Papua New Guinea & Great Barrier Reef Cruise

Disembarkation

The Tiwi Islands are part of the Northern Territory, Australia, 80 km to the north of Darwin where the Arafura Sea joins the Timor Sea. They comprise Melville Island, Bathurst Island, and nine smaller uninhabited islands, with a combined area of 8,320 square kilometres (3,212 sq. mi). Indigenous Australians have occupied the Tiwi Islands for centuries, with creation stories suggesting they were present at least 7,000 years ago. The Tiwi people are culturally and linguistically distinct from those of Arnhem Land on the mainland just across the water. Most residents speak Tiwi as their first language and English as a second language. Most of the population live in Wurrumiyanga (known as Nguiu until 2010) on Bathurst Island, and Pirlangimpi (also known as Garden Point) and Milikapiti (also known as Snake Bay) on Melville Island. Wurrumiyanga has a population of nearly 1500, the other two centres around 450 each. The creation of Indigenous art is an important part of Tiwi Island culture and its economy. There are three Indigenous art centres on the islands: Tiwi Design, Munupi Arts & Crafts, and Jilamara Arts and Craft and these collaborate through a cooperative venture, Tiwi Art. Nguiu was founded in 1911 as a Catholic mission by Francis Xavier Gsell. In 2010 Nguiu was renamed Wurrumiyanga, meaning the place where the cycads grow, by the Tiwi Land Council. You will be transferred ashore by ships tender.

Cape York Peninsula is a large remote peninsula located at the tip of the state of Queensland in North Eastern Australia. The region has been described as the largest unspoiled wilderness in Australia and one of the last remaining wilderness areas on Earth. The relatively undisturbed eucalyptus wooded savannahs, tropical rainforests and other types of habitat are now recognized for their global environmental significance. At the tip of the peninsula lies Cape York, the northernmost point on the Australian continent. It was named by Lieutenant James Cook on 21 August 1770 in honour of Prince Edward, Duke of York and Albany, a brother of King George III of the United Kingdom, who had died three years earlier. The Northernmost point (colloquially referred to as The Tip) of the Australian mainland usually takes travellers 5 7 days over some of the planets toughest and remotest roads. The easiest way to stand on the tip is to take a luxury voyage and walk the last 500m! Set on scenic Punsand Bay the currents swirl around the tip as the Pacific and Indian Oceans meet. You will be transferred ashore by ships zodiac directly onto the beach that can be muddy at low tide. Then follow your naturalist guides to the tip of Cape York over a well formed track. Wear comfortable walking shoes, you do not mind getting wet and protect yourself from the sun.

Stanley Island is located at the tip of Cape Melville, Queensland in Bathurst Bay. It is located North of Denham Island and Flinders Island in the Flinders Group National Park in Princess Charlotte Bay. Stanley Island was first declared a national park in 1939. Stanley Island is an integral part of the mythological complex of the Flinders Group. There are several spectacular rock art sites on Stanley Island, the best known being the huge Yindayin rock shelter known as the "Ship" rock shelter. Other islands in the group also contain rock art, all of which are considered to be of international significance. The rock art covering the walls of the Ship shelter shows ships from a number of nations, painted in red and white ochre on the red sandstone: sailing ships rigged in the distinctive styles of the European lugger and the Macassan (Indonesian) Prau; a dugout canoe with a figure standing upright in it, hands outstretched. Some construe the images of European vessels with high sterns to be 16th or 17th century (Portuguese) ships, in an attempt to validate the unsubstantiated theory of the Portuguese discovery of Australia. In shelters on nearby Castle Peak there are similar paintings: of a steam ship, and a detailed image of a lugger, identifiable as the Mildred, towing a dinghy. An important mythological site occurs at Muyu-Walin figuring in the major Itjibiya mythic cycle. You will be transferred ashore by ships zodiac directly onto Stanley Island, expect a wet landing. Here there is a 1.5km circuit walking track to the Yindayin rock shelter. The walk requires a moderate level of fitness. Wear comfortable walking shoes and protect yourself from the sun.

Lizard Island was named by Lieutenant James Cook on 11th August 1770. Naming the island after the yellow-spotted monitors (Varanus panoptes) that were abundant on the island. Cook arrived at Lizard Island after spending nearly 2 months repairing his ship, the Endeavour at modern day Cooktown, after striking Endeavour Reef as he attempted to navigate through The Labyrinth. Lizard Island was known as Dyiigurra to the Dingaal Aboriginal people and was regarded as a sacred place. It was used by the people for the initiation of young males and for the harvesting of shellfish, turtles, dugongs and fish. The Dingaal believed that the Lizard group of islands had been created in the Dreamtime. They saw it as a stingray with Lizard Island being the body and the other islands in the group forming the tail. In 1939, Lizard Island was declared a National Park. In 1973, the Lizard Island Research Island was established by the Australian Museum. In December 1975, the Lizard Island Resort was officially opened. Lizard Island is 1,000 hectares (2,200 acres) in size and boasts pristine white sand beaches with healthy diverse fringing coral reef ecosystems. There are also many walking trails on the Island to suit all levels of fitness. You will be transferred to Lizard Island by ships zodiac, expect a wet landing. You will have access to the beach at Watsons Bay, here you can swim, snorkel and relax. There will be a number of guided walks on offer including; Cooks Look, Chinamans Ridge and the Blue Lagoon. Wear your swimsuit under your clothes and protect yourself from the sun.

Embarkation from 4 to 5pm