Australia’s Last Frontier
By Sarah Etinas
Australia’s Last Frontier
By Sarah Etinas
Venture off the beaten path with Seabourn to The Kimberley region of Australia.
Sometimes called Australia’s Final Frontier, The Kimberley is prime for adventurers looking to explore the path less traveled. Much of the area is inaccessible by road, but Seabourn’s unique sailings make it easier than ever to explore Western Australia’s northernmost region. Dive into this wilderness gem, where nature, wildlife, and aboriginal culture continue to thrive.
Nature at Its Most Untouched
As one of the most rugged parts of Australia, The Kimberley feels particularly special. It’s where beaches feel more remote, red sandstone cliffs feel more dramatic, and crashing waterfalls feel more awe-inspiring. At every stop on a Seabourn voyage in The Kimberley, you’ll get to experience another piece of this jaw-dropping natural puzzle. Snorkel amongst loggerhead turtles and blacktip reef sharks at Ashmore Reef and helicopter over the three-tiered Mitchell Falls. Spot the unique beehive-shaped rock formations known as the Bungle Bungles and take a Zodiac® cruise for a view of the aptly named Horizontal Falls in Talbot Bay, where tidal currents seem to make water defy the rules of science. And when night falls, stargaze up at the shockingly clear sky—using Seabourn’s complimentary Swarovski Optik binoculars, of course—from just about anywhere in this remote region.
Wandering Wildlife
Amongst the thick-trunked boab trees and sandstone cliffs, the region’s wildlife is flourishing. Keep your eyes peeled for scaly-tailed possums and short-eared rock wallabies, echidnas and frilled-neck lizards. Below the surface, there’s a whole new world of creatures waiting to be spotted. Saltwater crocodiles are the most fearsome of the bunch, boasting the strongest bite of any living animal, while dugongs, pudgy manatee-like mammals, calmly and lazily snack on seagrass nearby. Don’t forget to look up towards the sky, where hundreds of bird species flit about, from the white-bellied sea eagle to the elusive and multicolored Gouldian finch.
Aboriginal Culture
While the flora and fauna are two pieces of The Kimberley’s beauty, the region’s aboriginal culture is another. There are dozens—if not hundreds—of native tribes that have called this region their home for thousands of years. They’ve preserved the natural beauty that exists today, while still maintaining their rich cultures.
With a Seabourn sailing, you’ll get to experience a taste of aboriginal culture, specifically that of the Wunambal Gaambera people. Take part in a face-painting ceremony, learn about a traditional smoke ceremony, and hear their “Dreamtime stories”—their version of the creation story—just to start. You can even see their impact on the landscape, making visits to spot their thousands-year-old pictographs, now known as the Gwion Gwion (or Gyorn Gyorn) Bradshaw rock paintings, drawn onto the red sandstone walls. These surprisingly elaborate artworks feature people wearing headpieces and tassels, or carrying boomerangs and spears, all of which are still visible so many centuries later.
“With a Seabourn sailing, you’ll get to experience a taste of aboriginal culture, specifically that of the Wunambal Gaambera people.”
As an added thoughtful touch, Seabourn made aboriginal Wunambal Gaambera people the godparents of Seabourn Pursuit, the ship that sails all around this beautiful region.
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An avid traveler herself, Claudette Hatcher has been arranging travel since 2000, starting with corporate travel then to leisure travel for groups and individuals, and now runs CLAUDETTE TRAVELS as a proud member of Travel Planners International and Signature Travels. In addition to traveling to a number of foreign countries (30+ across 4 continents), she has lived abroad (Japan, England and the Netherlands) as well and is able to suggest activities and place to visit known mostly to locals and generally missed by tourists. Claudette also has visited half of the US states, ridden a motorcycle in 8 countries, and speaks 13 languages.