With its turquoise waters, thousands of islands and incredible scenic beauty, it is no surprise Australia's Kimberley is on many a traveller's bucket list. Enjoying it in comfort aboard a stylish PONANT expedition ship is really a breathtaking experience.
As soon as cruising australia wide has got the green light, Mick Fogg wishes to get on the bandwagon PONANT's chic Le Lapérouse expedition ship and go to the Kimberley. Fogg, who's PONANT's Expedition Manager Asia Pacific, says the Kimberley is one kind of his favourite destinations in the world – he's been there as many as 130 times.
Sprawling on the lot more than 12,000 kilometres and including 2,500 islands, the Kimberley's colours never neglect to amaze visitors, vis-à-vis the red dirt, turquoise waters, and blue skies. Says Fogg: “It is of all people's bucket lists since it is so unique and seeing it is just spectacular.
“It is quintessentially a frontier place and there is nowhere else that can compare with it. There are only several places over the coast that may be accessed from the land, which are simply open to the truly adventurous over difficult 4WD tracks that require a lot of preparation.
“Onboard an extravagance small ship like Le Lapérouse you can experience all the coast provides in extreme comfort having a highly attentive crew to look after you. I usually think the Kimberley is better observed in the water – it's very good on land, but to determine it from the ocean in many its glory, it's special,” he adds. Fogg says the coastal environment is very dissimilar towards the inland region, with a few of the spectacular archipelagos, pristine mangrove environments and deep gorges only accessible within the sea.
Having chalked up more than Two decades within the cruise expedition industry – seven of these with PONANT – Fogg is confident in regards to the way ahead for cruising. Devising itineraries and tours providing unique experiences that passengers will remember long afterwards they've unpacked their bags at home is the best part of his job.
“We really check out creating some amazing immersive experiences plus some quirky items that may have guests talking while dining,” he says. Unsurprisingly, bookings are already looking healthy for 2022 and 2023. “People are doing their armchair travel and researching where they want to go when cruising reveals again.”
PONANT is known for its fleet of small luxury ships, promoting sustainability and responsible tourism, excellent service and French-inspired hospitality.
It has 13 ships, such as the newest, Le Commandant-Charcot, which is named following the legendary French polar explorer and scientist, Jean-Baptiste Charcot. It's the world's first PC2 luxury hybrid-electric polar exploration ship, designed specifically to minimise impact on the polar regions' delicate ecosystems. PONANT already cruises towards the Geographic North Pole and Antarctica's Bellingshausen Sea – new itineraries will venture to much more remote regions. The sleek new ship has 135 staterooms and suites along with an onboard laboratory to aid polar scientific missions. A number of activities is going to be available for guests including lectures by experts, kayaking, hovercraft, hiking, ice fishing and much more.
Fogg believes that PONANT's reason behind difference is its small luxury ships, immersive expeditions and academic activities, combined with excellent entertainment and exceptional service. “You could be out taking a look at penguins or within waterfall every morning and in a special afternoon hearing a world-class pianist playing during afternoon tea,” he states.
PONANT Chairman Asia Pacific, Sarina Bratton says the organization is offering more close-to-home itineraries like the new england of Australia, Tasmania and Melanesia. “We also have increased our quantity of luxury expeditions in iconic expedition destinations such as the Kimberley coast due to high demand for domestic expeditions,” she says.
“Showcasing our proven and reliable health protocols and strict onboard risk mitigations provides confidence within our ability to establish and keep the ultimate COVIDfree travel bubble,” she says.
“We are aligned with what travellers are trying to find inside a post-pandemic world.”
Sail into adventure
Mick Fogg highlights five of his favourite itineraries showcasing fantastic natural attractions and adventures on side from the Tasman:
AUSTRALIA'S ICONIC KIMBERLEY DARWIN – BROOME
PONANT's 11-day Kimberley expedition cruise features the wild and grandiose Kimberley landscape in most its glory. “This cruise ventures to at least one of the very most picturesque parts of the place, such as the Hunter River with wild mangrove forests where saltwater crocodiles live together with many species of birds,” says Fogg. Travellers will see billion-year-old landscapes and rock art, enjoy Zodiac outings and shore visits and pay attention to incredible stories in the Dreamtime. A greater point is definitely the King George River as well as the majestic Twin Falls, which is the tallest in Wa. The cruise also includes Collier Bay, while using amazing Montgomery Reef that's where you can vast expanses of lagoons and immense coral reefs. “It's all about waterfalls, gorges, savannah, beautiful colours, calm waters, mountain chains as well as the wild lands that offer a fantastic adventure in this last frontier,” says Fogg from the epic cruise.
Fogg often refers back to the Kimberley as “the Antarctica in the Tropics” due to its remoteness and sheer size. It's the place to find the oldest continuous culture on the planet, the earth's largest living reptile (the saltwater crocoodile), the only real two 'horizontal falls' on the planet and also the largest population of migrating humpback whales on the planet.
TREASURES In the SOUTH AUSTRALIAN COAST AND TASMANIA SYDNEY – HOBART
A new 8-day expedition cruise aboard Le Lapérouse features natural and cultural treasures of the south-eastern coast of Australia and Tasmania. From Sydney the cruise heads to Jervis Bay, noted for its white sandy beaches and turquoise waters. The region has a rich biodiversity and attracts many birds. Next around the itinerary is Eden on the NSW coast, noted for its long, rich history with whales. There's also expeditions for the region's stunning national parks and scenic coastline. “Maria Island is really a highlight when we reach Tasmanian waters and contains an abundant history and extraordinary wildlife sanctuaries,” says Fogg. “The Tasmanian Peninsula features a rugged coastline and a lot of marine life including Australian fur seals and Little penguins and it's a playground for whales passing by, as well as expeditions to inland woodlands and forests.”
FOOD, WINE AND YACHT RACE IN TASMANIA HOBART – HOBART
Another favourite could be the 11-day trip of Tasmania's natural coastal wonders, including the state's food and wine festival. Guest cruise on Le Lapérouse, which starts and leads to Hobart following a New Year's Eve arrival of the Sydney to Hobart Yacht racers. Highlights include Maria Island and a cruise over the Tasman Peninsula having its spectacular dolerite spires rising within the sea. “The remote Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage area is loaded with lots of great benefits; a finish at King Island features its interesting culture and history and some of the island's best produce,” says Fogg. Within the Tamar Valley, your wine route is a opportunity to sample some great drops combined with region's gourmet produce. “On returning to Hobart, guests stay on board for just two nights to savor the exciting finish type of the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race and also the New Year festivities, along with Australia's biggest food and wine fest, Taste of Tasmania.
EXPLORING AUSTRALIA'S Colonial ISLANDS CAIRNS – SYDNEY
Fogg loved researching this 10-day expedition cruise from Cairns to Sydney. Passengers will get the treasures in the Great Barrier Reef aboard Le Lapérouse – think pristine islands and glittering waters. From Cairns, known as the gateway for the Great Barrier Reef, the ship cruises to Willis Islets inside the Coral Sea Territories with 30 separate reefs inside the Coral Sea Marine Park. The cruise then ventures 50km towards the north-east from the Whitsunday Islands towards the biodiversity-rich Hardy Reef. “Percy Island is to may take a dip within the shallow waters and Lady Musgrave Island is ideal for snorkelling – both are based in the heart in the Great Barrier Reef,” says Fogg. The cruise continues right down to the Hawkesbury River region in NSW that's famous for its colourful cliffs and historic towns. “This cruise is a superb mixture of great landscapes from spectacular pristine islands to small coastal towns,” he states.
NEW ZEALAND'S SUBANTARCTIC ISLANDS EXPEDITION DUNEDIN-DUNEDIN
Want to see wild and unblemished landscapes and amazing marine and animal life? Fogg stands out around the 15-day Nz Fiordlands and Subantarctic Island cruise. The south-west NZ World Heritage Area is home to the majestic Dusky Sound, Doubtful Sound and Milford Sound. “This cruise is an excellent opportunity to see King, Royal and Snares crested penguins inside the thousands as you cruise around around the Zodiac,” says Fogg. The Subantarctic Islands of recent Zealand will often be described as the Galápagos from the Southern Ocean. “The landscape is breathtaking, you will find meadows of mega herbs forming a colourful tapestry and towering cliffs buffeted through the power the waves and wind, which is the playground from the Royal Albatross,” Fogg says. “With myriad penguins patrolling the black sandy beaches, it is a classic nature lover's dream become a reality.”
Visit au.ponant.com for more information.
