11 Night Cairns-Darwin Cruise Itinerary: Cairns - Thursday island - Gove - Darwin

Day 1: 03:00pm: Board the Coral Princess at Trinity Warf, Cairns. This evening enjoy the Captain’s Welcome Aboard Cocktail Party.

Day 2: Lizard Island: Here we explore one of the most beautiful islands on the Queensland Coast.
Enjoy swimming and snorkelling. As special guests of the Lizard Island Research Station we have an opportunity to learn of the research being undertaken to help understand and preserve the Great Barrier Reef.

Day 3: Visit Stanley Island in the Flinders Group to view the Endaen Aboriginal rock art gallery depicting sailing ships of the last century. This is a unique art site seldom visited due to its isolated location. At Davey Reef and Cay we enjoy swimming and snorkelling and observe the large seabird rookery.

Day 4: Forbes Island and reef: Enjoy the day exploring this historical island. Time for swimming, snorkelling, diving and reef fishing.

Day 5: For the early risers we go ashore at Cape York and as the sun rises at the “Tip” we enjoy champagne and welcome the new day. Anchoring at Thursday Island we will learn of the history of European settlement and the large pearling fleets. We will also have the opportunity to observe the distinctly different cultures of the Torres Strait Islanders and the Aboriginals. We enjoy a tour of the island and are guests of the local school when the children perform traditional dances. We then visit Horn Island and learn of the significance of the Torres Strait Islands during World War II. Overnight at Gateway Torres Strait Resort.

Day 6: Following a tour of the island we board our charter flight across the Gulf of Carpentaria to Nhulunbuy (Gove). Here we join a tour of the Nabalco bauxite mine and visit the Nambarra and Yirrkala Arts and Crafts centres. Overnight at the Walkabout Lodge.

Day 7: This morning we rejoin Coral Princess and cruise the English Company Islands & Malay Straits. Weather and tides permitting we land at Wigram Island and enjoy a beach BBQ as special guests of Terry Yumbulul, the Traditional Owner of these beautiful islands.

Day 8: Wessel Islands: Cruise through the unique ‘Hole in the Wall”. Here our expert guides and lecturers will share with you the fascinating history of the Macassan traders and early discoverers to the Arnham Land coast.

Day 9: Arnhem Land. Cruising the Arnhem land coast and Bowen Straits we land in Raffles Bay and learn of the failed Fort Wellington Settlement.

Day 10: On Coburg Peninsula, Port Essington is famous for the ruins of the failed Victoria Settlement. Here we use the services of the National Park Rangers to guide and help us explore the ruins. We will also visit the Ranger’s Interpretation Centre at Black Point.

Day 11: Visit Bathurst and Melville Islands. With traditional Tiwi as our guides we learn of the unique cultures of the Tiwi people and visit their fascinating art centres. There is the opportunity to purchase their wonderful screen-printing, art, woodcarvings and pottery. Tonight Enjoy the Captain’s Farewell Cocktail Party.

Day 12: 08:00am: Arrive into the Darwin the capital of the Northern Territory and gateway to the “Top End”.

Please Note: This itinerary is an indication of the reef, islands and coastal areas we visit. While every effort will be made to follow the itinerary we do reserve the right to vary this itinerary to make allowances for weather and tidal conditions and any other event that may affect the operation of the vessel.

11 Night Darwin-Cairns Cruise Itinerary: Darwin - Gove - Thursday Island - Cairns

Day 1: 07:00am: Board the Coral Princess at Darwin, the capital of the Northern Territory and gateway to the “Top End”. Depart Darwin at 08:00am for the Tiwi Islands. This afternoon we visit Bathurst and Melville Islands. With traditional Tiwi as our guides we learn of the unique cultures of the Tiwi people and visit their fascinating art centres. There is the opportunity to purchase their wonderful screen-printing, art, woodcarvings and pottery. This evening enjoy the Captain’s Welcome Aboard Cocktail Party.

Day 2: On Coburg Peninsula, Port Essington is famous for the ruins of the failed Victoria Settlement. Here we use the services of the National Park Rangers to guide and help us explore the ruins. We will also visit the Ranger’s Interpretation Centre at Black Point.

Day 3: Having cruised through Bowen Strait and across the Arnham Land coast we make landfall on one the beautiful islands of the Wessell Group. Here our expert guides and lecturers will share with you the fascinating history of the Macassan traders and early discoverers. Time and tides permitting we will enjoy a beach BBQ on one of these uninhabited islands.

Day 5: We cruise through “The Hole in the Wall”, Malay Straits and berth in the port of Nhulunbuy (Gove). On disembarking we are transferred to the Walkabout Lodge, tonight’s accommodation.

Day 6: This morning we join a tour of the Nabalco bauxite mine and Nambarra Art Centre. After lunch we visit the Yirrkala Arts and crafts centre and transfer to the airport for our charter flight across the Gulf of Carpentaria to Horn Island. Here we enjoy a tour of the island and learn of the significance of the Torres Strait Islands during World War II. Accommodation tonight is at the Gateway Torres Strait Resort.

Day 7: This morning we are transferred by ferry to Thursday Island and rejoin Coral Princess. During the tour of Thursday Island we learn of the history of European settlement and the large pearling fleets. We will also have the opportunity to observe the distinctly different cultures of the Torres Strait Islanders and the Aboriginals. This afternoon we are guests of the local school when the children perform traditional dances for us. Following a short cruise to Cape York we go ashore and enjoy the sunset and champagne at the “Tip”.

Day 8: Forbes Island and reef: Enjoy the day exploring this historical island. Time for swimming, snorkelling, diving and reef fishing.

Day 9: Davey Reef/Flinders Group of Islands: at Davey Reef and Cay we enjoy swimming and snorkelling and observe the large seabird rookery. We then go ashore at Stanley Island and view the Endaen Aboriginal rock art gallery depicting sailing ships of the last century. This is a unique art site seldom visited due to its isolated location. Time permitting we will also go ashore at Cape Melville famous for its peculiar mass of granite boulders that have tumbled down to the waters edge.

Day 10: Lizard Island: Here we spend the day at one of the most beautiful islands on the Queensland Coast. We have the opportunity to climb Cook’s Look, enjoy swimming and snorkelling and explore the Blue Lagoon.

Day 11: Ribbon Reefs. Enjoy the day snorkelling, swimming and coral viewing on the magnificent Great Barrier Reef. This evening join the Captain and crew for his farewell cocktail party.

Day 12: Arrive into the Port of Cairns at approximately 08:00am.

Please Note: This itinerary is an indication of the reef, islands and coastal areas we visit. While every effort will be made to follow the itinerary we do reserve the right to vary this itinerary to make allowances for weather and tidal conditions and any other event that may affect the operation of the vessel.