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Beehive shaved domes of the Bungle Bungle ranges, Kimberley region, Australia

Travel Updates

Keeping you informed on our health protocols for our tours and cruises is important to us. Here you can find up-to-date information on all you need to know about travelling with APT.

Kimberley 2023 Touring Season Update

22 March 2023

We wish to assure you that we have been working very hard to ensure the success of the upcoming tourist season throughout the Kimberley after the recent damage caused by flooding events in December 2022 and January 2023.

We are pleased to advise that great progress has been made and our team on the ground in Broome is working with the Western Australian and Federal governments, as well as Tourism Western Australia and our valued suppliers, who all have full confidence in the commencement of our season by late April 2023.

We are aware of the recently announced closures of Bandilngan Windjana Gorge National Park and Danggu Geikie Gorge National Park for the 2023 season. We are working closely with our partners in the area and have already secured some alternate experiences for these small portions of our itineraries. Impacted guests will be contacted and kept up to date with all developments.   

It is good to see that many roads in the region have already reopened including major routes between Perth and Broome, and Kununurra and Fitzroy Crossing. In other areas, work continues, including reinstating a river crossing at Fitzroy Crossing, after it was damaged. Pleasingly, barges have been deployed to ferry people and vehicles across the river. Plans are also in place to reinstate low level river crossings near the town once the river allows. The Willare Crossing on the Great Northern Highway has reopened during daylight hours.

While large rain events are common in the Kimberley during the wet season, they are not usually as significant as we have seen this year. However, due to the extensive efforts from the department of Main Roads in the area, we are confident that the roads will be repaired, open and accessible to all traffic before the start of our season, late April 2023. APT’s three wilderness lodges located in Mitchell Falls, Bell Gorge and the Bungle Bungle remain unaffected.

With over 45 years’ experience touring the Kimberley area, we have solid relationships with our valued suppliers, partners and staff and know that tourism is one of the main economic drivers for the region, and we are committed to doing our bit to help rebuild.

For any further information, please visit Main Roads WA website.

Important Information

Before booking and before you travel, ensure that you check the latest Government travel requirements, Smartraveller website and APT updates below.

Proof of vaccination may be required to participate in some included or optional touring. Some destinations or modes of transport have Covid-19 travel requirements.

We have listed special requirements here and we will continue to update this page as changes are made. Please take note if you are joining a cruise or tour with us:

Some destinations or modes of transport have Covid-19 travel requirements. We have listed these special requirements here and we will continue to update this page as changes are made. Please take note if you are joining a cruise or tour with us:

Applicable to Caledonian Sky, Le Laperouse, Le Soleal and Le Jacques Carter
All guests must be fully vaccinated (2 doses) against Covid-19 to travel with us.
 All guests will need to complete a health declaration prior to travel.  
All guests will be required to self-administer a Rapid Antigen Test prior to boarding. This test must be undertaken no more than 24 hours before embarkation for cruise departures. A negative result declaration must be provided to crew prior to boarding.
Note: From 25 April 2023 onwards, all passengers travelling on the Caledonian Sky must present a valid passport on embarkation of the ship which needs to be valid for the duration of the cruise. 
Valid passports are required on all sailings for Le Laperouse, Le Soleal and Le Jacques Carter and they need  to be valid for the duration of the cruise.

For all tours that include Mitchell Plateau in Western Australia:
To enter the Mitchell Plateau in the Kimberley, you must be fully vaccinated (minimum 2 doses) against COVID-19, and vaccination certificates must be available to show upon request. This applies to the following tours: Kimberley Complete (GKC15 and GKC15R), Kimberley and Top End (GKB17 and GKB17R), Iconic Kimberley (GKBK12)

For tours that include Mt Whaleback Mine in Western Australia:
To undertake the tour at Mt Whaleback Mine in Western Australia you must be fully vaccinated (minimum 2 doses) against COVID-19, and vaccination certificates must be available to show staff prior to commencement of the tour. This applies to the following tour: West Coast Explorer (GOWF15 and GOWF15R)

CRUSING WITH HOLLAND AMERICA LINE (HAL)

Vaccination: All guests must be fully vaccinated against Covid-19 to travel with us aboard a Holland America Line cruise.

HAL Shore Excursions: We suggest you book HAL shore excursions online prior to departing, as the more popular ones can sell out even before you board. To book, go to www.hollandamerica.com. You will need your credit card and Holland America Line booking reference (this can be found in your APT invoice and itinerary). Your shore excursion tickets will be delivered to your stateroom after you board.

HAL Online Check-in & Express Cruise Documentation: It is essential that you complete your cruise online check-in prior to departing for your trip. Once you’ve completed the online check-in and are within 50 days of sailing, your electronic documentation (Express Docs) will be available for you to print. To complete your online check-in go to Holland America Line website – https://book2.hollandamerica.com/olci-iu/#/findBooking

NOTE: If travelling to the USA, please check the Smartraveller website which provides the latest travel safety information for Australian travellers heading overseas from the Department of Foreign Affairs: www.smartraveller.gov.au

Helpful Information

A future holiday credit equal to the full amount paid on the booking, is being offered to all our suspended tours and cruises, this includes us absorbing any applicable third-party fees (some airline fees may apply).  This is valid for travel with any of our brands up to the end of 2023. This credit can be used for multiple bookings and can be transferred to another person, however it is not redeemable for cash. 

The Smartraveller website provides the latest travel safety information for Australian travellers heading overseas from the Department of Foreign Affairs: www.smartraveller.gov.au

United Nations World Health Organisation: www.who.int

Book and Travel with Confidence

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Safe Journeys

Your health – and that of your family, as well as our staff and crew – is APT’s highest priority. You can rely on our industry-leading health protocols, to help ensure everyone’s health and wellbeing.
Health & Wellbeing on tour
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Need to Know

Find a list of handy tips and tricks, covering everything from what to pack to changing your booking, as well as links to your destination specific guide to touring with APT.
View Travel Information
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Flexible Bookings

We know that now, more than ever, you want flexibility when making your holiday plans. If you’d like freedom to change your plans, our flexible booking policies allow you to cancel and move your holiday to another time.
View our Booking Policies