Iconic Kimberley with Ponant Explorations
Darwin to Broome | 15 August – 25 August 2027
11 days from $19,240 per person twin share
Selected departure through Emma Whiting Travel
An extraordinary expedition voyage through one of Australia’s wildest and most remote coastal regions, combining PONANT’s refined small-ship style with Zodiac exploration, ancient rock art, dramatic gorges and exclusive added value through Emma Whiting Travel.
What’s Included
10 nights aboard Le Jacques-Cartier in your selected stateroom or suite
All-inclusive cruising onboard PONANT
All meals onboard including breakfast, lunch and dinner
Unlimited champagne, wine, beer and spirits onboard
Mini-bar replenished as required
All Zodiac excursions and shore landings
Fully guided expedition activities and nature walks
Expert expedition team including Kimberley specialists and naturalists
Daily briefings, lectures and enrichment commentary
All port charges and landing fees
Transfer from the pier to the airport at the end of the voyage
200€ onboard credit per person
Onboard gratuities to the value of AUD $200 per person
AUD $500 Emma Whiting Travel voucher
The wild beauty of the Kimberley
There are few places in Australia that feel as remote, powerful and untouched as the Kimberley coast — a landscape of ancient sandstone cliffs, tidal rivers, waterfalls, mangroves, reef systems and remarkable cultural history.
Travelling aboard Le Jacques-Cartier, this 11-day PONANT expedition voyage journeys from Darwin to Broome through some of the region’s most extraordinary natural sites, including King George Falls, Vansittart Bay, Hunter River, Montgomery Reef and the Lacepede Islands.
Each day is shaped by tides, weather and expedition conditions, allowing the Captain and Expedition Leader to adapt the journey to create the best possible experience. With Zodiac outings, guided shore landings and expert naturalist commentary, the Kimberley is explored in a way that feels immersive, considered and deeply connected to place
Why this journey
This selected departure has been chosen for travellers who want to experience the Kimberley in depth, while still enjoying the comfort and service of a refined small expedition ship.
PONANT’s Kimberley voyages combine remote access with elegant onboard living. Days may include Zodiac cruising through gorges, guided walks to ancient rock art galleries, wildlife viewing around mangroves and islands, or watching tidal waters cascade from Montgomery Reef.
Through booking with Emma Whiting Travel, guests also receive exclusive added value including 200€ onboard credit per person, onboard gratuities to the value of AUD $200 per person and an AUD $500 Emma Whiting Travel voucher.
Inclusions
10 nights aboard Le Jacques-Cartier
All-inclusive cruising onboard PONANT
All meals onboard
Fine French-inspired cuisine
Unlimited champagne, wine, beer and spirits onboard
Soft drinks, specialty teas and espresso coffee
Mini-bar replenished as required
All Zodiac excursions and shore landings
Guided expedition activities and nature walks, conditions permitting
Expert expedition team including naturalists and Kimberley specialists
Daily briefings, lectures and enrichment commentary
All port charges and landing fees
Transfer from the pier to the airport at the end of the voyage
200€ onboard credit per person
Onboard gratuities to the value of AUD $200 per person
AUD $500 Emma Whiting Travel voucher per person
The Experience
A Kimberley expedition aboard Le Jacques-Cartier feels both adventurous and deeply comfortable.
Days are spent exploring remote coastlines by Zodiac, travelling through dramatic gorges, observing wildlife and visiting ancient Aboriginal rock art sites with an expert expedition team. Evenings return you to the calm of the ship, where French-inspired dining, panoramic lounges and attentive service create a relaxed and elegant atmosphere.
With the itinerary guided by tides and conditions, the experience has a true sense of expedition — flexible, immersive and shaped by the landscape itself.
Journey Highlights
Expedition voyage from Darwin to Broome
King George River and King George Falls
Ancient Aboriginal rock art at Vansittart Bay and Swift Bay
Remote marine environment of Ashmore Reef
Historic Careening Bay and Mermaid boab tree
Hunter River mangroves and wildlife
Collier Bay and Montgomery Reef tidal landscapes
Lacepede Islands seabird and turtle sanctuary
Zodiac excursions and guided shore landings
Expert naturalist guides and onboard enrichment
Itinerary
Day 1 – Darwin
Board Le Jacques-Cartier in Darwin and settle into life onboard before departing this evening.
Day 2 – King George River
Explore the dramatic sandstone gorge of the King George River and, conditions permitting, travel by Zodiac towards the majestic King George Falls.
Day 3 – Vansittart Bay
Discover ancient Gwion Gwion rock art galleries with your expedition team during a guided shore visit.
Day 4 – Ashmore Reef
Visit the remote Ashmore Reef region, an important protected marine and birdlife environment, subject to weather and operational conditions.
Day 5 – Careening Bay
Step ashore at historic Careening Bay, known for the Mermaid boab tree carved during Phillip Parker King’s 1820 voyage.
Day 6 – Swift Bay
Explore the rugged Bonaparte Archipelago and view Wandjina and Gwion Gwion rock art galleries.
Day 7 – Hunter River
Cruise through mangroves and sandstone escarpments while looking for birdlife, wildlife and saltwater crocodiles.
Days 8 & 9 – Collier Bay
Experience the extraordinary tidal landscapes of Collier Bay and Montgomery Reef, where water cascades from the reef as the tide falls.
Day 10 – Lacepede Islands
Explore by Zodiac around this important seabird and Green Turtle breeding sanctuary.
Day 11 – Broome
Disembark in Broome after an unforgettable expedition through the Kimberley.
Train & Accommodation
Your journey is aboard Le Jacques-Cartier, part of PONANT’s elegant Explorer series.
Designed for refined expedition cruising, the ship offers contemporary staterooms and suites, French-inspired dining, panoramic lounges, outdoor deck spaces, wellness facilities and a relaxed onboard atmosphere.
Its smaller size allows access to remote Kimberley waterways, bays and coastal landscapes that larger ships simply cannot reach, while still offering the comfort and service expected of a luxury expedition voyage.
Why book this selected departure through Emma Whiting Travel
Booking this selected departure through Emma Whiting Travel includes a range of exclusive additional benefits designed to enhance the value of your Kimberley expedition experience.
Alongside PONANT’s all-inclusive onboard offering, guests booking through Emma Whiting Travel for this departure will receive:
200€ onboard credit per person to enjoy during your voyage
Onboard gratuities to the value of AUD $200 per person included
AUD $500 Emma Whiting Travel voucher per person
Together, these inclusions provide over AUD $1000 in additional value per booking, creating a wonderful opportunity to experience one of PONANT’s most sought-after Kimberley voyages with additional benefits not included as standard on many departures.
Beyond the inclusions themselves, guests also enjoy the reassurance of booking through Emma Whiting Travel, with personalised service, expedition cruise expertise and support before departure to help ensure every detail is taken care of ahead of your journey through the Kimberley.
We would be delighted to help you reserve your place on this extraordinary Kimberley expedition
Contact Emma Whiting Travel to reserve your place
Please complete our booking form, or call us now on (03) 9481 1077.