RACV Logo
Members save more on over 100,000 hotels worldwide
Unlock savings
Unlock member discounts
Unlock exclusive discounts and inclusions
Members only pricing
Bonus hand-picked inclusions
Continue as guest
Your member number is located on your membership card, membership renewal notice, club account statement or payment advice.

Coastal Quest Kimberley Cruising 2026 - PONANT (The Ghan) : Darwin to Adelaide

package saved
click to save
Operated by Journey Beyond
Tripcode: 17026
Overview
Destination:
Australia
Start:Darwin, Australia
Finish:Adelaide, Australia
Duration:16 days
Type:Group tour (max 1)
Style:
Rail,
Travel Period
May 2026 - August 2026
Imagine vast and untouched wilderness covering hundreds of thousands of square kilometres. This is the Kimberely, one of the world’s oldest and largest wilderness frontiers. This complex landscape encompasses sandstone cliffs, pristine mangroves, spectacular waterfalls, pockets of rainforest, and an astounding array of birds and wildlife. Experience the colours of the outback on a luxury, small-ship coastal odyssey with PONANT, and journey through the red centre on The Ghan Expedition, culminating in a rail and sail experience that will connect you to land and sea and provide memories that will last a lifetime.
Standard inclusions
  • 1 night’s accommodation in Broome including breakfast
  • Transfer from Broome hotel to ship
  • 10-night Australia’s Iconic Kimberley expedition cruise aboard PONANT’s Le Jacques Cartier or Le Soleal (subject to departure date), including prepaid gratuities
  • View the unique tidal phenomena, Horizontal Falls
  • Take a helicopter flight over Mitchell Falls (additional cost)
  • See the oldest detailed depiction of human figures in the world on Jar Island
  • Explore pristine mangrove environments and spot crocodiles
  • Get up close to King George twin falls
  • Discover ancient landscapes and rock art in the Northern Territory and the Kimberley
  • Transfer from ship to Darwin hotel
  • 1 night’s accommodation in Darwin, including breakfast
  • Transfer from Darwin hotel to Darwin Rail Terminal
  • 3 nights aboard The Ghan Expedition, Darwin to Adelaide, including all meals, beverages and Off Train Experiences in Katherine, Alice Springs, and Coober Pedy
  • Witness spectacular outback landscapes as you travel on The Ghan Expedition
  • Visit the impressive natural wonder of Nitmuluk Gorge
  • 15 breakfasts, 12 lunches, 13 dinners
Already with RACV?
Tell us your Member details to unlock discounts.
Unlock
Itinerary
Expand all Collapse all
BROOME
Make your own way to Broome and check in to your hotel. The day is yours to spend at leisure exploring the highlights of Broome or relaxing by the pool.   OVERNIGHT: 1 night Kimberley Sands Resort
BOARD LE JACQUES CARITER or LE SOLEAL IN BROOME
Enjoy breakfast at the hotel and spend the morning in Broome. In the afternoon, you will be transferred from your hotel to the Port of Broome to board Le Jacques Cartier or Le Soleal for your Kimberley cruising adventure. Settle into your cabin, make yourself comfortable, enjoy dinner and perhaps have a nightcap at the Blue Eye, a multisensory underwater lounge. (B,D) OVERNIGHT: 10 nights Le Jacques Cartier or Le Soleal
LACEPEDE ISLANDS
The Lacepede Islands are Western Australia’s most important breeding habitat for Green Turtles and have been named by BirdLife International as an Important Bird Area (IBA). The breeding colony of Brown Boobies is possibly the largest in the world and up to 20,000 Roseate Terns have also been recorded here, amongst the plethora of other birdlife. Join your Expedition Team for a guided Zodiac tour to view the prolific wildlife. (B,L,D)
COLLIER BAY AND HORIZONTAL FALLS
Lying to the east of the Buccaneer Archipelago, the ancient landscapes of Collier Bay have been shaped by massive tidal movements, creating a photographer’s paradise. With a tidal range exceeding 14 metres, this movement of water creates a unique phenomenon. Nestled in the centre of the bay is Montgomery Reef, the world’s largest inshore reef system. As the tide falls a raging torrent of water cascades off the top of the reef, creating turbulent ‘rivers’ and mini waterfalls. Nestled at the southern end of Buccaneer Archipelago is Talbot Bay, home to the world’s only ’Horizontal Falls’ and described by Sir David Attenborough as “one of the greatest wonders of the natural world.” Hidden in the many caves and grottos of this ancient landscape are a multitude of ancient rock art galleries. Activities here will be determined by the weather and tide conditions. (B,L,D)
COLLIER BAY AND HORIZONTAL FALLS
Journey continued from previous day. (B,L,D)
CAREENING BAY
Careening Bay was named by Lieutenant Phillip Parker King after his ship, the HMC Mermaid, was careened there during his third voyage of discovery in 1820. At high tide, on a warm September afternoon, King ran the leaking HMC Mermaid onto the sands. As the crew worked hard to re-float the vessel, the ship’s carpenter carved the name of the vessel and the year into a conspicuous boab tree. The boab tree is now three metres wide and National Heritage listed. (B,L,D)
HUNTER RIVER
Arguably one of the most scenic parts of the Kimberley coast, Prince Frederick Harbour and the Hunter River are lined with pockets of ancient rainforest, pristine mangroves, and mosaic sandstone cliffs. The sandstone escarpment at the river mouth, known as “Kampamantiya” rises over 200 metres high before giving way to extensive mud banks and mangrove forests home to numerous bird species and the saltwater crocodile. The Expedition Team will share their knowledge as you explore by Zodiac, keeping a lookout for wildlife. You will also have the opportunity to reach the Mitchell Falls by helicopter from Naturalist Island beach. (B,L,D)
SWIFT BAY
The Bonaparte Archipelago consists of a rugged maze of islands stretching almost 150 kilometres along Western Australia's coast. Its remote location has ensured it remains a remarkably pristine location to explore and experience. The ‘T’ shaped bay is composed of heavily fractured sandstone providing an abundance of rock shelters. On the walls of these shelters are examples of Wandjina and Gwion Gwion style rock art. Join your Expedition Team ashore for a guided walk to a number of rock art galleries depicting these unique rock art styles. (B,L,D)
VANSITTART BAY
Jar Island contains ancient rock art galleries depicting the Gwion Gwion style unique to the Kimberley region. Gwion Gwion art may extend back to over 30,000 years before our time and represents the first wave of seagoing colonisers of the Australian continent. As it is, these are the oldest detailed depictions of human figures in the world. Join your Expedition Team ashore for a short walk, past some fascinating rock formations, to the site of the Gwion Gwion art galleries. (B,L,D)
KING GEORGE RIVER
The journey up the King George River is nothing short of breathtaking. The 80-metre-high sides of the gorge display varying degrees of weathering of the ancient Warton sandstone. The colours and textures change with the light creating a continually changing vista that is simply stunning. The journey culminates at the King George twin falls, the highest single drop falls in the whole of the Kimberley. Your Expedition Team will escort you to the foot of the twin falls and explain the stunning geological formations of the canyon. (B,L,D)
LE JACQUES CARTIER or LE SOLEAL AT SEA
Enjoy a leisurely day at sea to take advantage of the luxurious onboard services or sip a cool drink by the pool. Your expedition team will offer an enrichment programme focusing on Australian history, flora, and fauna. Enjoy some down time on the deck, relax in the sauna, or sample culinary specialties prepared by the Chef and Galley Team. Lovers of the open sea can visit the ship’s upper deck to admire the spectacle of the waves and perhaps be lucky enough to observe marine species. (B,L,D)
DARWIN
Darwin is the capital city of the Northern Territory and a melting pot of people and cultures that prides itself on its friendly, laid-back lifestyle. Early this morning, Le Jacques Cartier or Le Soleal will dock in the Port of Darwin where you will disembark and be transferred to your hotel. The day is yours to enjoy at leisure. Discover the town’s history through its emblematic buildings, such as the new Parliament House opened in 1994, a magnificent example of tropical architecture, or Admiralty House, a tropical-style home elevated on stilts that has survived two cyclones and numerous air raids. (B) OVERNIGHT: 1 night Adina Apartment Hotel Darwin Waterfront
BOARD THE GHAN EXPEDITION IN DARWIN AND KATHERINE
Today you embark on an iconic journey across Australia’s red centre. Transfer by coach to the Darwin Rail Terminal. Here you will board The Ghan Expedition, settle into the comforts of the train, relax in your cabin, or mingle with fellow travellers in the Outback Explorer Lounge. Enjoy lunch ahead of your Off Train Experience in Katherine. In a region renowned for jaw-dropping natural assets, Katherine boasts one of the Top End’s best – the incredible Nitmiluk Gorge and a cruise is on offer to showcase the beauty of this spot. Alternatively, the Katherine Outback Experience lets you into the lives of those who call the outback home, while the Cutta Cutta Cave system is home to a variety of native wildlife and is rich in Indigenous culture and modern European history. Alternatively, take it all in from the air, with an optional upgrade helicopter flight over Nitmiluk. (B,L,D) OVERNIGHT: 3 nights The Ghan Expedition
THE GHAN EXPEDITION AND ALICE SPRINGS
Your arrival into Alice Springs after breakfast provides you with time to explore this iconic town in the red heart of Australia. Your Off Train Experience choices today include an off-road e-bike adventure, the Alice Explorer tour that takes in the historic Telegraph Station and Royal Flying Doctor Service, a cultural experience at Standley Chasm, meeting the wildlife at the Desert Park or taking in the astounding beauty of Simpson’s Gap. Alternatively, spot Uluru and Kata Tjuta from the air, with an optional upgrade scenic flight. In the evening, dine under a blanket of stars at the Alice Springs Telegraph Station. (B,L,D)
THE GHAN EXPEDITION AND COOBER PEDY
From your morning stop at Manguri, you’ll venture into the weird and wonderful opal mining township of Coober Pedy, where more than half of the residents live underground. Here, you’ll enjoy a day of discovery, and a gourmet lunch in the most unique of locations: underground. Off Train Experiences on offer include exploring the majestic Breakaways, touring the town, learning more about mining history on the Opal Experience, or an optional upgrade with the Painted Hills and Lake Eyre scenic flight. Dinner is served back on the train, where you can enjoy a nightcap as your journey continues. (B,L,D)
THE GHAN EXPEDITION AND ADELAIDE
This morning, you’ll see a dramatic change in landscape as the rich ochre tones of the outback make way for the green fields of South Australia. Enjoy a leisurely brunch as you pass through the Flinders Ranges before arriving into Adelaide, completing one of the world’s great rail experiences. (B)
Departure dates

Select your preferred date or enquire

Enquire now

Travellers

Operator
Journey Beyond

Journey Beyond is a national business focused on bringing Australia’s unique and iconic experiences to life. Journey Beyond has a growing national footprint and is fast positioning itself as one of the largest experiential tourism businesses in the country. Our aim is to take our guests beyond, ignite their imagination and transform the amazing into the breath taking.

Important Information
*Terms and conditions
Please note: We are proud to be an independent agent to travel providers of hotels, flights and other related services. We are not a tour operator. Details and information on the offer are provided by 3rd party businesses and although we do our best to verify the information, we cannot guarantee its accuracy on all occasions. These offers are not available in conjunction with any other offer unless otherwise stated. Pricing and availability are subject to change without notice. For more information, please see Terms of Use
Book now
Need help?
Price from
$17,495 $16,621 *
Member price from
$16,621*
per person
15 nights
Check departures
Can't find the answer you're looking for? Get in touch with our friendly Travel Consultants.
Speak to one of our friendly consultants, available during business hours.
Mon to Fri · 9am - 5pm AEST
Speak to an expert in-store
Prefer to plan in person? Make an appointment at our Travel Store to speak with one of our experts
You might also like
1868c480a99935c84685d817af359a6c