The company said that 30 years ago, when it made the first exploratory cruises in the Kimberley, it had to rely on hand-drawn ‘mudmaps’ and the knowledge of fishermen and early explorers to navigate the vast and unpredictable coastline.
Today, with decades of experience, Coral Expeditions' just-released guide features current maps with itinerary locations, voyage highlights and details of its three-ship fleet — the 120-passenger Coral Geographer and Coral Adventurer and the 72-passenger Coral Discoverer — all with shallow drafts to access the remote wilderness of the Kimberley.
Xplorer tenders
As well as Zodiacs, they have the company’s high-speed Xplorer tenders that are brought to the main deck by a hydraulic lift for easy access before being lowered into the water.
The Xplorers, that carry from 60 to 72 passengers, have padded seats, an overhead canopy and a toilet.
First-hand reports
The new guide also reproduces first-hand reports of expedition leaders and guest lecturers about their Kimberley experiences.
‘As the pioneer of expedition cruising in Australia, our Kimberley expedition is a well-established true Australian signature experience that is unrivalled by any other competitor,’ MD Mark Fifield said.
‘We are delighted to present our 2024-25 Kimberley guide, a testament to our continued commitment to provide unparalleled adventure experiences,’ Fifield said.
Coral Expeditions’ first 2024 Kimberley cruise departs Broome for Darwin on April 5.
Footnote: Many passengers wonder about the Kimberley’s name.
The region was named in 1879 by government surveyor Alexander Forrest after Secretary of State for the Colonies, John Wodehouse, 1st Earl of Kimberley.
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