Staff blogs
michelle joins matrix - may 2008
cruise:
One Week Southern Kimberley. Broome to the Hunter River (with heli and light aircraft transfer to Kununurra)
The Matrix cruise surpassed all my expectations. From start to finish every detail was taken into consideration and our comfort, enjoyment and safety were top priority. Finally seeing the Kimberley "in real life" was amazing. The colours in the rock, the fishing, the walking, the swimming, the huge tidal changes - it was all so fantastic!
stateroom: lower deck stateroom (port side)
This cabin was very comfortable with plenty of natural daylight from the portholes and the air-con to keep the temperature perfect. Being less expensive than the other Staterooms means that the lower deck cabins are smaller. With plenty of storage space both in the wardrobe and under the bed everything was tidied away at the end of the day. The advantage of moving up to a Main Deck or Upper Deck Stateroom is that you have more space, and large viewing windows (great for when you wake up looking out at a waterfall). 
top 3 sights:
1) Cruising into the Prince Regent River with Mt Trafalgar and Mt Waterloo in the background - such breathtaking natural beauty. Then to arrive at the King's cascades where our Skipper nudged the boat under the falls - WOW!
2) Montgomery Reef - the sheer size of the tidal movement in the Kimberley is best demonstrated here. As the tide drops the 
reef appears to rise out of the water - it was spectacular.
3) Seeing my first ever real Aboriginal art at Raft Point.
top 3 activities:
1) Bushwalking - there were so many wonderful walks which we undertook that it's too difficult to pick just one. The knowledge of the crew ensured that we were all well informed of the history, flora and fauna of the area.
2) Swimming in waterholes - there's nothing better after a good bushwalk than to jump into a billabong to cool off. My favourite were the pools above the Kings Cascades!
3) Collecting rock oysters! There were only 2 passengers (well done Graham) up for some very early morning rock oyster collecting with the crew and when we returned with buckets full of the largest oysters you've ever seen it was great to see everyone's reaction! A proud moment!
food report:
The food on the Matrix is definitely first class. Each meal was an event not to be missed and we were never disappointed! The fresh seafood added a whole new dimension from rock oysters to mud crabs and a variety of fish caught and eaten on the same day. Those with special dietary requirements were also well catered for and were never left wanting.this cruise is ideal for:
Active people who enjoy top quality food, surroundings and service in a small group environment. With 5 staff and just 12 passengers your every need will be catered for by the professional and enthusiastic crew. The Matrix would also be an ideal vessel for a full boat charter for a group of friends or family.
most useful item i packed:
Extra batteries for my camera and a travel diary - I didn't want to miss a thing!
value for money:
The Matrix really offers value for money when you consider the level of comfort on board, the standard of cuisine, the knowledge of the crew and the fantastic daily excursions and activities. I'll be back for the Northern Kimberley as soon as possible!
