9 Day Ashmore Reef Birding & Mammal Trip

Sail from Broome, (board around 07.00, precise departure point and time to be advised) and head NW to waypoint 1, 16º50’S 121º00’E. This is close to the edge of the continental shelf and a distance of 100 Nm, which at 10.0 knots should take 10 hours. Change direction and sail throughout the night on a more northerly heading to waypoint 2.

Reach waypoint 2, 15º50’S 120º40’E, at 05.00 (dawn), distance 66 Nm, 11 hrs. At 6.0 knots. This point is beyond the shelf break (some 260 Nm from Ashmore in a direct line). Change heading to NNW to traverse shelf slope waters between 400 m & 600 m deep until noon. Then head for deeper waters to the north at waypoint 3, 12º25’S 122º30’E, continuing throughout the night. This will take us to the west of Scott Reef.

Continue to waypoint 3 then head east into Ashmore Reef, waypoint 4, 12º13’S 123º00’E, arriving at about noon. Liaise with customs and after lunch go ashore on West Island (WI) until dark. Take a two-way radio provided by the charter vessel for ship-to-shore contact. Overnight at the inner mooring close to West Island.

After breakfast go ashore on WI at dawn. Return to the Charter Vessel for a cooked breakfast, a rest and or a snorkel. Predicted high tide (3.20 m) is at 1340 hrs and low tide (1.63m) at 1912hrs. After an early lunch we head off to East Island (EI) by tender. We have permission to land on East Island and visit Splitgerber Cay a vegetated sand cay located to the east of East Island where shorebirds assemble at high tide. Typically the round trip by tender is ~ 24 km. We may be away from the Charter vessel for 4 to 5 hrs. After returning to the Charter Vessel and replenishing our drinks we can again go ashore on WI if time allows. Overnight at the inner mooring.

Similar to Day 4 but land on Middle Island (seabird breeding island) and then visit the Horseshoe Sand Bar which is another high-tide shorebird roost. This round trip is around 14km by tender (the 3 charter vessel tenders are comfortable and fast). We may be away from the Charter Vessel for several hours. High tide is 3.00m at 1418 hrs so we will again have lunch before we go.

A rare bonus day at Ashmore Reef.  We will make the usual visits to West Island in the morning and afternoon. Through the middle of the day there will be time for snorkelling. Second landings on any of the islands or sand bars are also options. The high-tide is at 1511 hrs 2.79 m The sequence of activities over days 4, 5 & 6 are flexible and may change to suit prevailing conditions. 

Go ashore on West Island for 3-4 hours from dawn. Pull anchor and leave Ashmore Reef by approx. 09.00. Sail to Browse Island a distance of ~120 Nm. We will have dinner at sea and arrive after dark. 

Board tenders at first light so we can navigate over the reef and go ashore on Browse Island. Tide predictions show we should have plenty of time on the island (3 to 4 hours). Neap tides prevail (tidal range ~ 4 m) with the high (3.14 m) at 0314 and the (low 1.84) at 1136. Although it is an outgoing tide in the morning we should have plenty of water to get ashore and to get back to the boat by mid-morning. Luckily the low water depth is 1.8 m which still allows us to get over the surrounding reef. The sailing distance to Broome is at least 250 Nm so at an average speed of ~8 knots the journey will take us ~32 hours.

Arrive in Broome at around lunchtime, transfers back to Broome accommodation to follow.