| | | | | Arrive | Depart |
| 18th18 | AugAug | 202424 | Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia, embark on the Scenic Eclipse II | | |
| Darwin is Australia's most colorful, and exotic, capital city. Surrounded on three sides by the turquoise waters of the Timor Sea, the streets are lined with tropical flowers and trees. Warm and dry in winter, hot and steamy in summer, it's a relaxed and casual place, as well as a beguiling blend of tropical frontier outpost and Outback hardiness. Thanks to its close proximity to Southeast Asia and its multicultural population it also seems more like Asia than the rest of Australia. Darwin is a city that has always had to fight for its survival. The seductiveness of contemporary Darwin lifestyles belies a history of failed attempts that date from 1824 when Europeans attempted to establish an enclave in this harsh, unyielding climate. The original 1869 settlement, called Palmerston, was built on a parcel of mangrove wetlands and scrub forest that had changed little in 15 million years. It was not until 1911, after it had already weathered the disastrous cyclones of 1878, 1882, and 1897, that the town was named after the scientist who had visited Australia's shores aboard the Beagle in 1839. During World War II it was bombed more than 60 times, as the harbor full of warships was a prime target for the Japanese war planes. Then, on the night of Christmas Eve 1974, the city was almost completely destroyed by Cyclone Tracy, Australia’s greatest natural disaster. It's a tribute to those who stayed and to those who have come to live here after Tracy that the rebuilt city now thrives as an administrative and commercial center for northern Australia. Old Darwin has been replaced by something of an edifice complex—such buildings as Parliament House and the Supreme Court all seem very grand for such a small city, especially one that prides itself on its casual, outdoor-centric lifestyle. Today Darwin is the best place from which to explore Australia's Top End, with its wonders of Kakadu and the Kimberley region. Your voyage of discovery begins in Darwin. Sitting at the crossroads of Australia, Asia and the Pacific Islands, this tropical capital is rich in history, culture and natural wonders. Welcome aboard. Settle into your spacious suite on board Scenic Eclipse II. Your butler will assist with unpacking and guide you through the pillow menu. Take some time to familiarise yourself with the ultra-luxury amenities that include eight bars and lounges, up to 10 dining experiences from casual to fine dining, the expansive Senses Spa and the state-of-the-art theatre, just to name a few. Explore each deck of Scenic Eclipse II and visit the open bridge, where your Captain and navigational crew will welcome you in the operational centre throughout your voyage. Toast the beginning of your journey with a glass of champagne in the Scenic Lounge Bar or with a cocktail at the open-air Sky Bar on Deck 10. Please book your flight to arrive into Darwin prior to 02:00 PM. |
| 19th19 | AugAug | 202424 | At Sea | | |
| 20th20 | AugAug | 202424 | Vansittart Bay, Western Australia, Australia | | |
| Vansittart Bay is a beautifully protected large bay with several islands and coves. Jar Island contains ancient rock art galleries depicting the Gwion Gwion style unique to the Kimberley region. Mainly neglected by, or unknown to, the early European researchers of Aboriginal culture in the Kimberley in favour of the dominant & more dramatic Wandjina art, Gwion Gwion art has in recent years gained world prominence. Join your Expedition Team ashore for a short walk, past some fascinating rock formations, to the site of the Gwion Gwion art galleries. After an overnight journey on board your luxurious Discovery Yacht, you’ll stop at the sheltered and secluded Vansittart Bay, a place of significant indigenous cultural history. Fitted with state-of-the-art GPS Dynamic Positioning system, Scenic Eclipse II will be held in position close to Jar Island in the bay’s southwest pocket, negating the need to drop anchor on ecologically sensitive seabeds. Discovery: Board a Zodiac for a transfer to a small sandy beach to explore the area with the expert Discovery Team. Join a hike to see what’s regarded as some of the oldest rock paintings in Australia, dating back approx. 17,300 years. The ancient and mysterious Gwion-gwion is one of two primary art forms found in the Kimberley. |
| 21st21 | AugAug | 202424 | Ashmore and Cartier Islands, Australia | | |
| Ashmore Reef is a sanctuary for seabirds, shorebirds, marine turtles, dugongs, and many other marine species. Each year around 100,000 seabirds breed on Ashmore Reef including great knots, crested terns and white-tailed tropicbirds. The sanctuary zone provides the highest level of protection for wildlife. The morning is yours to enjoy as you wish. Book a Senses Spa treatment~ a Yoga or Pilates session, plunge into the Vitality Pool, or simply relax and indulge in 6-star ultra-luxury on board Scenic Eclipse II. After the day’s exploration of Australia’s most remote marine parks, Ashmore Reef, settle in at one of the eight bars and lounges to enjoy a beverage of choice. Indulge in over 100 varieties of aged whiskey at the Scenic Lounge Bar. Discovery: Take a Zodiac cruise with the Discovery Team around the reef where the three islands are uninhabited yet home to an abundance of bird and sea life. Internationally recognised, each year around 100,000 seabirds from 40 different species flock to the reef to breed. |
| 22nd22 | AugAug | 202424 | Swift Bay, Western Australia, Australia | | |
| The Bonaparte Archipelago is a rugged maze of islands that stretch almost 150km along Western Australia’s remote Kimberley coast. Remaining relatively unspoilt and remarkably pristine, Swift Bay is landscaped by heavily fractured sandstone providing an abundance of rock shelters. On the walls of these shelters are examples of both 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. Today Swift Bay offers the opportunity to see both styles of Kimberley rock painting in close proximity to each other. Gwion-gwion and Wandjina paintings are within a short Zodiac ride of our Discovery Yacht. Discovery: Join the Discovery Team in viewing the ancient rock art galleries Gwion-gwion (formerly known as ‘Bradshaw’ paintings) depict enigmatic human figures in dynamic stances. Wandjina are spiritual creators and rain-providers which continue to feature strongly in the Kimberley’s Indigenous culture. |
| 23rd23 | AugAug | 202424 | Prince Frederick Harbour, Western Australia, Australia | | |
Today, Scenic Eclipse II glides through York Sound to the mouth of the Hunter River. A true wilderness with jaw-dropping panoramas of wild escarpments, monsoon rainforests and the four-tiered Mitchell Falls, carved out over millennia. Watch nature’s magnificent show as the sun sets, cocktail in hand. Discovery: Tides permitting, the Zodiacs can take you past towering sandstone cliffs, pristine mangrove forests and iconic landscapes such as Prince Frederick Harbour, Porosus Creek and Hunter and Roe Rivers. Look out for ospreys and saltwater crocodiles within this prehistoric landscape. Tides and timings permitting, a stop at Careening Bay in the Prince Regent National Park is where you may view the famous Mermaid Tree, an enormous bifurcated boab on which the ship’s crew of the HMC Mermaid carved the name of the ship and year, 1820. |
| 24th24 | AugAug | 202424 | At Sea | | |
| 25th25 | AugAug | 202424 | Talbot Bay, Western Australia, Australia | | |
Sir David Attenborough named the Horizontal Falls at Talbot Bay “one of the greatest natural wonders of the world.” Created by a unique combination of geology and massive tidal surges squeezed through two narrow cliff passages, this is the only place in the world where horizontal falls exist. After a full day exploring this fascinating region, relax in the Vitality Pool located on the Sky Deck, and gaze out across the breathtaking panoramic views. Discovery: Explore by Zodiac some of the planet’s most unique waterways. Conditions permitting, journey through the narrow Talbot Creek, locally known as Cyclone Creek, to reveal gorgeous sandstone folding where you may spot rock wallabies on outcrops and 18 different species of birdlife including Australian ibis, Brahminy kite and brown honeyeater. |
| 25th25 | AugAug | 202424 | Horizontal Falls, Australia | | |
| 26th26 | AugAug | 202424 | Buccaneer Archipelago, Western Australia, Australia | | |
| Roughly 800 islands of the Buccaneer Archipelago surround and shelter the impressive spread of Yampi Sound (from the aboriginal word for water, “Yampee”). The area was named in 1821 by Captain Phillip Parker King, in commemoration of William Dampier’s visit in 1688. Pearlers began visiting the area in the late 1800s, and more recently mining operators established open-cut mines on Koolan Island on the east side of the Sound. Some of the richest iron ore in the world is extracted here to this day. The coastline of Yampi shows rock layers wildly twisted and contorted into great folds. White-bellied Sea Eagles, Brahminy Kites, Ospreys, Common Sandpipers and Eastern Reef Egrets inhabit the archipelago and the area is rich in fish life, which in turn is an attraction for bottlenose dolphins that come here to feed. Yampi Sound is also occassionaly a calving ground for humpback whales and mothers and calves can sometimes be spotted in the relatively shallow turquoise waters. Koolan Island and Cockatoo Islands are known as the Iron Islands; for enthusiasts of geology and geography they are of significant interest. Over thousands of years, powerful tides have forged rugged cliffs of deep orange ochre. Discovery: Our exploration by zodiacs and ashore will take in a unique native flora and fauna, including sea turtles and nesting birds, that flourish in the wilds of this remote location. Over lunch onboard, we sail to remote and beautiful Oolin / Sunday Island, once home to the Jawi tribe that lived on the mission that was established in 1899. We meet local Jawi woman, Rosanna Angus, whose family lived on Sunday Island in the early days of the mission. |
| 27th27 | AugAug | 202424 | Lacepede Islands, Western Australia, Australia | | |
| The Lacepedes are a group of four islands, perfectly nestled off the Kimberley coast. The islands are imperative to Australia’s rich wildlife as they are key breeding habitats for Green Turtles and are home to a wealth of birds such as Masked Boobies, Australian Pelicans, Lesser Frigatebirds and the largest colony of Brown Bobbies in the world. Join your expedition team for a guided zodiac tour to view the prolific wildlife. Due to the sensitive nature of the environment, landings are prohibited on the Lacepede Islands. Today, we'll visit a chain of four flat coral islands where tens of thousands of seabirds thrive, including over 50 bird species like frigate birds, crested terns, pelicans, and speckled ruddy turnstones. As this is your last evening on board, gather with new friends in one of the eight bars and lounges, sharing stories and photos of your wonderful journey of discovery. Discovery: Join the Discovery Team on a Zodiac cruise and learn and see about the amazing wildlife such as the successful eradication of rats in 1986 to rejuvenate these treeless islands into a wildlife haven. Notably, it's home to around 18,000 pairs of brown boobies, possibly the world's largest colony, and 20,000 roseate terns in the A-class Nature Reserve. Now, it's Western Australia's most important breeding habitat for green turtles and where thousands of humpback whales come to calve. |
| 28th28 | AugAug | 202424 | Broome, Western Australia, Australia, disembark the Scenic Eclipse II | | |
| Traffic in the Broome Harbour (a very busy working harbour) is restricted, requiring special permits for all vehicles accessing the pier area. Guests are not permitted in this area on an individual basis. In order to make disembarkation as smooth as possible Silversea will be providing a group motorcoach transfer from the pier to the airport. This transfer will depart shortly after the ship is cleared. Exact timings will be communicated by the ship's staff.Guests who do not wish to go to the airport immediately following disembarkation will be transferred to Pearl Luggers, located 10 - 15 minutes from the airport, where taxis are available for hire. Your Discovery Voyage concludes today. Enjoy your final morning and take the chance to reflect on the rare and incredible experiences and the remarkable places you’ve visited, some of which very few have been before. Bid farewell to your friendly crew and new friends as you disembark in Broome. Please book your flight to depart out of Broome after 10:00 AM. The waterways of the Kimberly region are part of a tidal river system which results in changing water levels in the region. Every effort is made to keep to the itinerary stated above however based on tides and operational requirements the itinerary is a guide only and may be amended. Please refer to our terms and conditions for further information. ~Spa treatments at additional cost. |
