Silversea Fremantle (Perth), Western Australia To Darwin Expedition Cruise

Coming in at number seven on Lonely Planet’s list of best places to live, Fremantle has finally begun to shake off the shadow of neighbouring big brother Perth. With just 20 kilometres separating the two cities, Perth, with its happy hippie vibe has long been the big pull for visitors to the region. But Fremantle’s colourful past and bright future gives Perth as good as it gets. The coastal city has undergone a complete revamp since the America’s Cup thrust Fremantle into the spotlight in 1987. Over AUS$ 1,3 billion has been poured into revamping the city, and the fruits of the city’s labour are ripe for picking. Investment in the arts has brought Fremantle to the fore of thriving urban culture, while generous grants for small businesses has led to groovy live-music rooms, hipster bars, boutique hotels, left-field bookshops, craft-beer breweries, Indian Ocean seafood shacks amid the buskers and beaches. If that doesn’t not sound like your glass of beer, we guarantee a stroll along the wooden riverside walkway will change your mind. The city also enjoys another, rather different status. Fremantle was one of Australia’s penal cities, vestiges of which can still be found in Fremantle Prison. Almost 10,000 convicts were condemned to life imprisonment here between 1850 and 1868, but the prison remained in use until 1991. Today, the memorable sandstone building is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and at just 15 minutes from port is well worth a visit. Just don’t forget your get out of jail free card.

Shark Bay is Australia’s largest bay, with a beach stretching over 1,000 kilometers. François Peron National Park lies within the Shark Bay World Heritage area and adjacent to the Shark Bay Marine Park. This is where the rust-red desert sand meets the dazzling white-sand beach and the azure waters of the sea. At the northerly tip of the national park is Cape Peron, sitting at the confluence of two major currents, the cape attracts an impressive array of marine life. Take a hike with the expedition team from Cape Peron to the Skipjack Point viewing platforms, perched on the cliff edge with views out across the marine park. Alternatively, join the expedition team for an interpretive nature walk through the impressive landscape of acacia-cloaked red dunes and arid shrublands surrounded by turquoise water with views over the coastline.

1 Included Shore Excursion - Expedition Activities with Silversea Expedition team

Days at sea are the perfect opportunity to relax, unwind and catch up with what you’ve been meaning to do. So whether that is going to the gym, visiting the spa, whale watching, catching up on your reading or simply topping up your tan, these blue sea days are the perfect balance to busy days spent exploring shore side.

Ningaloo coral reef is a fringing reef that abuts the mainland shoreline south of the town of Exmouth. At 300 km (185 miles) long, it is the longest and most pristine fringing reef in the world. The coral even extends into the intertidal zone. Much of the limestone coast is in the arid Cape Range National Park. This is where the desert meets the coral, and both are included in the Ningaloo Coast World Heritage Area. An arid climate means little rain and soil runs off from the land, leaving the sea turquoise clear and making snorkelling a dream. Within Cape Range National Park, you will appreciate wave-cut limestone escarpments and rugged gorges like Yardie Creek. Cape Range has a diversity of eco-systems including eucalypt woodlands, acacia scrublands and spinifex grasslands. Australia is a land of lizards and here skinks, dragons, monitors and geckos are in their element. Euros (Hill Kangaroos) are common although they, and their smaller cousins the Black-flanked Rock-wallabies, hide in the shade on hot days. It is a busy calendar at Exmouth. During January/February thousands of sea turtles come ashore to nest. In March to July Whale Sharks gather offshore. From June to October migrating Humpback Whales heading south pass close to shore. June to August is the peak time for a colourful variety of wildflowers like the green Bird Flower, crimson Sturts Desert Pea and purple Yardie Morning Glory which is found nowhere else. There is always something to see where the wet and dry paradises meet.

4 Included Shore Excursions - Tantabiddi Reef Glass Bottom Boat, Turquoise Bay Snorkeling, Ningaloo Reef Snorkeling, Kayak and Snorkel Adventure

Montebello is Italian for ‘beautiful mountain’. What a misnomer! The islands are low, flat and arid. They were named by French Explorer Nicolas Baudin in 1801 after a battle in Italy. The war-like name may suit, as the British used the islands for three nuclear bomb tests in the 1950s. Today visitors must avoid two radioactive islands. Other islands are okay to explore. Two endangered mammals—the Mala (Rufous Hare-Wallaby) and the Djoongari (Shark Bay Mouse)— thrive here. They were almost wiped out by introduced cats and foxes on the mainland and were brought to this island ark for safety. The 170 islands are 120 kilometres (75 miles) off mainland Australia. Aboriginal people visited until eight thousand years ago, when rising sea levels after the last ice age made them too far offshore to reach. The next visitors were in 1622 when survivors of the wrecked British ship Tryall reached the arid islands. Porcupine Grass or Spinifex grows on rocky areas while wattle shrubs favour sand. The islands are an important seabird breeding colony. Look for Roseate and Greater Crested Terns. Sooty Oystercatchers forage on the rocks while Beach Stone-curlews roam beaches. Coral reefs and lagoons surround the islands in the Montebello Marine Park. One hundred and fifty species of hard coral, 450 species of fish and 170 species of echinoderms (sea stars, sea urchins and sea cucumbers) keep snorkellers happy. Green, Hawksbill and Flatback Turtles nest on beaches and provide highlights when seen in the water.

1 Included Shore Excursion - Zodiac Cruise with Silversea Expedition team

Rust coloured rocks contrasting with pale Spinifex grass, white beaches and aquamarine seas create a scenic kaleidoscope in the Dampier Archipelago. Forty-two islands lie around the similarly coloured Burrup Peninsula. The archipelago is named after William Dampier, the English pirate turned explorer, who was the first European visitor in 1699. But the occupation of the area is ancient. The archipelago and peninsula are known as Murujuga by the Aboriginal people. Clearly recognisable are animals and people, while mythical beings and geometric patterns require more interpretation. The Dampier Marine Park protects the archipelago’s coral reefs, sponge gardens and seagrass meadows. A five-metre tidal range adds rocky shores and sand flats to this list of habitats. A high biodiversity of corals and fish are matched by 1200 molluscs. Four turtle species live in these waters including Flatback and Hawksbill Turtles. Snorkelling here reveals a rich sample of this treasure trove of life. Flora and fauna on the arid rocky islands require good adaptations. Reptiles and the shy Rothschild’s Rock Wallaby escape the midday sun in rocky overhangs. Much of the birdlife, like Ospreys and Sea-eagles, rely on the sea for food. Look for their huge stick nests on seaside rocks. Some nests are decades old, an easier time span to grasp.

2 Included Shore Excursions -Zodiac Cruise with Silversea Expedition team, Expedition activities with Silversea Expedition team

Days at sea are the perfect opportunity to relax, unwind and catch up with what you’ve been meaning to do. So whether that is going to the gym, visiting the spa, whale watching, catching up on your reading or simply topping up your tan, these blue sea days are the perfect balance to busy days spent exploring shore side.

Declared an A-class nature reserve in 1970, the Lacapede Islands are a little paradise for bird lovers. Its brown booby colony, possibly the largest on the planet, awaits you with a joyful cacophony. Even if located just off the impressive Kimberley Coast, an expedition to the Lacepedes feels like discovering a wild and remote place. If some might call them ‘Australia’s Galapagos’, they were actually named after French naturalist Bernard Germain de Lacépède, who studied many Australian fish species. Before becoming a protected natural reserve, the Lacepedes also witnessed bleak moments - the islands used to be the place where kidnapped Aborigines were held before being sent to work in the pearl industry. Their unique location makes the Lacepedes an important breeding centre for many birds and marine life species. Masked Boobies, Australian Pelicans, Lesser Frigate Birds but also the endangered Green Turtle populate the islands. Our Zodiac excursions are the most ideal way to admire the ballet of birds flying in this stunning West Australian scenery. Nature lovers or not, prepare to be amazed.

1 Included Shore Excursion - Zodiac Cruise with Silversea Expedition team

Talbot Bay is famous for the Horizontal Falls which have been described as “one of the greatest natural wonders of the world“. The region’s tides of close to 36 feet create an amazing spectacle when the water tries to enter or leave Poulton Creek through two very narrow openings located one behind the other in the McLarty Ranges. Water builds up faster on one side than it can flow through the gaps, leaving or entering depending on the tide.

Montgomery Reef, which is some 300 square kilometres in size, can show an amazing tidal change of up to 4 metres. When the tide drops, the reef seems to rise out of the water. At low tide a river is exposed that allows access to an amazing semi-submerged world. When the tide continues to ebb, Zodiacs will be used to make the way to the edge of the reef where one is surrounded by cascading waterfalls up to 3 metres high. Continuing up the river one is able to look at the abundance of reef birds and sea creatures including turtles and manta rays. A visit to Montgomery Reef is very much tide-depending, but truly a once in a lifetime experience.

Adjacent to Montgomery Reef, but on the mainland, Freshwater Cove – locally known as Wijingarra Butt Butt. Aboriginal guides will welcome guests with a traditional ochre welcome on the beach. The rock formations that can be seen along the shore represent spiritual ancestors relating to the great Wandjina battle. Caves with rock art are found in the vicinity, but can only be visited with local guides.

The Hunter River is home to an immense mangrove system surrounded by soaring red sandstone cliffs. Narrow mangrove channels shelter numerous bird species, mudskippers, fiddler crabs and the infamous saltwater crocodile; the most aggressive crocodile species known to man. Naturalist Island at the mouth of the river has a stunning stretch of sandy beach that makes a perfect landing site for small helicopters that can pick up visitors wishing to explore some of the Kimberley’s vast interior. The highlight inland is the famous Mitchell Falls where four tiers of waterfalls plunge into deep pools that flow out into the mighty Mitchell River. The headwaters of the falls are cool and a dip in the fresh water is a welcome reprieve from the heat of the heartland.

1 Included Shore Excursion - Zodiac Cruise with Silversea Expedition team

1 Selected Shore Excursion - Mitchell Falls by Helicopter

Koolama Bay is found at the mouth of the King George River. Named after the ship that had been beached here after a Japanese aerial attack during World War II, Koolama Bay is the starting point for a Zodiac cruise to reach the King George Falls, one of the Kimberley’s most magnificent natural wonders. At 260 feet (80 m), the twin cascades are among the highest in Australia. Koolama Bay and the river weaving through an amazing landscape of near vertical red rock formations will offer a parade of wildlife —saltwater crocodiles and amazing birdlife, including giant raptors and the Brahminy Kite.

Wyndham is a small settlement with the spirit of a Kimberley outback township. It was established in 1886 with the Halls Creek gold rush and sits on the Cambridge Gulf where several rivers converge. Today Wyndham has a population of roughly 900 people and operates largely as a port exporting cattle, servicing the mining industry and hosting a few small ships. For these vessels Wyndham is a gateway to the nearby Ord River. Conversely, cruising the peaceful and tree-lined Ord River is a chance to look for freshwater crocodiles, fruit bats, short-eared rock wallabies and a variety of birds, including Mangrove Herons and Mangrove Gerygones. Please note: All destinations on voyages in the Kimberley region, and the order in which they are visited, are subject to tidal variations and weather conditions.

2 Included Shore Excursions - Bungle Bungles Scenic Flight with Lunch, Ord River Cruise with Lunch

Days at sea are the perfect opportunity to relax, unwind and catch up with what you’ve been meaning to do. So whether that is going to the gym, visiting the spa, whale watching, catching up on your reading or simply topping up your tan, these blue sea days are the perfect balance to busy days spent exploring shore side.

Lost in the immensity of Indian Ocean and situated 630 km of Broome, Ashmore Reef Marine Park is an Australian External Territory that covers 583 square km. With its diverse shades of blue, its underwater wonders and feathery friends, this protected area is one of Australia’s most beautiful natural treasures. The three tiny islands and their surrounding waters are home to an oasis of flourishing wildlife. Ashmore Reef is known to be the favourite place of more than 40 bird species. 100,000 seabirds breed there every year, including crested terns, white-tailed tropicbirds and greater frigatebirds. The islands are also a haven for thousands of migratory shorebirds like curlew sandpipers, bar-tailed godwits and great knots – some of them coming from very far places like Siberia! On the ocean side, the colourful reef is home to around 500 species of fish but also marine turtles, dugongs and many playful dolphins. Given the rich and fragile environment, Ashmore Reef has been declared a Sanctuary zone, providing the highest level of protection for the wildlife and minimising disturbance from human activities. Only scientific research is permitted but the visitors can access to the Recreational Use Zone, which includes a small area of the West Island, and thus discover this unique place.

Days at sea are the perfect opportunity to relax, unwind and catch up with what you’ve been meaning to do. So whether that is going to the gym, visiting the spa, whale watching, catching up on your reading or simply topping up your tan, these blue sea days are the perfect balance to busy days spent exploring shore side.

Australia's capital of the north is a uniquely tropical city, and a historically isolated outpost of this vast, diverse country. Reaching up towards the equator, a full 2,000 miles from Sydney and Melbourne, the city was named in honour of Charles Darwin by the British settlers who established a frontier outpost here. With a unique history, beautiful islands nearby, and a palette of sizzling Pacific flavours, colourful Darwin is an enchanting and exotic Australian destination. Crocodiles patrol the jungled waterways and tropical rainforests around Australia's gateway to the Top End. Explore via airboat to look down on the veiny waterways of the mist-laced Kakadu National Park. The sounds of chattering birdlife and the gentle splash of fountains and waterfalls will fill your ears in George Brown Darwin Botanic Gardens. Soak it all in, before kicking back and relaxing with a picnic and a crackling barbecue. The sunshine and famous tropical pink sunsets mean many visitors naturally gravitate to the city's soft sands to relax at spots like pretty Mindil Beach, as evening approaches. The adjoining market is filled with souvenirs and crafts stands and is the perfect great place to enjoy some fiery Asian flavours. Stroll the stalls, grab some food, and crack open an ice-frosted beer as the sunset show begins. It may be remote, but Darwin found itself on the front line during the Pacific War, as the Japanese air force unloaded their bombs onto the city in 1942. This relaxed unassuming city has a deeply resilient backbone, however, and you can explore the museums to learn more of the war's impact on Darwin, as well as the devastating effects of one of Australia's worst natural disasters, Cyclone Tracy in 1973.