Page 6 - CR Spring Newsletter 2023

6 RESIDENCES REVIEW, WINTER 22/23

HOLIDAY REVIEW

Our Kimberley Adventure

By Sandra & Gavin

After a day and a half relaxing in warm and The next day we moored off Talbot Bay for a 2
sunny Darwin, we boarded our ship – Silversea ½ hour cruise in zodiacs for the Horizontal
Explorer an expedition class ship – together Falls on the rising tide. Spectacular geological
with 120 other adventurers to enjoy our 10-Day cliffs here with the rock layers vertical and
Kimberley Cruise. Leaving port, we headed for curvy. Lots of fun at Horizontal Falls playing in
Wyndham about 230 nautical miles from the whirlpools, rapids and strong currents.
Darwin. This day was an enjoyable day at sea
meeting up with our fellow travellers. An early rise to board zodiacs next morning to
see Montomery Reef emerging from the high
We docked at Wyndham Pier early AM and
tide. A superb experience as the tide was
joined other passengers on a flat-bottomed
boat cruising the Ord River from Kununura to receding (about 9 metres) the reef was rising
Lake Argyle. A very scenic cruise with plenty of and formed hundreds of waterfalls running off
wildlife to see, plus the colours of the rocks are the reef. Beautiful sight with plenty of turtles
quite incredible. After lunch at Argyle Lake here – too quick to photograph. After lunch we
resort, we were taken back to the ship, ready went to Freshwater Cover and had a welcome
for our captain’s cocktail party and dinner. by the traditional owners and a visit to the
caves to view indigenous rock art.
Early next morning we departed Koolama Bay
on zodiacs to reach King George Falls, Finally, we arrived in Darwin for another couple
Western Australia’s highest twin waterfalls with of days after an awe-inspiring 10 day cruise
cliffs 80m high. A 3-hour cruise to this visiting spectacular regions of this ancient
spectacular area where the cliff rocks dated 1.8 Kimberley area. This cruise was on our bucket
billion years old!
list and didn’t disappoint. The guides were
The next morning we boarded zodiacs for a 30 extremely knowledgeable in geology, botany,
minute trip to Ashmore Reef Western Island. history and a “bird nerd” call Malcom. Plus,
We cruised along the shores where there is an exceptional weather. Ticked off our bucket list!
abundance of birdlife, thousands nesting in
small trees, shrubs and on the sand. We saw
lots of turtles in the beautiful aqua water here.

We anchored off Naturalist Island at the mouth
of Hunter River. The zodiacs taking us to the
beach to board the helicopter for our flight to
the Mitchell Falls about 40 minutes away. A
stunning panoramic view. We had an hour at
the lookout and time for a swim in the lagoon
before our trip back to the beach. Gavin being
Gavin, fell backwards boarding the zodiac at
the beach, much to the hilarity of the eight of
us on our zodiac! He was quick to get back on
when told crocs were around. The afternoon
was spent cruising the Porusus Creek spotting
crocodiles in the water and in the mangroves.