Whales & Reef Expeditions 2010

Kimberley Whale Watching – Whales & Reef Expeditions 2010

Announcing something new for 2010…

Join us for an exciting expedition to parts of the Kimberley coast seldom visited by other boats….

Kimberley Whale Watching in conjunction with The Great Escape Charter Company are offering you the opportunity to join them on their inaugural Whales & Reefs Research Expedition Cruises from July to September 2010.

Did you know the West Australian population of Humpback Whales has staged one of the most successful population increases since the cessation of whaling in the 1970s?

and this is just the beginning…

Home to the world’s largest population of Humpback whales, with 13,000km of coastline, and 2,815 charted islands, the Kimberley coast is widely regarded as one of the world’s last great Wilderness areas. Almost entirely uninhabited, every island wears a fringing reef rich in marine life. These islands and reefs are an important part of the whale nursery, as Humpback cows seek to shelter their young from bulls seeking a mate.

The 7 night itineraries involve enjoying the glorious Kimberley coast in style and comfort aboard MV Kimberley Escape, whilst contributing toward important Humpback Whale research.

Explore with the experts….

Richard Costin (Kimberley Whale Watching) is your expedition leader. Richard and his partner, Annabelle Sandes, have spent the last four years studying the behaviour and distribution of cetaceans on the Kimberley coast. A keen bushwalker, Richard is a documentary film-maker with an infectious passion for the Kimberley coast. Richard has been walking and exploring the Kimberley for the past twenty seven years, and has an intimate knowledge of this spectacular region.

“For us this is not just a job, this is our passion, our love, our life.”

The Great Escape Charter Company’s Chris Tucker and his crew are committed to providing experiences, which are genuinely extraordinary. As the only owner operator-based crew, we can provide the kind of attentive, individualized service you need to make your vacation absolutely stress free.

Watch in amazement….

Witness the fascinating behaviour of the whales in their own habitat with the onboard Hydrophone and view other marine life with drop cameras.

Be a pioneer….

These expedition cruises will research new areas of the Kimberley coast to expand knowledge and understanding of the Humpback Whale’s Kimberley habitat and distribution.

What is it all about….?

The focus of these expeditions will be photo identification, as each whale has a unique pattern of black and white on the underside of the tail flukes. Furthermore, the research trips will be exploring and expanding our knowledge of the Kimberley offshore islands and reefs.

The extensive Kimberley reef systems are an integral part of the rich ecology of the region. As part of the Kimberley Research expeditions, you will visit reefs rich in marine life and almost untouched by man. You will visit Australia’s largest inshore reef, the iconic Montgomery Reef to witness the spectacular rush of water on a falling tide.

Every reef is subtly different; some covered in dense kelp mats and hard corals, and others sandy cays. You will discover magnificent sponge gardens, hard and soft corals, turtles, crabs, fish, nudibranchs and many other species. With limited research on Kimberley reefs to date, you may even discover something new!

The wild and remote Wildcat Reef and surrounds are a haven for sea snakes, and a resting place for Humpback Whales, it supports abundant birdlife, and are a major rookery for bird species including Lesser Frigate Birds and Brown Boobies.

A typical itinerary of your Whale & Reef Expedition Cruise

Click here to download the brochure, prices and itinerary

Day One

After a warm welcome from the friendly crew, we depart Broome early morning for a spectacular cruise up the Dampier Peninsular, past pindan cliffs and turquoise water, to the Lacepede Islands named by Nicholas Baudin in 1802 after the Compte de Lacepede, a French naturalist. The Lacepedes are a resting area for Humpback Whales. After exploring the wonders of the Lacepedes we will anchor at Beagle Bay for the night.

Day Two

We set sail early morning for Adele Island, passing Alarm Shoals and Tasmanian Shoals, both noted as Humpbacks whale congregation areas, and rich in marine life such as turtles, mackerel, tuna, sea snakes and dolphins. We anchor for the night at Adele Island, an important bird rookery.

Day Three

Start the day with an early morning walk on Adele Island, and marvel at the meadows of Saltwater couch grass which shelter nesting birds. After exploring Adele we will cruise past Dingo Shoals and Wildcat Reef, to anchor for the night at Champagny Island in Camden Sound.

Day Four

Wake early and explore Wildcat Reef, one of the wildest and most remote reefs on the Kimberley coast. You may see sea snakes coiled on the surface of the water, and dolphins and other cetaceans sheltering behind the reef. We will anchor for the night at Augustus Island at the top of Camden Sound.

Day Five

This morning we will explore the extensive reef system at the northern end of Augustus Island, one of the most spectacular reefs on the Kimberley coast, before heading down to Deception Bay for a swim at Butterfly Gorge, and then on to Raft Point in Doubtful Bay.

Day Six

A bracing early morning walk up Raft Point to view an Aboriginal painting gallery, and then cruise to Montgomery Reef to see the tide cascading off the reef. The waters around Montgomery Reef are rich in Turtles and crocodiles. An afternoon steam down to Collier Bay and the Travese Island Group provides ample opportunity for whale watching. We anchor for the night in Talbot Bay.

Day Seven

Wake to the magnificent cliffs of Talbot Bay, followed by a thrilling ride through the Horizontal Waterfalls, which David Attenborough has named one of the Great Natural Wonders of the World. Afterwards, enjoy a walk on Turtle Reef, a vast and extensive reef system, followed by a freshwater swin at Croc Creek, then on to Myridi Bay, Silicon Beach and anchor at Cape Leveque.

Day Eight

Early morning departure for a spectacular flight from One Arm Point back to Broome.

Step aboard MV Kimberley Escape for a wilderness adventure like no other….Rest assured that by journeys ends, you’ll be describing your Kimberley Escape experience as the most amazing, relaxing and enjoyable holiday ever, exceeding all expectations.

To us, tourism is not about getting mass numbers through the door, it is about making new friends and sharing our experience and enthusiasm with those seeking a true Kimberley adventure.

Click here to contact us for more info or complete the form below