Your cruising persona's here — just in case you need it to board
Cruising isn't a one-size-fits-all experience. Whether you're drawn to opulent comforts, thrilling explorations or the quiet joys of solo travel, a small-ship Kimberley luxury expedition with Ponant Explorations is designed with you in mind.
With Fly, Stay & Cruise packages — including one night's premium accommodation, return flights, transfers and a 10-night inclusive luxury expedition* — now available for the exhilarating 2026 season, it's the perfect time to discover which cruising persona fits you best.
Dive into three distinct travel styles to help chart your ideal course.
The luxury seeker
More than simply appreciating the finer things, you have a discerning eye for exquisite detail, from premium cuisine and concierge-level service to luxurious amenities and the seamless blend of comfort and design. Aboard a Ponant Explorations yacht-like vessel, these hallmarks of refined travel are not just expected, they're guaranteed.
The seamlessly coordinated Fly, Stay & Cruise package ensures you arrive relaxed, refreshed and ready to be immersed in everything the region, and Ponant Explorations, has to offer.
Ideal destinations
For you, travel goes beyond sightseeing. It's about bespoke personalisation and expertly curated itineraries that unlock rich, immersive encounters. That's what makes a Kimberley experience with Ponant Explorations in 2026 the perfect escape.
Picture this: exploring ancient Indigenous rock art sites on an expert-led excursion, witnessing the magnitude of Mitchell Falls, then returning to Champagne and exceptional cuisine served alfresco on the pool deck. As the sun sets over the rugged landscape, you toast the moment with your travel companions, another unforgettable day aboard your luxurious expedition.
Set sail
Ponant Explorations' Le Jacques-Cartier or Le Soléal are intimate ships that feature elegant suites, a tranquil spa and a panoramic lounge. Onboard, every detail — from refined interiors to French-inspired hospitality — is tailored for indulgence. This is luxury that doesn't shout, but glows quietly and confidently.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Man of Many
9 hours ago
- Man of Many
Original Birkin Bag Crafted For Jane Birkin Heads to Auction
By Ben McKimm - News Published: 6 June 2025 Share Copy Link Readtime: 4 min Every product is carefully selected by our editors and experts. If you buy from a link, we may earn a commission. Learn more. For more information on how we test products, click here. Jane Birkin's original 1985 Birkin is going to auction July 10. Expected to break the Birkin price record of over USD$450,000. Custom prototype: unique size, hardware, and non-removable shoulder strap. Includes original charity auction certificate signed by Jane Birkin. Exhibited at MoMA and V&A museums before entering private collection. Likely to become the most expensive Birkin bag ever sold, Sotheby's is auctioning off the Original Birkin Crafted For Jane Birkin in 1985 at an auction on July 10th, 2025. While auction estimates are withheld, the bag will likely eclipse the USD$450,000 plus sales price of the Diamond Himalaya Birkin 30, which sold at Sotheby's in 2022. It's not often that handbags carry provenance, but this Birkin is different. The story goes that the actress was sitting alongside Jean-Louis Dumas, the French billionaire businessman who was the chairman of the Hermès group from 1978 to 2006, on an Air France flight. She complained that she couldn't find a bag big enough for daily life, so the brand designed one and asked if they could name it after her. The rest is history, as they say. Now, her original bag is headed to auction, and it carries serious provenance not just from Jane Birkin, but from those who have held onto the bag since she donated it at Millon, Paris, Les enchéres de I'espoir, Association Solidarité Sida on Wednesday, October 5, 1994, Théâtre de l'Empire. It was sold in Poulain Le Fur, Paris, on Friday, May 12 2000 (lot 70) and has sat in a private collection (and museums) ever since. The Original Birkin Crafted For Jane Birkin, 1985 | Image: Sotheby's What's interesting about this Birkin is that it's a prototype. There are key differences between this and the bag that would eventually hit the production run in 1985, including: It has the width and height of a Birkin 35, but the depth of a Birkin 40 Size : 36 x 27 x 21 cm: W It features closed pontet rings, whereas rings remained open at the bottom until the early 1990s There's gilded brass hardware, replaced by gold-plated hardware (with a check mark) at launch 'Eclair' branded inner zip, which was replaced by Riri Company in the 1990s Smaller bottom studs, or 'feet' It has a non-removable shoulder strap, the only one of its kind Not only is this bag made in a one-off custom size, but it comes in the same condition in which it was auctioned for charity by Jane Birkin. That means that you're getting a bag that was crafted for the namesake and lovingly used by the namesake until it was passed on, and it comes in the same condition as it hasn't been used since. Heck, it's even branded with her initials, J.B., and inside is the nail clipper that she kept hanging from the bag's strap. The Original Birkin Crafted For Jane Birkin, 1985 | Image: Sotheby's The Original Birkin Crafted For Jane Birkin, 1985 | Image: Sotheby's The Original Birkin Crafted For Jane Birkin, 1985 | Image: Sotheby's The Original Birkin Crafted For Jane Birkin, 1985 | Image: Sotheby's The lucky buyer will also recieve the original certificate of the charity auction 'Les Enchères de l'Espoir,' which was signed by Jane Birkin, 5 October 1994 alongside the original Hotel des Ventes du Palais auction catalogue, Poulain Le Fur, 12 Mai 2000, and exhibition catalog 'Bags Inside Out', V&A, 2020. Given the provenance of this bag, it was exhibited at the MoMA in New York for the ' Items: Is Fashion Modern?,' exhibition in 2018 before it was sent to London's Victoria and Albert Museum for the 'Bags Inside Out' exhibition in 2020. Now, it's hitting the auction block at Sotheby's on July 10th, 2025, where it will likely make history as the most expensive Birkin ever sold.
The Age
14 hours ago
- The Age
Bloomwood
Essential Melbourne Cafes and Bakeries of 2025: Treats See all stories. Previous SlideNext Slide Bakery$$$$ The line-up rotates regularly at this CBD newcomer, where decadent pastries are often Asian-inspired and lean into trends without compromising integrity. Take the flower-shaped Dubai chocolate Danish – inspired by the smash-hit chocolate bar – with flaky layers sandwiched between chocolate ganache and crisp pistachio kataifi (spun pastry). Watch the magic unfold from above at the mezzanine or nab a sun-drenched table on Exhibition Street. Must order: Upgrade strawberry or coconut iced matcha to a 'Bloom-tini', which comes with three tiny, dunkable croissants.
Courier-Mail
18 hours ago
- Courier-Mail
Grand character home boasts a ‘five-star resort' glow up
An immaculately renovated art deco home is at the centre of a rare real estate opportunity to purchase two adjoining properties and create an exclusive private estate in sought after Clayfield. For sale by expression of interest, the properties comprise a stunning, three-level residence on a 1259sq m block at 88 Oriel Dr, along with the neighbouring 715sq m lot at 1 Stafford St. Currently the site of a three-bedroom post-war home, the Stafford St lot has development approval for a tennis court and eight-car basement. Owners Greg and Tamra Josephson purchased the Oriel Rd residence back in 2017 after being drawn to its position and potential. 'We were looking for a big family home and this was in very original condition,' Mr Josephson said. 'It was perched on a peak with vistas to the Gateway Bridge and mountains, and the house had character, a solid structure, and was on a big block.' MORE: Motocross mansion named Australia's hottest property Why luxury home dream could be out of reach for millions Bonza bargain: Entire Aussie camp with water park for sale Over a series of stages, the Josephsons transformed the period property into a stately six- bedroom home that rivals a five-star resort. Initially they built in beneath the residence, adding a rumpus area, guest bedroom and office. Attention then turned to cosmetic upgrades of the original house before a major renovation in 2022 that tapped into the talents of architect Ivan Gastaldon and interior design experts Highgate House. 'The brief was to give it a five-star hotel feel,' Mr Josephson said. 'And with a bit of a minor tweak they also came up with the idea of a parents retreat.' Spanning three luxurious levels, the property now boasts six bedrooms, six bathrooms, multiple formal and informal living spaces, an open plan kitchen and dining area, alfresco terraces and a pavilion. Inside, luxury finishes include parquetry French oak flooring, hand-painted wallpaper, Ralph Lauren lighting, Wyer + Craw cabinetry, and imported marble, set against immaculately restored period elements, such as coffered ceilings, and leadlight and sash windows. The interior effortlessly connects to the exterior where covered patios and elegant porches lead to manicured gardens, grassed terraces, and a magnesium pool with spa. The property has served as the Josephson's family home, offering ample space for everyone to retreat to and enjoy together. 'Our three children are all teens and each has their own big bedroom,' Mr Josephson said. 'We love the fact it's six bedroom and there's just so much space, with all these breakout areas that you can enjoy. 'My wife and I can go and sit by our fireplace in the parents retreat and the kids can head to the casual downstairs area on the ground floor.' The acquisition of the block next door was part of the Josephson's long-term vision for the property. 'We planned to integrate a driveway off Oriel Rd and create a huge garage with a tennis court above it,' Mr Josephson said. 'There was going to be a lift from the garage to a garden atrium above and from there you could walk into the house.' Alternatively, he said the new owners could retain the existing property on the Stafford St lot and enjoy rental income or utilise it for extended family. 'That next stage is for someone else to do,' Mr Josephson said. 'We're sad to sell but we're relocating to Noosa where we have a house and business interests. 'But we're proud that we went all out to create a once in a lifetime forever home, and that's what's on offer for someone now.' The property is listed with Matt Lancashire of Ray White New Farm.
