Coral Adventurer, Beyond Frontiers of Papua New Guinea ex Cairns to Port Moresby

10 Night Cruise sailing from Rabaul to Port Moresby aboard Coral Adventurer.

Day 1: Depart Rabaul
Take our included charter flight from Cairns to Rabaul before boarding the Coral Adventurer at 4:00pm in this bustling Papua New Guinea port town. Join our expedition staff as they introduce you to the journey and the many experiences you will enjoy. This evening, join the Captain’s welcome drinks and meet your crew and fellow guests as the sun sets.

Nissan Island (Green Island)
Discover significant WWII history, alongside innovative climate resilience programs. Meet facilitators of community development projects, including solar power and water supply initiatives, addressing climate change impacts.

Tol, New Britain Island
Visit the memorial commemorating 160 Australian soldiers of the 2/22nd Battalion executed here in 1942. On return, enjoy a seafood lunch prepared by village women and explore Japanese caves or visit the local high school.

Jacquinot Bay
Explore this tranquil bay with white sandy beaches and tropical palms. Visit the spectacular waterfall flowing from mountainside to beach, engage with villagers at the local carving market and cruise the Kalamalage River to a WWII flagpole.

Gasmata (Linden Harbour)
Honour fallen Australian soldiers at the newly erected 2025 memorial. Discover Dr. Andrew Forrest’s connection to this location and experience cultural performances before exploring Japanese WWII wrecks and limestone karst formations—diving option available at Linden Reef, including Japanese plane wreck diving and Elsie’s Reef for snorkelling.

Lusancay Reef
Enjoy pristine waters at this uninhabited reef perfect for swimming, diving and snorkelling. The crystal-clear waters showcase fantastic coral and marine biodiversity, making it an ideal location for beach refreshments in paradise.

Nasikwabu (Alcester) Island
Immerse yourself in the ancient Kula Ring traditions and the rich culture of Milne Bay. Experience traditional welcome ceremonies and cultural performances before enjoying water activities in these remote Kiriwina Islands.

Itamarina Island
Visit the turtle sanctuary where conservation efforts protect nesting green and hawksbill turtles. Engage with local sea rangers working to support Papua New Guinea’s blue economy through marine protection initiatives. Snorkelling and diving opportunities available.

Gunu Bara Bara Island
Search for manta rays at their cleaning station on this island, home to just 20 members of the Mailulu family. Discover blue economy opportunities while savouring local delicacies, such as sago fish patties.

Bona Bona Island & Delima Island
Experience village life and spot a diverse array of birdlife, including pied imperial pigeons and eclectus parrots. Learn about palm oil plantation impacts before moving to Delima Island for exceptional reef diving and snorkelling.

Day 11: Arrive Port Moresby
Disembark at 8:30am in Papua New Guinea’s capital. Bid farewell to new-found friends, the Captain and crew.

Note: This itinerary is an indication of the destinations we visit and activities on offer. Throughout the expedition we may make changes to the itinerary as necessary to maximise your expeditionary experience. Allowances may be made for seasonal variations, weather, tidal conditions, and any other event that may affect the operation of the vessel. Coral Expeditions suggests that you do not arrive on the day of embarkation or depart on the day of disembarkation due to any changes that may occur in scheduling.

Launched in April 2019, Coral Adventurer is a tropical expedition ship purpose-designed to access remote wilderness shores in Australia and internationally, that are often inaccessible to large cruise vessels.

Coral Adventurer features spacious and vibrant living spaces created by Brisbane interior design firm, Arkhefield, inspired by the company’s Australian ethos and the wide-open spaces the ship visits. The ship’s lightweight dual Xplorer expedition tenders, another trademark feature of all Coral Expeditions vessels, extend the capabilities of the ship by allowing deeper exploration on shore excursions. These ‘safari jeeps’ of the sea are fast, sturdy, and comfortable and developed to allow easy boarding from the ship and walk-off disembarkation onto remote shores.

The perfect balance between being large enough for ocean voyaging in comfort yet creating the intimate and relaxed atmosphere for which Coral Expeditions is renowned, Coral Adventurer embodies our Australian philosophy of adventure, relaxation, generosity, storytelling, and appreciation for the great outdoors. Carrying a maximum of 120 passengers – Coral Adventurer is purpose-built to take you closer to unspoiled vistas in comfort, style, and safety.

Started in 1983, our company’s original vessel, Coral Princess, a converted World War II submarine chaser, pioneered and set the standard for small ship expedition cruising in northern Australia with 5-night cruises on the Great Barrier Reef.

Today, the Coral Expeditions’ fleet includes three purpose-built small ships that can be found anywhere from the tropical waters of Australia’s north to the rugged shores of Tasmania, from the coastal villages of Papua New Guinea and the Spice Islands, to sheltered sounds and glacial fiords of New Zealand.

While our range of cruise itineraries has expanded into new regions, we have maintained our home in Cairns and continue to be the only major operator of extended small ship cruises on the Great Barrier Reef.

There are many reasons why our guests return to Coral Expeditions for a truly authentic expedition.

A TRUE EXPEDITION ETHOS At Coral Expeditions, we pride ourselves on getting our guests up close and personal with stunning landscapes, fascinating history and vibrant cultures. We have deep respect and a strong connection with the places we visit. We maintain flexibility in our planning to make impromptu stops if extraordinary opportunities in nature present. Our expeditions focus on truly experiencing the regions we visit.

OUR HOME TURF When it comes to expedition cruising, there is no replicating experience. For 40 years, we have steadily accumulated a wealth of local knowledge and contacts in the coastal regions surrounding Australia. Our crew know the charts, the tides and the winds like no other to ensure you are in the right place at the right time. Whether you travel with us in the ancient Kimberley, Tasmania’s wilderness, the frontier lands of Papua New Guinea, or New Zealand’s majestic fiordlands, you will be assured a local perspective, with local guides, authentic interactions, and a true taste of local culture and cuisine.

OUR SMALL SHIPS At the heart of the Coral Expeditions experience are our purpose-built small expedition ships and unique tenders. In an age of glitzy mega-vessels, our ships are truly intimate, carrying no more than 120 guests. This means that we can navigate into shallow bays, step ashore onto remote beaches and jetties, and visit small villages to make connections without overwhelming a community. We have designed the fleet to explore tropical waters with comfort and ease and to allow you to connect with the landscape we explore.

OUR CREW Our crew live and breathe our destinations and the opportunity to show you a true expedition experience. We are the modern day seafaring pioneers of Australia, and we are proud to share our knowledge on coastal explorations with guests from around the globe. On our ships, we have no ‘back office’ roles. From our chefs to our engineers, our crew are here because they love to interact with people and show you their world. Join our engine room tours, view our chefs in our galley or chat with our officers on the bridge – they will be delighted to share company with you.

OUR RESPECT FOR COMMUNITIES We have always made a determined effort to support the communities we visit. Our guests join in enthusiastically. We visit remote villages, participate in art and cultural traditions, and interact in local schools. We initiate and contribute to regional projects to support conservation, provide training and employment, and distribute economic benefit and relief supplies, all with guest support and involvement. It is an enriching and rewarding part of our expedition experience that leaves a lasting joy for us all.

THE FUTURE As Coral Expeditions enters its fifth decade in existence, we remain true to our pioneering foundations. We have a new fleet of technologically advanced ships that provide many of the comforts of a large vessel, but without the crowds. We have embarked on a series of new adventures exploring the small islands of the world and broadening our footprint around our home shores of Australia. Yet, our purpose remains the same – taking small groups of like-minded explorers to beautiful parts of the world in our uniquely Australian style!

Select the Deck to view detail.

Coral Adventurer - Coral Deck

Coral Adventurer - Promenade Deck

Coral Adventurer - Explorer Deck

Coral Adventurer - Bridge Deck

Select the Cabin to view detail.

Bridge Deck Balcony Suite

The two Cairns and Darwin suites are spacious and elegant retreats after a busy day ashore. Suites are equipped with a lounge area, minibar and personal coffee machine. They have special King sized beds which can be separated into two singles. An 8 sq m private balcony has an outdoor daybed and lounge chair for two. A unique outside-facing bathroom with picture windows, bath and separate shower complete the suite experience. A complimentary minibar is replenished daily.

Bridge Deck Balcony Stateroom

The two Bridge Deck staterooms are comfortably furnished with a junior King size bed which can be separated into two singles. A wardrobe, desk and arm chair are included. A compact en-suite has a toilet, shower and ample storage. French windows opening to a balcony with seating for two gives you a private perch to watch the panorama unfold outside. These staterooms are located on the bridge deck with superb views and adjacent to the Cairns and Darwin suites.

Explorer Deck Balcony Stateroom

Explorer Deck staterooms are comfortably furnished with a junior King size bed which can be separated into two singles. A wardrobe, desk and arm chair are included. A compact en-suite has a toilet, shower and ample storage. Your private balcony has seating for two from which to view the passing coastal vistas. These staterooms are located on the Explorer deck.

Promenade Deck Stateroom

Promenade Deck Staterooms are located below the Explorer deck and furnished with a junior King size bed which can be separated into two singles. A wardrobe, desk and arm chair are included. A compact en-suite has a toilet, shower and ample storage. A large picture window gives you wide views of the world outside.

Coral Deck Stateroom

Coral Deck Staterooms are identical to the Promenade Deck Staterooms except for their location one deck below. These staterooms have twin portholes rather than picture windows.