Broome To Darwin

Broome, situated on a peninsula in the Kimberley region of Western Australia, is known as the ‘pearl of the north’ due to its being the home of the South Sea pearls, among the largest commercially harvested cultured pearls in the world. In the 1800s Broome attracted pearl divers from Japan, Malaysia and the Philippines, resulting in the delightful multicultural town it is today. Visitors can witness first-hand how Broome pearls are cultured on a cruise to a local pearl farm, and hear the romantic stories of the original pearl luggers. Visit the amazing pearl showrooms of Chinatown. Read more about Broome, Australia

Talbot Bay encloses the 800, rugged and sparsely vegetated islands of the Buccaneer Archipelago in the Kimberley region of Western Australia. The major attraction, drawing thousands of visitors each year, is the Horizontal 'two way' Waterfall' that results from massive tidal movements that cause a waterfall effect as water banks up against one side of a narrow coastal gorge, then hurtles through, sideways, up to 5 metres high, to be repeated again on the turning tide! Naturalist David described the Horizontal Falls as "One of the greatest wonders of the natural world". Read more about Talbot Bay, Australia

The Montgomery Reef is Australia's largest inshore reef system covering more than 300km2, near the mouth of the Sale River off the Kimberley coast of West Australia. At high tide you see very little of the Reef but as the tide drops rapidly away a raging torrent of water, cascading off the top of this 400ha reef erupts, as miles of surrounding reef appears to slowly rise out of the ocean. Read more about Montgomery Reef, Australia

Raft Point is an uninhabited headland with imposing steep cliffs on the Timor Sea, near the mouth of the Sale River in the Kimberley region of Western Australia. It overlooks a small sandy bay served by several creeks, and is ideal for crabbing and some amazing fishing. Raft Point is a base for shore expeditions to some of the country's most remarkable Aboriginal rock art. Walk for about 20 minutes with a 150 m uphill climb to see the large spectacular pictures of many quality Wandjina figures amongst other depictions of marine and wildlife – dugongs, original inhabitants and X-ray fish. Read more about Raft Point, Australia

Hunter River has its headwaters in the Kimberley region of Western Australia and flows into the NE corner of the beautiful Prince Frederick Harbour and York Sound. The river was named in 1820 by the explorer Philip Parker King, after the surgeon, James Hunter, on the ship the Mermaid. Lined with green rainforest, mangroves and soaring red cliffs, the scenery is truly spectacular. The river is noted for a distinctive rock formation at its mouth, with cliffs reaching some 200m in height. Read more about Hunter River, Australia

Vansittart Bay lies 530km WSW of Darwin, on the Kimberley coast of Western Australia, facing the Indian Ocean. A small stream, low rock platforms, and the sparse Truscott-Mungalalu Plateau face the bay. This is a protected large bay with numerous small islands and secluded coves that offer plenty of fishing. It is best known for its excellent rock art, regarded by many as possibly the oldest known to man. Read more about Vansittart Bay, Australia

Wyndham, located where the King River meets the Cambridge Gulf, is the oldest and northernmost town in the Kimberley region of Western Australia. Over 5000 gold diggers entered the colony in 1885 through Wyndham, heading for the southern gold fields near Halls Creek. The large jarrah jetty, built in the 1890s to export cattle, was also a catalyst to its growth. A few kilometres along the Gulf, Wyndham East is the main residential and shopping area. Read more about Wyndham, Australia

Yamdena Island is the main island of the Tanimbar Archipelago, 500 km due north of Darwin, Australia. The island lies in the Maluku Province of Indonesia, on the edges of the Timor Sea and the Arafura Sea. The island’s principal town, Saumlaki, is a port on the southern coast. The island is largely unpopulated, with deserted coconut-fringed white coral beaches and atolls, and lush forests teeming with birds and wild orchids, so that trekking and bird watching is very popular. Read more about Yamdena Island, Indonesia

The new Darwin cruise ship terminal at Fort Hill Wharf is adjacent to the convention centre, only one kilometre from Darwin’s CBD. Modern amenities, hotels and parking are there, plus a mini-market with beautiful local productions – Aboriginal art and crafts, diamonds and opals, and eateries, distinctive of the Top End. Darwin is a home port for the small luxury vessels Coral Princess and Coral Discoverer that explore the Kimberley coast to Broome. A score of cruise ship lines include Darwin in their itineraries for Australia, Indonesia, South-East Asia and World Cruises. Read more about Darwin, Australia