Kimberley Expedition, Indonesia & Papua New Guinea Cruise

Day 1 - Broome, Australien

Arrive: Wed 02 September 2026 / Depart: Wed 02 September 2026 at 18:00

Isolated on the farthest northwest corner of the continent, Broome thrived from its founding in 1883 based on the bounty of South Sea pearls found in offshore oyster beds. Even today, the pearling industry is active here, though most are now cultured. But Broome has grown into one of Australia’s premier holiday destinations, offering an amazing variety of attractions and activities for visitors. It boasts a splendid, 14-mile strand of soft white sand at Cable Beach, where people flock to enjoy sunset camel rides. And with 2,600 islands in the area and warm seas, it is a sportsman’s paradise. But the unique allure of the region is the unspoiled expanse of bizarre geological formations, waterways and ancient Aboriginal lands called the Kimberley. Corrugated with red-hued cliffs and escarpments, and laced with pristine waterways, swimming holes and waterfalls, the Kimberley is unlike any other landscape on earth. It invites visitors to cruise the coast, fly over the ranges, kayak the islands and explore the rugged terrain in 4WD vehicles. The only difficulty is deciding which adventure to partake of next.

Day 2 - Yampi Sound, Australia

Day 3 - Talbot Bay/Horizontal Waterfalls, WA

Arrive: Fri 04 September 2026 at 05:50

Day 4 - Talbot Bay/Horizontal Waterfalls, WA

Depart: Sat 05 September 2026 at 04:20

Day 4 - Montgomery Reef, Western Australia

Arrive: Sat 05 September 2026 / Depart: Sat 05 September 2026 at 11:30

Day 4 - Freshwater Cove, Australia

Day 5 - Swift Bay, Australia

Day 6 - Hunter River, Western Australia

Day 7 - Ashmore Reef

Arrive: Tue 08 September 2026 / Depart: Tue 08 September 2026

Day 8 - Vansittart Bay, WA

Arrive: Wed 09 September 2026 / Depart: Wed 09 September 2026

Day 9 - King George River, Western Australia

Arrive: Thu 10 September 2026 / Depart: Thu 10 September 2026

Day 10 - Darwin, Australia

Arrive: Fri 11 September 2026 at 18:00

Despite its small size, Darwin is a modern, multi-cultural city, and its proximity to Asia makes it ideal for travel. Named after the famous scientist, Charles Darwin, the area was originally settled by the Larrakia Aboriginals. The Dutch arrived and mapped the land in the 1600s, followed by the British in 1939, when the town was given its English name. Darwin has a beautiful coastline, as well as numerous parks and gardens, making the city a top spot for outdoor activities.

Day 11 - Darwin, Australia

Depart: Sat 12 September 2026

Despite its small size, Darwin is a modern, multi-cultural city, and its proximity to Asia makes it ideal for travel. Named after the famous scientist, Charles Darwin, the area was originally settled by the Larrakia Aboriginals. The Dutch arrived and mapped the land in the 1600s, followed by the British in 1939, when the town was given its English name. Darwin has a beautiful coastline, as well as numerous parks and gardens, making the city a top spot for outdoor activities.

Day 12 - At Sea

Day 13 - Ambon, Indonesia

Arrive: Mon 14 September 2026 at 08:00 / Depart: Mon 14 September 2026 at 17:00

See the Tiahahu Monument, a tribute to a young female Maluku freedom fighter, the Siwalima Museum’s ethnic arts and crafts, visit Soya Atas village, or the “Sacred Eels” of Waai.

Day 14 - At Sea

Day 15 - Kokas, Indonesia

Arrive: Wed 16 September 2026 at 08:00 / Depart: Wed 16 September 2026 at 17:00

Day 16 - Misool Islands

Arrive: Thu 17 September 2026 at 08:00 / Depart: Thu 17 September 2026 at 18:00

Day 17 - Yenwaupnor, Indonesia

Day 18 - Manokwari

Arrive: Sat 19 September 2026 / Depart: Sat 19 September 2026 at 18:00

Day 19 - Cenderawasih Bay

Day 20 - Cenderawasih Bay

Day 21 - Jayapura

Arrive: Tue 22 September 2026 at 10:00 / Depart: Tue 22 September 2026 at 23:00

Day 22 - Vanimo

Arrive: Wed 23 September 2026 at 07:00 / Depart: Wed 23 September 2026 at 15:00

Day 23 - At Sea

Day 24 - Garove Island (Witu Islands)

Arrive: Fri 25 September 2026 at 08:00 / Depart: Fri 25 September 2026 at 16:00

Day 25 - Duke of York Islands, Papua New Guinea

Arrive: Sat 26 September 2026 at 08:00 / Depart: Sat 26 September 2026 at 12:00

Day 25 - Rabaul

Arrive: Sat 26 September 2026 at 13:30 / Depart: Sat 26 September 2026 at 23:30

Day 26 - At Sea

Day 27 - Ghizo Island

Arrive: Mon 28 September 2026 at 08:00 / Depart: Mon 28 September 2026 at 15:00

Day 28 - Honiara

Arrive: Tue 29 September 2026 at 08:00 / Depart: Tue 29 September 2026 at 18:00

The Solomon Islands is a sovereign nation consisting of multiple island groups, scattered in the South Pacific east of Papua New Guinea. Its capital is Honiara, on the island of Guadalcanal. Many of the outlying islands in the nation are relatively untouched, but Honiara is a busier hub of international commerce. The islands’ recent history is scarred by the desperate battles fought between the Japanese and American forces during World War II. In 1942, the Japanese launched their last great land offensive in the islands, which culminated in the Battle of Henderson Field fought at Honiara. Of the estimated 36,000 Japanese troops on Guadalcanal at the beginning, only 1,000 survived, the rest having either been killed directly, or succumbed to disease and starvation. Ghostly evidence of this horrific warfare dots the island, and it is memorialized at the American Memorial overlooking the town and at a smaller Solomons Peace Memorial erected by the Japanese outside the city. On a lighter note, traditional arts and crafts are on display at the National Museum, which also boasts a display of eight traditional Melanesian houses from various parts of the country. Behind the museum is a cultural center. Above town there is a pleasant botanical garden, and the bustling Central Market is a great place to get a feel for everyday life in Honiara. Although English is the official language, only a small percentage of Solomonese speak it. The common language is Pijin.

Day 29 - At Sea

Day 30 - Vanikoro, Solomon Islands

Arrive: Thu 01 October 2026 at 06:00 / Depart: Thu 01 October 2026 at 13:00

Day 31 - Ambrym Island, Vanuatu

Arrive: Fri 02 October 2026 at 09:00 / Depart: Fri 02 October 2026 at 16:30

Day 32 - At Sea

Day 33 - Lautoka

Arrive: Sun 04 October 2026 at 07:00 / Depart: Sun 04 October 2026 at 17:00

A major seaport, Fiji's second-largest city, Lautoka is the main center of the sugar and timber industries. Towering royal palms march in a long, orderly row from the main street to the harbor and into the heart of the city. Although Lautoka grew up around the Fijan village of Namoli, it is a very Indian town today.

Day 34 - Kadavu, Fiji

Day 35 - Vulaga, Fiji

Day 36 - Pangai Motu

Arrive: Wed 07 October 2026 at 08:00 / Depart: Wed 07 October 2026 at 13:00

Day 36 - Nukupule Island, Ha'apai Group

Day 37 - Vavau, Tonga Islands

Arrive: Thu 08 October 2026 / Depart: Thu 08 October 2026 at 17:00

Vava?u is the island group of one large island and 40 smaller ones in Tonga. It is part of Vava?u District which includes several other individual islands. According to tradition the Maui god finished up both Tongatapu and Vava?u, but put a little more effort into the former.

Day 38 - At Sea

Day 39 - Apia

Arrive: Sat 10 October 2026 at 07:00 / Depart: Sat 10 October 2026 at 17:00

A total of sixteen islands comprise the Samoas, considered to be the heart of Polynesia. It was from these islands that early Polynesians sailed to populate other Pacific Islands. Today this chain of islands is divided into two political units - the U.S. Territory of American Samoa and the independent country of Western Samoa. Much of the charm of the Samoas lies in the simple village life and the friendly people, combined with a striking landscape of soaring mountain peaks, rugged coastlines, white sandy beaches and tropical rainforests rich in flowering plants. Western Samoa consists of a total of nine islands with the two main ones, Savi'i and Upolo, separated by a narrow strait. The country's capital Apia, resembling an old South Seas port during the early trading days, perches on the north coast of Upolo. Colonial-style wooden buildings and churches line the tree-shaded main street that curves around the harbor. The primary attractions include Parliament House, the village green, Independence Monument and the former home of Robert Louis Stevenson, now the residence of Western Samoa's head of state. A trip around the island passes mile after mile of stunning landscape, interspersed with tumbling waterfalls, breathtaking views, tiny villages, and coconut and cocoa plantations.

Day 39 - Cross International Dateline

Day 40 - At Sea

Day 41 - Aitutaki

Arrive: Mon 12 October 2026 / Depart: Mon 12 October 2026 at 17:00

Day 42 - At Sea

Day 43 - Raiatea

Arrive: Wed 14 October 2026 at 09:00 / Depart: Wed 14 October 2026

The second-largest of the Society Islands is practically twinned with its neighbor Taha’a. Actually they are connected by a reef in the same lagoon and may have been one island in the past. The main town, Uturoa is where most of the population lives. It’s lively, although no competition for Tahiti. Called the Sacred Island, Raiatea’s name means “bright sky,” and it was probably the first human community in the islands. The ancient sacred site of Taputapuatea is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and may have been the place from which Polynesian migrations to Hawaii, the Cook Islands, New Zealand and the rest of the South Pacific started. Although less touristed than Tahiti, caring for visitors has grown in importance. Agriculture is mainly given over to coconuts, pineapples and vanilla. Vanilla orchids are hand-pollinated, since Raiatea has no insect pollinators for vanilla blossoms. South Seas pearls are farmed in the lagoon in various colors. A hike up Mt. Tapioi rewards with stunning views of the lagoon and sea, and tall Bora Bora on the far horizon. Another favorite hike leads to the island’s three waterfalls. The tallest peak, Mt. Temehani, is the place to look for the unique, five-petaled Tiare Apetahi flowers that grow nowhere else. The lagoon is dotted with tiny motus, which are mostly coral sand beach, and are popular for castaway swimming and snorkeling adventures.

Day 44 - Huahine, French Polynesia

Arrive: Thu 15 October 2026 at 07:00 / Depart: Thu 15 October 2026 at 17:00

Huahine is an island located among the Society Islands, in French Polynesia, an overseas territory of France in the Pacific Ocean. It is part of the Leeward Islands group. At the 2017 census it had a population of 6,075.

Day 45 - Papeete

Arrive: Fri 16 October 2026 at 07:00 / Depart: Fri 16 October 2026 at 17:00

The islands of French Polynesia are acclaimed as the most beautiful in the South Pacific. Tahiti is the largest of the Polynesian islands and home to the capital city of Papeete, a delightful blend of cultures. Papeete, meaning the "water basket," was once a gathering place where Tahitians came to fill their calabashes with fresh water. Today, it is the gateway to the country, and boasts romantic resorts, fine dining, vibrant markets, pearl shops, and boutiques. Tahiti's mountainous interior is adorned with deep valleys and scenic waterfalls, while the rugged coastal lands are home to fields of tropical flowers, and glorious white and black sand beaches.