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CORAL EXPEDITIONS WEST COAST CRUISES

Explore Coral Expeditions Western Australia cruises including the Kimberley, Ningaloo Reef, Abrolhos Islands and coastal expedition voyages. Small ship departures with limited availability.

WEST AUSTRALIA WAS NEVER MEANT TO BE SEEN THIS EASILY

This coastline doesn’t do “quick highlights.”

It stretches for thousands of kilometres through reefs, desert coastlines, ancient gorges and isolated islands — much of it inaccessible unless you arrive by sea.

And that’s exactly why expedition cruising works so brilliantly here.

With small purpose-built ships, Coral Expeditions explores the side of Western Australia most travellers never properly experience:

  • remote Kimberley waterways
  • whale migration routes
  • Ningaloo Reef
  • the Abrolhos Islands
  • isolated coastal wilderness far beyond the highways

This is Western Australia slowed down properly.

Why Small Ship Expedition Crusing Works So Well In Western Australia

Most of Western Australia is simply too large, too remote and too logistically difficult for conventional tourism to access well.

Drive itineraries become exhausting quickly:

  • huge distances
  • limited infrastructure
  • rushed schedules
  • endless transit days

Expedition cruising solves that problem elegantly.

You sleep while the landscape changes around you.

Wake up somewhere new.
Explore by Zodiac or kayak.
Return onboard for lunch while the ship quietly moves deeper into the wilderness.

It’s one of the few styles of travel that actually improves the destination instead of simply moving you through it faster.

The Coral Expeditions Difference

Large cruise ships visit Western Australia.

Small expedition ships actually explore it.

That distinction matters enormously.

With ships carrying approximately 72–120 guests depending on the vessel, Coral Expeditions focuses on:

  • access over spectacle
  • exploration over entertainment
  • expedition experiences over cruise ship gimmicks

There are:

  • no casinos
  • no shopping promenades
  • no Broadway productions trying to distract from the destination

Because the destination already does the heavy lifting.

EXPLORE WESTERN AUSTRALIA EXPEDITION CRUISES

Western Australia isn’t one destination.

It’s several entirely different worlds stitched together along one impossibly long coastline.

Some voyages focus on ancient Kimberley wilderness.
Others follow whale migrations, coral reefs or remote island chains rarely visited by mainstream tourism.

The common thread is simple:
small ships, genuine access and expedition-style exploration.

FEATURED WESTERN AUSTRALIA EXPEDITION CRUISES

10-Night Kimberley Expedition Cruises

The Kimberley remains one of Australia’s great expedition cruise experiences:

  • towering sandstone cliffs
  • crocodile-filled rivers
  • ancient Aboriginal rock art
  • waterfall systems larger than many countries’ national parks

And seeing it from the water changes everything.

Small expedition ships can push deep into river systems, conduct remote shore landings and access locations impossible for larger vessels.

👉 Explore Kimberley Expedition Cruises

12-Night Abrolhos Islands & Coral Coast Expedition

This is one of Western Australia’s most underrated expedition itineraries.

Stretching along the Coral Coast and offshore island chains, this voyage combines:

  • Ningaloo Reef
  • Shark Bay
  • the Houtman Abrolhos Islands
  • marine wildlife encounters
  • shipwreck history
  • remote beach landings

It feels part marine safari, part coastal exploration.

And because relatively few travellers even know these regions exist, the experience still feels genuinely undiscovered.

👉 Explore The 12-Night Abrolhos Islands & Coral Coast Expedition

10-Night Whales & Tails Expedition

This itinerary revolves around movement:
whale migrations, marine life and the rhythm of Western Australia’s coastline itself.

Timed around seasonal wildlife activity, these voyages can include encounters with:

  • humpback whales
  • dolphins
  • sea lions
  • seabirds
  • reef ecosystems along the Coral Coast

Unlike commercial whale watching day tours, expedition cruising allows you to experience these regions slowly and repeatedly over multiple days — which completely changes the quality of the encounters.

👉 View 10-Night Whales & Tails Expeditions

6-Night Short Coastal Adventures Western Australia

Not every expedition needs to disappear into the wilderness for two weeks.

These shorter coastal itineraries offer a more compact introduction to expedition cruising:

  • remote coastal scenery
  • Zodiac excursions
  • wildlife experiences
  • relaxed small ship exploration

They work particularly well for travellers wanting to experience expedition cruising for the first time without committing to a longer voyage.

👉 Discover 6-Night Short Coastal Adventures

18-Night Australian South Coast Cruise to Western Australia

Be one of the very few passengers to join an expedition cruise from Hobart to Fremantle.

These shorter coastal itineraries offer a more compact introduction to expedition cruising:

  • remote coastal scenery
  • Zodiac excursions
  • wildlife experiences
  • relaxed small ship exploration

They work particularly well for travellers wanting to experience expedition cruising for the first time without committing to a longer voyage.

👉 Discover Across The Great Australian Bight expedition cruise

Life Onboard

Life onboard feels remarkably aligned with Western Australia itself:
relaxed, open and quietly adventurous.

Days tend to unfold naturally:

  • morning excursions ashore
  • wildlife sightings from the deck
  • long lunches as the coastline drifts past
  • expedition briefings over evening drinks

The atmosphere onboard is distinctly Australian:
friendly without formality and expedition-focused without feeling overly technical.

And because these are genuine expedition ships rather than repurposed cruise liners, the entire experience feels built around access and exploration rather than onboard distraction.

Why Book Through BlueSun Cruises?

The simple answer is that BlueSun Travel has been West Australia's leading marine tourism expert for nearly 30 years. We know that expedition cruising along the Western Australian coast is not a generic “click and book” holiday.

Seasonality matters.
Ship selection matters.
Cabin choice matters.
Wildlife timing matters.

Through BlueSun Cruises, we help travellers navigate:

  • the best departure windows
  • itinerary differences
  • cabin categories
  • flight logistics
  • pre and post-cruise planning

More importantly, we’ll tell you which expeditions genuinely suit your travel style — not simply what happens to be available.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Coral Expeditions operates a range of Western Australia small ship voyages including Kimberley cruises, Coral Coast expeditions, whale migration itineraries, Abrolhos Islands voyages and shorter coastal adventure sailings.

Depending on the itinerary, departures may operate aboard:

These expedition ships typically carry between approximately 72 and 120 guests.

Yes — especially for travellers more interested in scenery, wildlife and exploration than traditional cruise ship entertainment.

That said, these are expedition cruises rather than floating resorts.

It depends on the region:

  • Kimberley cruises typically operate during the dry season
  • Whale migration voyages align with seasonal marine activity
  • Coral Coast expeditions vary according to reef and weather conditions

Choosing the right timing is one of the most important parts of planning the trip properly.

um capacity.

Typically included:

  • accommodation onboard
  • all meals
  • guided shore excursions
  • Zodiac/Xplorer operations
  • expedition guides and lectures

Flights, travel insurance and some beverages may be additional depending on the itinerary.

Because genuine small ship expedition capacity in Western Australia is extremely limited.

Once preferred cabin categories are gone, availability can become very tight — particularly during peak Kimberley and whale migration periods.

Western Australia Deserves Better Than A Fly-In Holiday

This coastline is too vast, too remote and too spectacular to rush.

Expedition cruising changes the pace completely:

  • fewer people
  • deeper access
  • more immersive experiences
  • genuine exploration

Exactly how Western Australia should be experienced.

👉 Request live availability and best cabin options for upcoming Coral Expeditions departures.

👉 Request full itinerary breakdown

👉 Speak to a cruise specialist on 1300 799 758

 

CALL 1300 799 758

Complete List of Coral Expeditions Cruises

As a quick guide, here is a list of the top Coral Expeditions cruises:

KIMBERLEY 👉 View here: Kimberley cruise departure dates
RAJA AMPAT & SPICE ISLANDS 👉 View here: Raja Ampat & the Spice Islands
PAPUA NEW GUINEA 👉 View here:  PNG Cruises
       * 12-night Frontier Lands cruise
       * 12-night Beyond Frontiers of Papua New Guinea
       * 14-night Passage Through the Melanesian Arc
GREAT BARRIER REEF 👉 View here: Great Barrier Reef
THE GREAT BIGHT 👉 View here: Australia's South cruises
NEW ZEALAND 👉 View here: New Zealand cruises
       * 8-night New Zealand Sounds & Stewart Island cruise
       * 10-night South Islands & Fiordland Cruise 
AUSTRALIA'S WEST COAST 👉 View here:
       * 12-night Abrolhos Islands Coral Coast Cruise
       * 10-night Whales & Tails of Western Australia
       * 6-night Short Coastal Adventures of Western Australia
TASMANIA EXPEDITIONS 👉 View here: Tasmania Cruises
CAPE YORK & ARNHEIM LAND 👉 View here: Cape York & Arnheim Land cruises

Learn more about Coral Expeditions Cruises & Specials

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