Path of the total solar eclipse as it passes over Australia. The path is only 229km/ 143 miles wide where we are sailing. See the dark oval above where totality lasts longer than most other places along the path. All maps shown are courtesy of X. Jubier.
This solar eclipse tour is our 58th solar eclipse adventure from RING OF FIRE EXPEDITIONS. It will feature a 10 day cruise from Darwin ending in Broome with the highlight being the fantastic total solar eclipse on the morning of July 22. The tour will be led by Paul D. Maley of the NASA Johnson Space Center Astronomical Society in Houston, Texas USA and this will be his 93rd solar eclipse. At night, if the sky is clear, there will be opportunities to observe the stars in the sky. For photographers, the Sun is positioned well in the sky. It is not too high to make it hard to take images. The eclipse begins at 9:17am where the Sun is at elevation 40 degrees azimuth 47 degrees, reaches totality at 10:47am with the Sun at elevation 52, azimuth 23 and ends at 12:23pm with the Sun at elevation 54,azimuth 345. Expect up to 5 minutes 9 seconds of complete total eclipse! Since we plan to be on land, it would be helpful to have a Sun tracking mouont capable of operating in the southern hemisphere.
One of many successful total eclipse photos from the April 2023 total solar eclipse cruise aboard the Coral Discoverer. Photo of the Sun’s corona by Eliot Herman.
While clear weather can never be guaranteed here is an early look at weather prospects based on day time cloud information over a 17 year period. Blue areas indicate best chances for clear sky. Courtesy Jay Anderson.
A select satellite view of the eclipse zone on July 22, 2022. Courtesy NASA Worldview.
Effective June 2023 but may be changed as circumstances dictate.
Our program price includes a pre-night in Darwin (10 July) and Direct Travel will block seats from Melbourne and Sydney to Darwin so everyone can connect accordingly. Flight prices are at additional cost. Pre- and post-cruise optional tours will be quoted in 2027 when costs have been fixed. Guests can contact Direct Travel for the most current international airfares which will be available no earlier than August 2027. This is an 11 day/10 night cruise. Darwin to Broome.
Arrival transfers – pre-night Darwin with welcome dinner
The Tiwi (two) Islands are an off-the-beaten-track destination for intrepid travelers. The islands are renowned for the excellent fishing opportunities and welcoming locals. Almost 90% of residents are of Aboriginal descent, and you can learn about their fascinating culture on a range of guided tours.
Beach on Bathurst Island in the Tiwi Islands, Australia
The Berkeley River is teeming with freshwater pools, waterfalls, pockets of rainforest and abundant wildlife activity. You will see many crocodiles, eagles and occasionally rock wallabies. At the top end of the Berkeley River where the fresh water meets the salt water, there are freshwater swimming holes with rapids and plenty of opportunities for estuary fishing particularly Barramundi.
Towering cliffs along Berkeley River
Large saltwater crocodile basking amongst some shady
mangroves on the banks of the Berkeley River
Soak in the breathtaking heights of the King George (KG) River as you cruise through the 13 kilometers of steep-sided sandstone gorge and arrive at the base of Western Australia’s highest falls. The cliffs rise to an average of 80 meters/260 ft high and rocks visible just above sea level can take on shades of pink, yellow and even purple.
Twin waterfalls on the King George River
The aboriginal artwork found on Jar Island is simply amazing. From the beach landing, you walk up to beach and go through a swampy mud flat, after which you have to climb through some rocky outcrop to reach the site. The discovery of rock paintings dating back 40,000 years, the grave of a DC3 WWII aircraft and shards of exotic, ethnic pottery…Vansittart Bay is surrounded by the glistening aqua waters of the Timor Sea. Picturesque as it is, it’s the cultural, historical and natural importance that is the big pull. It is an aboriginal site of traditional camping sites, home of a giant sea spirit who made the water salty for the other marine animals as well as a watering hole for the northern quoll and water goanna.
Vansittart Bay
C53 WWII wreck, Vansittart Bay
Bradshaw rock paintings found on Jar Island.
A ‘steep’ island known for its ancient rock art and beautiful landscapes.
Winyalkan Island
A creek system within the Kimberly coast surrounded by mangrove forests; a hot spot for seeing the iconic saltwater crocodile. Towering sandstone escarpment faces formed a scenic valley sheltered from strong weather systems during the wet season).
This beautiful bay is frequently visited by people keen to see the historic Mermaid Tree in Prince Regent National Park and is a very beautiful spot in its own right. It is home to saltwater and freshwater crocodiles and managed by aboriginal communities.
A waterfall moment at the beautiful King Cascades on the Prince Regent River (PRR) is one of the highlights of a Kimberley coastal cruise through one of the last untouched wilderness areas on Earth.
King Cascades
One of the most iconic and popular tourist destinations in the Kimberley region, Talbot Bay features the uniquely named Horizontal Falls. Described by David Attenborough as one of the world’s great natural wonders, Horizontal Falls is a phenomenon that’s mesmerizing, mysterious, and magnificent.)
Horizontal Falls
Today is the “bigge” day since Bigge Island is the focus of our eclipse planning. We plan to disembark everyone at one of several pre-selected locations for eclipse observation and will advise everyone on those locations prior to the sail date. At the moment there is no plan to observe from the ship as we did in April 2023 since there are apparently a number of good sites.
The very broad path of the total eclipse offers a number of choice locations for land observation where photos can more easily be taken. Map courtesy X. Jubier
Prince Frederick Harbour is one of the Kimberley’s most spectacular locations at the southern end of York Sound. The harbor is dotted with islands lined with mangroves and monsoon rainforests, set against a backdrop of ochre-hued escarpment. White-bellied sea eagles and other birds of prey are often seen here, and at low tide, expansive mudflats reveal large populations of mudskippers and mangrove crabs.
Bigge Island’s Indigenous name is Wuuyuru, and the Indigenous Group of the area is the Wunambal people.
Formally called Montgomery Reef, is a 1.8-billion-year-old flat rock reef with the 2nd largest tides in the world; known for its stunning red cliffs and aboriginal artwork. This stop will sure delight everyone on the voyage.
Monty Reef (formally Montgomery Reef).
These islands are internationally significant as they are home to one of the largest colonies for the brown booby and the largest breeding colony in the Indian Ocean for the lesser frigatebird. The Lacepedes are also one of Western Australia’s most important breeding grounds for green turtles.
Flocks of black and white lesser frigate birds.
A registration form (one per person) and a fully refundable deposit of $1,000 per person is required until such time that the program and final pricing is established and announced. All passengers will be given the option to proceed or cancel once that is decided.
Note that prices are based on 2 persons in a cabin. Single cabin prices are twice that of listed price. IMPORTANT: Final pricing may vary based on contracting chartered vessel, port taxes and other government fees that are subject to change at any time.
Cabin Type Price per Person
Suites $24,750 (Waitlist Only – Contact Direct Travel)
Upper Deck $19,750
Promenade Deck $17,750
Lower Deck $15,300
All payments are non-refundable.
Deposit: Required when booking $1000 per person
2nd Deposit: October 31, 2025 $3500 per person
3rd Deposit: October 31, 2026 $3500 per person
Final Payment: October 31, 2027 Balance owing
You will be confirmed on the cruise ONLY if you submit BOTH a registration form for each person — a separate form is required for each person with a limit of 2 persons in a cabin—and deposit in the amount of $1000. IMPORTANT NOTE: THIS DEPOSIT IS REFUNDABLE UNTIL THE PROGRAM AND PRICING IS FINALIZED.
Click HERE to register and submit payment
Global Trade Tariff Supplement
Coral Expeditions reserves the right to charge a global trade tariff supplement without prior notice should import tariffs be imposed on required of supplies/provisions to operate the cruise. In the event a global trade tariff supplement is charged, Coral Expeditions will have sole discretion to apply the supplementary charge to both existing and new bookings, regardless of whether such bookings have been paid in full. Such supplementary charges are not included in the cruise fare. Due to the volatile nature of such government-imposed tariffs, the full extent, which is unknown at this time, Coral Expeditions will strive to minimize such charges to the extent it is possible. As a general guidance, Coral Expeditions anticipates such a tarrif supplement charge not to exceed $25.00 USD per passenger per day.
