Australia’s pioneering cruise line Coral Expeditions is bringing the small expedition ship Coral Adventurer to explore South Australia this summer.

The seven new South Australian voyages from December 2021 to January 2022 explore the state’s islands and gulf waters, which are one of the best kept secrets of Australian cruising.

With 5000km of coastline and more than 300 islands, there’s a huge diversity of destinations to explore – spectacular bays and beaches, remote islands, and stunning sea cliffs.

Best of all, most of it is wild and unspoilt. That means there’s a real sense of adventure and seclusion, plus loads of wildlife. Many of the islands are important sanctuaries for birds, kangaroos, and wallabies, and especially seals and sea lions.

Coral Expeditions Commercial Director Jeff Gillies says expedition cruising in South Australia is not new to Coral Expeditions, having conducted a pioneering cruise to the region in February 2021. 

“We ventured into South Australia for the first time earlier this year,” Gillies says.

“The people and communities of South Australia welcomed us with open arms and our guests were inspired by the unique natural environs which are ideally suited to our style of adventures.”   

The round-trip Adelaide itinerary stays within South Australia, providing South Aussies with a unique opportunity to discover some of their state’s remote and hard-to-reach places from the luxury of a floating expedition lodge. 

Travellers will get their boots on the ground for some great coastal walks, take in some scenic summit views, and indulge in plenty of opportunities for relaxation and beachcombing. All led by expert expedition guides, including Kangaroo Island local Quentin Chester.

There is tremendous scope in SA to visit islands and shorelines that are virtually impossible to reach by other means. To be up close to the majestic cliffs on the northwest coast of Kangaroo Island is very special. More than 300m high, these are among the tallest sea cliffs anywhere in Australia. The same goes for the craggy shores of South Neptune Island and the huge limestone cliffs on the southern tip of Eyre Peninsula. 

Flinders Island is a definite highlight. A spectacular, far-flung island with a stirring family story, guests will step ashore to find a beach kitchen with two abalone divers standing in as chefs. The Tobin brothers, whose family own the island, harvest black-lip and green-lip abalone from the clear waters of the Southern Ocean, and offer sashimi and pan-seared options to your taste, while you admire the unbelievably expansive vista of Front Beach. The island is also being regenerated as a wildlife conservation area, and pods of curious dolphins are often spotted playing in the shallows.

Throughout the cruises there are many opportunities to indulge in the tastes of South Australia with fresh local seafood from the source and hand-selected local wines. 

A special stop at Coffin Bay treats guests to a leisurely afternoon learning to shuck your own oysters fresh from the ocean in the Saltwater Pavilion. Some voyages will instead include a small boat cruise along the oyster beds to collect and enjoy them fresh from the sea. Onboard you’ll taste fresh local produce paired with wines from South Australia’s renowned wine regions.

Operating with permission from all authorities and under their industry leading SailSAFE medical protocols, Coral Expeditions has completed over 85 incident-free voyages since October 2020 on its Australian-flagged, Australian-crewed ships.

 Coral Adventurer will carry a maximum of 99 guests in all out-side facing staterooms and suites.

Departure dates: 22 Nov 2021, 2 Dec 2021, 13 Dec 2021, 23 Dec 2021, 3 Jan 2022, 13 Jan 2022 & 23 Jan 2022

Prices start from $6,390.