"Coral Expeditions" Cape York & Arnhem Land Indigenous Art Cruise (Darwin - Cairns) 12D11N

All aboard Coral Discoverer for the adventure of a lifetime. Boarding commences at 4:00pm in Cairns, where there is time to settle into your stateroom before the 5:00pm departure. Take time to familiarise yourself with all the facilities onboard before meeting your fellow travellers, the Captain and crew for the Captain’s Welcome Drinks as you sail northwards.

Cap off your expedition with a visit to the remote Tiwi Islands, known to locals as the ‘Island of Smiles’. With local Tiwi guides, set out to explore Bathurst Island, one of the two main islands. You will be greeted with a traditional cultural performance and basket weaving exhibition before enjoying a traditional Australian afternoon tea of damper and billy tea.

As you explore, you will quickly discover that the Tiwi Islands are famous for their traditional lifestyle, stunning artworks, vibrant fabrics and textiles, plus an exuberant passion for football.

Discover Garig Gunak Barlu National Park on the Cobourg Peninsula. This was the first national park in Australia to be jointly managed by the Aboriginal traditional owners in conjunction with Parks and Wildlife.

Guided by Park Rangers in Port Essington, famous for the failed Victoria Settlement, explore the ruins while learning about the fascinating history of this early colonial outpost.

Then, if there is time, venture to the world’s first RAMSAR Wetlands Area (wetlands of international importance). Here, you will find a wealth of migratory birds to Australia as well as 6 of the 7 species of marine turtles, dolphins, sharks, crocodiles, stingrays and more.

Spend the day exploring Maningrida, an Aboriginal community in the heart of Arnhem Land. Pay a visit to the renowned Maningrida Arts & Culture Centre and learn about the local art movement, with its roots in body art, rock art and cultural practices. You will find hundreds of artists’ works at the centre including internationally acclaimed artists including John Mawrundjul, Owen Yalandja, Crusoe Kurddal and Lena Yarinkura. There is a boutique attached to the museum if you wish to make any purchases.

The friendly locals of Elcho Island proudly welcome you to their community this morning. After the Goulburn Island mission was set up in 1921, Elcho Island was chosen as the site for a second Methodist overseas mission. Galiwin’ku, the main town on the Island, was established in 1942 as a refuge from possible bombing of the nearby Air Force Base during World War II. Today, Galiwin’ku is the largest aboriginal community in north-east Arnhem Land.

During your time on the Island, meet with local artists who have their unique art exhibited in famous art galleries around the world including the Louvre in Paris, France.

In the afternoon, visit the community and the Gawa Christian School.

Travel through the narrow channel between Raragala and Guluwuru Islands, known as the ‘Hole In The Wall’ or the Gugari Rip. As you cruise through this quirk of geography, learn about the Kentish Affair, which happened in nearby waters: the only time an Australian – and a civilian priest at that – was captured by the Japanese forces in World War II.

In the evening, stop off at Raragala Island for an early evening stroll among the dunes just back from an untouched beach. As you walk, keep an eye out for white-bellied sea eagles, osprey, sooty oyster catchers and more.

Visit the spectacular Buku-Larrnggay Mulka Centre, the Indigenous community-controlled art centre of Northeast Arnhem Land. Located in Yirrkala, approximately 700-kilometres east of Darwin, the Centre consists of two divisions: the Yirrkala Art Centre, which represents Yolŋu artists exhibiting and selling contemporary art and The Mulka Project, which acts as a digital production studio and archiving centre incorporating the museum.

Established in 1976 as an act of self-determination, the art centre has forged a vibrant path for Yolŋu contemporary art. The museum built in 1988 houses a collection of works detailing historical artefacts and important moments, including the Message Sticks from 1935 and the Yirrkala Church Panels from 1963.

Enjoy a relaxing day at sea as you cruise across the Gulf of Carpentaria. Listen in to informative presentations by your guest lecturers and take time to laze in the sun, read a book or simply watch the world go by.

Journey north to the Torres Strait Islands, where you will have a unique opportunity to visit Badu Island and the Badu Art Centre. One of Australia’s foremost Indigenous Art Centres, the Badu Art Centre is home to an exciting group of artists committed to renewing, strengthening and expressing Badu Island visual and spoken language while providing skills development training that can lead to self-determination. Explore the Centre to see exquisite works of printmaking, etching, jewellery, textiles and carving. You may also visit other Torres Strait Islands such as Waiben (Thursday Island) or Moa.

At sunset, cruise to the Tip of Cape York and enjoy champagne while the sun sets.

Spend the day exploring Wuthara Island. Wander through the national park and explore pink granite headlands and grasslands dotted with resilient termite mounts. Keep an eye out for abundant birdlife including white-bellied sea eagles, pied imperial pigeons and black naped terns. The beach stone curlew is especially vulnerable.

In the water, spend time swimming, snorkeling and diving or take a glass bottom boat tour. You will hear the story of beche-de-mer fisherman Frederick Lancaster, who inhabited this Island and visit his gravesite.

There is also an opportunity to go beachcombing at a nearby remote island, possibly Magra, Saunders, or Sir Charles Hardy.

Come ashore on Stanley Island. Located at the tip of Cape Melville, Stanley Island is an integral part of the mythological complex of the Flinders Group. With a local Indigenous guide, explore spectacular rock art sites, the best known being the huge Yintayin rock shelter (Tindale’s “Endaen”) known as the “Ship” rock shelter. The rock art walls of the Ship shows ships from a number of nations, painted in red and white ochre on the red sandstone. Some construe the images of European vessels with high sterns to be 16th or 17th (Portuguese) ships.

In the afternoon, venture over to Davies Reef, one of the few reefs inside the Great Barrier Reef that has its own Automatic Weather Station (AWS). The diving here is excellent with many different sites: walls, deep gutters and huge pinnacles.

Enjoy snorkelling or glass bottom boat tours over the vibrant fringing reef, or stroll on the cay and observe the resident Brown Boobie colony.

Spend the day exploring Lizard Island, which actress Kate Hudson famously referred to as “the most romantic place on Earth”. The stark, rugged beauty of the Island, rising 359-metres above sea level, contrasts sharply with the sparkling blue waters and surrounding fringing reefs.

Hike to the summit of Cook’s Look and enjoy the same view Lt. James Cook did when searching for safe passage through the maze of coral reefs. Snorkel over giant clam gardens from the beach at Watson’s Bay, relax on the white-sand beach beneath the shady sheoak trees and learn about the tragic tale of Mary Watson, who died of thirst near the Island at just 21-years-old.

There may be an opportunity to visit the Lizard Island Research Station, a coral reef research facility owned and operated by the Australian Museum. The major island-based research facility on the Great Barrier Reef, this research station attracts researchers from around the world – with approximately 100 projects annually.

All good things must come to an end! After breakfast, say farewell to the crew and disembark in Cairns at 8:00am to commence your onward journey.

NOTE: The itinerary is indicative. No two expedition cruises will be the same, with each expedition crafted by the experienced Masters and Expedition Leaders. Throughout the expedition we may make changes to the itinerary as necessary to maximise your expeditionary experience. Allowances may be made for seasonal variations, weather, tidal conditions and any other event that may affect the operation of the vessel. We suggest that you do not arrive on the day of embarkation or depart on the day of disembarkation due to any changes that may occur in scheduling.