02 Aug 2023

A Course of Kimberley History at Vansittart Bay

Early starts are always worth it, right? Well it sure was the case this morning as we enjoyed breakfast while the sun came up and the moon's reflection danced across the water. All this while Heritage Adventurer sailed for the war-time plane wreck at Vansittart Bay with barely no wind.

We walked across mudflats in small looking out for the Mudskippers, Elegant Fiddler Crabs and various birds that frequent the area and enjoyed a few unique stops along the way with our guides who shared information about the Douglas C-53 Skytrooper (DC-3) that crash landed in the bush. What an incredible sight - the gleaming metallic skeleton of the plane overgrown by nature and an incredible tale of war time survival. We also learned about the beautiful endemic Kimberley Boab, observed Green Ant nests, various wild flowers including sundews, and a couple termite mounds as well. It's a landing with a little bit of something for everyone.

Back on board our trusty expedition vessel Heritage Adventurer repositioned closer to Jar Island. Unfortunately, the early morning calm had been replaced by gusting winds preventing our landing so preparations began for tomorrow's visit to Ashmore Reef. The pool deck was the place to be with guests reading on the lounge chairs, others in the pool or trying out snorkelling gear for tomorrow while the rest of us chatted with new friends overlooking the ocean.

During the afternoon we enjoyed lectures on the geology of the Kimberley, a big topic to get your head around but an important aspect of visiting this region; as well as our guest presenter Michael Butler on his Message Stick documentary, a journey made in outback Australia driving a vehicle made for war and reshaped for peace.

Image (c) by: Heritage Expeditions