Australian small-ship operator Coral Expeditions has released its 2027-28 program, and it's shaping up as a bumper year for anyone who likes their cruising with a side of hiking boots and binoculars. The season runs from April 2027 through to early 2028, with bookings opening this month.

The headline addition is a new 12-night Kimberley and Beyond itinerary sailing on the recently refurbished Coral Discoverer, one of the line's three small expedition ships. Kimberley voyages remain the backbone of the program, alongside trips to Tasmania, Cape York, Arnhem Land and Papua New Guinea — and the company says there will be extra expedition staff on board to run more guided walks, snorkelling, birdwatching and cultural sessions.

On the Great Barrier Reef, Coral is doing something a little different: ditching shorter departures in favour of just three 10-night expeditions a year. These longer voyages push out to the outer reef, calling at Osprey Reef, the Ribbon Reefs, Lizard Island, Nathan Reef and Mackay Reef, plus new stops at Restoration Island and a whale shark hunt at Wreck Bay.

Come January and February 2028, the Coral Geographer heads to Indonesia for five new 10-night Raja Ampat departures, all starting and ending in Sorong. The route covers the region's islands and lagoons, with a decent chance of swimming alongside whale sharks in Cenderawasih Bay — one of the few places on earth where they gather year-round.

New Zealand also gets a dedicated annual season from late November 2027 to early February 2028, including a welcome return to the remote Subantarctic Islands — Campbell Island and the Auckland Islands among them — some of the most important seabird and wildlife sanctuaries in the Southern Ocean.

Closer to home, October and November 2027 bring voyages back to South Australia and WA's south-west, with an extended crossing of the Great Australian Bight between Fremantle and Adelaide, plus two 10-night Wild Islands of South Australia departures that pair coastal exploration with the state's seafood, wine and farm-gate producers.

Why it matters: Coral's ships carry small numbers of passengers, so itineraries like these fill up fast — especially the once-a-year Raja Ampat and Subantarctic departures. If a 2027-28 expedition is on your list, booking early (sales open now) is less about grabbing a deal and more about securing a berth at all.