this one of the most luxurious expedition ships at sea.
| Capacity | 254 guests (240 guests in polar regions) |
|---|---|
| Crew | 208 International Staff |
| Style | Cosy, welcoming, stimulating, exciting - this ship has it all! If you enjoy the finer things in life but have an adventurous spirit, you will find yourself in congenial company on board. |
| Inclusions |
|
| Year built | 1994 |
| Last refurbished | 2017 |
| Tonnage | 16,800 grt |
| Length | 514 feet |
| Breadth | 71 feet |
| Cruising speed | 18 knots |
Tailor-make your trip
Ways to make it better
Where to stay near Darwin
Don’t hang around in Darwin itself; if you want to see more of the Top End, we recommend Bamurru Plains.
Visit the Red Centre
From Darwin take a flight to the Red Centre to see the magical sites of Uluru and Kings Canyon, yet another one of those once in a lifetime experiences!
Where to stay in Broome
For a back to nature setting with added style, go for Eco Beach - a unique wilderness experience.
Explore the Kimberley region
At Gantheaume Point at low tide you will see ancient dinosaur footprints – magical!
