The Kimberley Cruise

Arrive at the Mangrove Hotel at 3:30pm before your transfer to Broome Deep Water Port for boarding at 4:00pm. Settle into your stateroom before your 5:00pm departure. Become acquainted with all the facilities on board as the ship cruises northwards towards Cape Leveque. As dusk falls, meet fellow travelers, the captain and crew for the captain’s welcome drinks.

No two Kimberley cruises are the same. Each expedition is crafted by experienced captains and expedition leaders around weather, tidal and community requirements. Below is a selection of the key destinations visited.

The Lacepedes
The Lacepede Islands are a protected class-A nature reserve and are significant as a seabird nesting rookery for brown boobies and roseate terns. Other species often sighted at the Lacepedes include Australian Pelicans, frigate birds, egrets and gulls. The four low-lying islands are also an important breeding and nesting habitat for green turtles. If weather and tide conditions are suitable, explore the lagoons by Xplorer and Zodiac tender vessels.

Horizontal Falls (Garaangaddim) & Buccaneer Archipelago
The Horizontal Falls are one of the Kimberley’s biggest attractions and are a result of the mammoth 36-foot (11m) tides the Kimberley is renowned for. Naturalist David Attenborough described the Horizontal Falls as ‘one of the greatest natural wonders of the world.’ This natural phenomenon has been created as the ocean thunders through a narrow gorge in the McLarty Ranges. Water builds up on one side and is forcibly pushed through the bottleneck, creating a rushing horizontal waterfall of swiftly flowing seawater. Riding the rapids on your Zodiac inflatable tenders is one of the highlights of a Kimberley expedition cruise.

Talbot Bay is at the heart of the Buccaneer Archipelago, where rocks on the 800 or so islands are estimated at over 2 billion years old. At Cyclone Creek, you will see evidence of massive geological forces in the impressive rock formations and cruise through the Iron Islands, past Koolan Island, before enjoying sunset drinks at Nares Point.

Please Note: 2028 will be the final year the ship’s crew can operate tender cruises through the First Gap. From 2029 onwards, you’ll still be able to go by Zodiacs and tenders right up to the Gap, where you can witness the powerful tides rushing in and out at their peak flow for the day.

Doubtful Bay
Red Cone Creek flows gently downstream until it meets the small but impressive Ruby Falls. Named by local mariner Capt. Chris Trucker after his daughter, Red Cone Creek is carved through rock formations stacked atop each other like building blocks. These rock walls are great for climbing and clambering over before reaching a series of freshwater swimming holes and waterfalls. The falls may be a gurgling torrent or a gentle trickle, depending on the time of the year. Other sites you’ll aim to visit in Doubtful Bay include the mighty Steep Island and Ruby Falls at Red Cone Creek.

Montgomery Reef (Yoiwjab)
Montgomery Reef is a biologically diverse area covering over 115 square miles (300 sq km) and was named by Phillip Parker King. Twice daily, as the sea recedes in mammoth 36-foot (11m) tides, Montgomery Reef rises from the Indian Ocean in a cascade of rushing water revealing a flat-topped reef pockmarked with rock pools and rivulets.

As the reef emerges, get up close in the Xplorer and Zodiac inflatable tenders to witness the spectacle as your expedition team share their knowledge on the formation of the reef and the myriad wildlife. Opportunistic birds take advantage of the emerging reef, feeding on marine life left exposed in rock pools. Turtles, dolphins, dugongs and sawfish too are also attracted to feeding opportunities as the ocean recedes. The ocean is awash in a swirl of eddies and whirlpools as the moon’s gravitational force takes hold. Then, a few hours later the entire water-borne drama is reversed as the tide comes in and Montgomery Reef disappears below sea level.

Careening Bay
Lt. Phillip Parker King named nearby Careening Bay after he beached his leaking vessel HMC Mermaid to effect repairs. While stranded on this remote coastline for 17 days, the ship’s carpenter carved “HMC Mermaid 1820” into the bottle-shaped trunk of a boab tree near the beach. Some 200 years later, the Mermaid Boab Tree has since split into two trunks and sports a mammoth girth of roughly 40 feet (12m). Significantly, the bulbous tree is listed on the National Register of Big Trees and the carpenter’s careful inscription now stands almost as tall as a person.

Prince Regent River
King Cascade is a classically beautiful terraced waterfall and is one of the most photographed waterfalls in the Kimberley. Falling from a considerable height and around 165 feet (50m) across, water tumbles down a staggered terrace of Kimberley sandstone. Layer upon layer of ochre-hued and blackened rock sprouts grasses, mosses and ferns in a sort of lushly vegetated hanging garden Reach King Cascade after cruising in the Xplorer tender vessels down the steep-sided Prince Regent River which is a remarkable anomaly as the river runs dead straight along a fault line.

Prince Frederick Harbor & Bigge Island (Wuuyuru)
Prince Frederick Harbor is one of the Kimberley’s most spectacular locations. The harbor is dotted with islands lined with mangroves and monsoon rainforests, set against a backdrop of ochre-hued escarpments. White-bellied sea eagles and other birds of prey are often seen here, and at low tide expansive mudflats reveal large populations of mud-skippers and mangrove crabs. Take the Xplorer tender vessels on a cruise up Porosus Creek to view some striking rock formations. Bigge Island’s Indigenous name is Wuuyuru, and the Indigenous Group of the area is the Wunambal people.

Mitchell Falls, Winyalkan & Swift Bay
Tumbling down the Mitchell Plateau in a series of tiered waterfalls and emerald green rock pools, the Mitchell Falls are the photogenic poster child for the Mitchell River National Park. Take a scenic helicopter flight (additional cost) to multi-tiered Mitchell Falls where emerald-hued rock pools cascade down the escarpment and ancient rock art galleries are concealed in caves behind curtains of water. Mitchell River National Park is inhabited by significant numbers of mammals, amphibians, reptiles and bird species which are lured by a year-round water source. Sandstone terraces beside tiered rock pools make a terrific viewing platform from which to savor the serenity of this ancient landscape.

An alternative option to Mitchell Falls is exploring the sandstone caves of Wollaston Bay or Wollaston Creek. This mass of weathered tunnels, arches and columns form a labyrinth-like maze and was once an Aboriginal midden. Another option while anchored at Winyalkan Bay is a visit to a series Wandjina and Gwion Gwion rock art galleries at Swift Bay. In the evening, enjoy watching the sunset over the Indian Ocean while indulging in a gourmet BBQ.

Vansittart Bay (Banjal)
Vansittart Bay is home to many cultural and historically significant sites like the remarkable Gwion Gwion (Bradshaw) Aboriginal rock art galleries estimated to be up to 20,000 years old. Jar Island is so-named after the pot shards found here, brought to the island by Makassan fishermen harvesting sea cucumbers (also known as trepang). Nearby, on the Anjo Peninsula lays the well-preserved wreckage of a US Airforce C-53 Skytrooper aircraft, the result of a pilot losing his bearings flying from Perth to Broome in 1942 and putting down on a salt pan near present-day Truscott Airbase.

King George River & Falls (Oomari Falls)
Fed by the King George River draining across the Gardner Plateau, over-260-foot-tall Oomari – King George Falls are the highest twin falls in Western Australia. Before reaching the mist-like spray rising from the base of King George Falls, cruise through steep-sided gorges carved by a flooded river system that carved a swathe through the Kimberley landscape 400 million years ago. Early in the waterfall season, you may cruise around the base of impressive King George Falls while in later months you’ll take the opportunity to view the honeycomb erosion patterns of sandstone cliffs up close.

As the incredible Kimberley adventure draws to a close, on the last evening aboard, enjoy the captain’s farewell drinks amongst new-found friends.

This unforgettable cruise along the Kimberley coast concludes in Darwin this morning after an early breakfast. Disembark at 9:00am and take an included transfer to Darwin’s central business district hotels or the airport.

Board at 8:30am and take time to settle into your cabin before a 9:00am departure. There will be a light breakfast available upon boarding before you cruise across Joseph Bonaparte Gulf and sail into Western Australian waters. Become acquainted with all the facilities on board and join the expedition team for an insightful introduction to the Kimberley. As dusk falls, meet fellow travelers, the captain and crew for the captain’s welcome drinks.

No two Kimberley cruises are the same. Each expedition is crafted by experienced captains and expedition leaders around weather, tidal and community requirements. Below is a selection of the key destinations visited.

King George River & Falls (Oomari Falls)
Fed by the King George River draining across the Gardner Plateau, over-260-foot-tall Oomari – King George Falls are the highest twin falls in Western Australia. Before reaching the mist-like spray rising from the base of King George Falls, cruise through steep-sided gorges carved by a flooded river system that carved a swathe through the Kimberley landscape 400 million years ago. Early in the waterfall season, you may cruise around the base of impressive King George Falls while in later months you’ll take the opportunity to view the honeycomb erosion patterns of sandstone cliffs up close.

Vansittart Bay (Banjal)
Vansittart Bay is home to many cultural and historically significant sites like the remarkable Gwion Gwion (Bradshaw) Aboriginal rock art galleries estimated to be up to 20,000 years old. Jar Island is so-named after the pot shards found here, brought to the island by Makassan fishermen harvesting sea cucumbers (also known as trepang). Nearby, on the Anjo Peninsula lays the well-preserved wreckage of a US Airforce C-53 Skytrooper aircraft, the result of a pilot losing his bearings flying from Perth to Broome in 1942 and putting down on a salt pan near present-day Truscott Airbase.

Mitchell Falls, Winyalkan & Swift Bay
Tumbling down the Mitchell Plateau in a series of tiered waterfalls and emerald green rock pools, the Mitchell Falls are the photogenic poster child for the Mitchell River National Park. Take a scenic helicopter flight (additional cost) to multi-tiered Mitchell Falls where emerald-hued rock pools cascade down the escarpment and ancient rock art galleries are concealed in caves behind curtains of water. Mitchell River National Park is inhabited by significant numbers of mammals, amphibians, reptiles and bird species which are lured by a year-round water source. Sandstone terraces beside tiered rock pools make a terrific viewing platform from which to savor the serenity of this ancient landscape.

An alternative option to Mitchell Falls is exploring the sandstone caves of Wollaston Bay or Wollaston Creek. This mass of weathered tunnels, arches and columns form a labyrinth-like maze and was once an Aboriginal midden. Another option while anchored at Winyalkan Bay is a visit to a series Wandjina and Gwion Gwion rock art galleries at Swift Bay. In the evening, enjoy watching the sunset over the Indian Ocean while indulging in a gourmet BBQ.

Prince Frederick Harbor & Bigge Island (Wuuyuru)
Prince Frederick Harbor is one of the Kimberley’s most spectacular locations. The harbor is dotted with islands lined with mangroves and monsoon rainforests, set against a backdrop of ochre-hued escarpments. White-bellied sea eagles and other birds of prey are often seen here, and at low tide expansive mudflats reveal large populations of mud-skippers and mangrove crabs. Take the Xplorer tender vessels on a cruise up Porosus Creek to view some striking rock formations. Bigge Island’s Indigenous name is Wuuyuru, and the Indigenous Group of the area is the Wunambal people.

Prince Regent River
King Cascade is a classically beautiful terraced waterfall and is one of the most photographed waterfalls in the Kimberley. Falling from a considerable height and around 165 feet (50m) across, water tumbles down a staggered terrace of Kimberley sandstone. Layer upon layer of ochre-hued and blackened rock sprouts grasses, mosses and ferns in a sort of lushly vegetated hanging garden. Reach King Cascade after cruising in the Xplorer tender vessels down the steep-sided Prince Regent River which is a remarkable anomaly as the river runs dead straight along a fault line.

Careening Bay
Lt. Phillip Parker King named nearby Careening Bay after he beached his leaking vessel HMC Mermaid to effect repairs. While stranded on this remote coastline for 17 days, the ship’s carpenter carved “HMC Mermaid 1820” into the bottle-shaped trunk of a boab tree near the beach. Some 200 years later, the Mermaid Boab Tree has since split into two trunks and sports a mammoth girth of roughly 40 feet (12m). Significantly, the bulbous tree is listed on the National Register of Big Trees and the carpenter’s careful inscription now stands almost as tall as a person.

Montgomery Reef (Yoiwjab)
Montgomery Reef is a biologically diverse area covering over 115 square miles (300 sq km) and was named by Phillip Parker King. Twice daily, as the sea recedes in mammoth 36-foot (11m) tides, Montgomery Reef rises from the Indian Ocean in a cascade of rushing water revealing a flat-topped reef pockmarked with rock pools and rivulets.

As the reef emerges, get up close in the Xplorer and Zodiac inflatable tenders to witness the spectacle as your expedition team share their knowledge on the formation of the reef and the myriad wildlife. Opportunistic birds take advantage of the emerging reef, feeding on marine life left exposed in rock pools. Turtles, dolphins, dugongs and sawfish too are also attracted to feeding opportunities as the ocean recedes. The ocean is awash in a swirl of eddies and whirlpools as the moon’s gravitational force takes hold. Then, a few hours later the entire water-borne drama is reversed as the tide comes in and Montgomery Reef disappears below sea level.

Doubtful Bay
Red Cone Creek flows gently downstream until it meets the small but impressive Ruby Falls. Named by local mariner Capt. Chris Trucker after his daughter, Red Cone Creek is carved through rock formations stacked atop each other like building blocks. These rock walls are great for climbing and clambering over before reaching a series of freshwater swimming holes and waterfalls. The falls may be a gurgling torrent or a gentle trickle, depending on the time of the year. Other sites you’ll aim to visit in Doubtful Bay include the mighty Steep Island and Ruby Falls at Red Cone Creek.

Horizontal Falls (Garaangaddim) & Buccaneer Archipelago
The Horizontal Falls are one of the Kimberley’s biggest attractions and are a result of the mammoth 36-foot (11m) tides the Kimberley is renowned for. Naturalist David Attenborough described the Horizontal Falls as ‘one of the greatest natural wonders of the world.’ This natural phenomenon has been created as the ocean thunders through a narrow gorge in the McLarty Ranges. Water builds up on one side and is forcibly pushed through the bottleneck, creating a rushing horizontal waterfall of swiftly flowing seawater. Riding the rapids on your Zodiac inflatable tenders is one of the highlights of a Kimberley expedition cruise.

Talbot Bay is at the heart of the Buccaneer Archipelago, where rocks on the 800 or so islands are estimated at over 2 billion years old. At Cyclone Creek, you will see evidence of massive geological forces in the impressive rock formations and cruise through the Iron Islands, past Koolan Island, before enjoying sunset drinks at Nares Point.

Please Note: 2028 will be the final year the ship’s crew can operate tender cruises through the First Gap. From 2029 onwards, you’ll still be able to go by Zodiacs and tenders right up to the Gap, where you can witness the powerful tides rushing in and out at their peak flow for the day.

The Lacepede Islands
The Lacepede Islands are a protected class-A nature reserve and are significant as a seabird nesting rookery for brown boobies and roseate terns. Other species often sighted at the Lacepedes include Australian Pelicans, frigate birds, egrets and gulls. The four low-lying islands are also an important breeding and nesting habitat for green turtles. If weather and tide conditions are suitable, explore the lagoons by Xplorer and Zodiac tender vessels.

As the incredible Kimberley adventure draws to a close, on the last evening aboard, enjoy the captain’s farewell drinks amongst new-found friends.

This unforgettable cruise along the Kimberley coast concludes in Broome this morning after an early breakfast. Disembark at 8:00am and take an included transfer to Broome’s central business district or the airport.

Arrive at the Mangrove Hotel at 3:30pm before the transfer to Broome Deep Water Port for boarding at 4:00pm. Settle into your stateroom before your 5:00pm departure. Become acquainted with all the facilities on board and join the expedition team for an insightful introduction to the Kimberley. As dusk falls, meet fellow travelers, the captain and crew for the captain’s welcome drinks.

No two Kimberley cruises are the same. Each expedition is crafted by experienced captains and expedition leaders around weather, tidal and community requirements. Below is a selection of the key destinations visited.

The Lacepedes
The Lacepede Islands are a protected class-A nature reserve and are significant as a seabird nesting rookery for brown boobies and roseate terns. Other species often sighted at the Lacepedes include Australian Pelicans, frigate birds, egrets and gulls. The four low-lying islands are also an important breeding and nesting habitat for green turtles. If weather and tide conditions are suitable, explore the lagoons by Xplorer and Zodiac tender vessels.

Talbot Bay: Horizontal Falls (Garaanngaddim) & Buccaneer Archipelago
The Horizontal Falls are one of the Kimberley’s biggest attractions and are a result of the mammoth 36-foot tides the Kimberley is renowned for. Naturalist David Attenborough described the Horizontal Falls as “one of the greatest natural wonders of the world.” This natural phenomenon has been created as the ocean thunders through a narrow gorge in the McLarty Ranges. Water builds up on one side and is forcibly pushed through the bottleneck, creating a rushing horizontal waterfall of swiftly flowing seawater. Riding the rapids on Zodiac inflatable tenders is one of the highlights of Kimberley expedition cruises.

Talbot Bay is at the heart of the Buccaneer Archipelago, where rocks on the 800 or so islands are estimated at over 2 billion years old. At Cyclone Creek, see evidence of massive geological forces in the impressive rock formations and cruise through the Iron Islands, past Koolan Island, before enjoying sunset drinks at Nares Point.

Montgomery Reef (Yowjab)
Montgomery Reef is a biologically diverse area covering over 115  square miles and was named by Phillip Parker King. Twice daily, as the sea recedes in mammoth 36-foot tides, Montgomery Reef rises from the Indian Ocean in a cascade of rushing water revealing a flat-topped reef pockmarked with rock pools and rivulets.

As the reef emerges, get up close in the Xplorer and Zodiac inflatable tenders to witness the spectacle as the expedition team members share their knowledge on the formation of the reef and the myriad wildlife. Opportunistic birds take advantage of the emerging reef, feeding on marine life left exposed in rock pools. Turtles, dolphins, dugongs and sawfish too are also attracted to feeding opportunities as the ocean recedes.

The ocean is awash in a swirl of eddies and whirlpools as the moon’s gravitational force takes hold. Then, a few hours later the entire water-borne drama is reversed as the tide comes in and Montgomery Reef disappears below sea level.

Prince Regent River & Careening Bay (Wunbung-Gu)
King Cascade is a classically beautiful terraced waterfall and is one of the most photographed waterfalls in the Kimberley. Falling from a considerable height and around 165 feet across, water tumbles down a staggered terrace of Kimberley sandstone. Layer upon layer of ochre-hued and blackened rock sprouts grasses, mosses and ferns in a sort of lushly vegetated hanging garden. Reach King Cascade after cruising in the Xplorer tender vessels down the steep-sided Prince Regent River which is a remarkable anomaly as the river runs dead straight along a fault line.

Lt. Phillip Parker King named nearby Careening Bay after he beached his leaking vessel HMC Mermaid to effect repairs. While stranded on this remote coastline for 17 days, the ship’s carpenter carved HMC Mermaid 1820 into the bottle-shaped trunk of a boab tree near the beach. 200 years later, the Mermaid Boab Tree has since split into two trunks and sports a mammoth girth of 40 feet. Significantly, the bulbous tree is listed on the National Register of Big Trees and the carpenter’s careful inscription now stands almost as tall as a person.

Prince Frederick Harbor & Bigge Island (Wuuyuru)
Prince Frederick Harbor is one of the Kimberley’s most spectacular locations. The harbor is dotted with islands lined with mangroves and monsoon rainforests, set against a backdrop of ochre-hued escarpment. White-bellied sea eagles and other birds of prey are often seen here, and at low tide expansive mudflats reveal large populations of mud-skippers and mangrove crabs. Cruise up Porosus Creek to view some striking rock formations. Bigge Island’s Indigenous name is Wuuyuru, and the Indigenous Group of the area is the Wunambal people.

Mitchell Falls & Winyalkan
Tumbling down the Mitchell Plateau in a series of tiered waterfalls and emerald green rock pools, the Mitchell Falls are the photogenic poster child for the Mitchell River National Park. Take a scenic helicopter flight (additional cost) to multi-tiered Mitchell Falls where emerald-hued rock pools cascade down the escarpment and ancient rock art galleries are concealed in caves behind curtains of water.

Mitchell River National Park is inhabited by significant numbers of mammals, amphibians, reptiles and bird species which are lured by a year-round water source. Sandstone terraces beside tiered rock pools make a terrific viewing platform from which to savor the serenity of this ancient landscape.

An alternative option to Mitchell Falls is exploring the sandstone caves of Wollaston Bay or Wollaston Creek. This mass of weathered tunnels, arches and columns form a labyrinth-like maze and was once an Aboriginal midden. In the evening enjoy watching the sunset over the Indian Ocean while indulging in a gourmet BBQ.

Vansittart Bay (Banjal)
Vansittart Bay is home to many cultural and historically significant sites like the remarkable Gwion Gwion (Bradshaw) Aboriginal rock art galleries estimated to be up to 20,000 years old. Jar Island is so-named after the pot shards found here, brought to the island by Macassan fisherman harvesting sea cucumbers (also known as trepang). Nearby, on the Anjo Peninsula lays the well-preserved wreckage of a US Airforce C-53 Skytrooper aircraft, the result of a pilot losing his bearings flying from Perth to Broome in 1942 and putting down on a salt pan near present-day Truscott Airbase.

King George River & Falls (Oomari Falls)
Fed by the King George River draining across the Gardner Plateau, 262-foot-tall (80m) King George Falls are the most impressive Kimberley waterfalls and the highest twin falls in Western Australia. Before reaching the mist-like spray rising from the base of King George Falls, cruise through steep-sided gorges carved by a flooded river system that carved a swathe through the Kimberley landscape 400 million years ago. Early in the waterfall season, you may cruise around the base of impressive King George Falls while in later months, you’ll take the opportunity to view the honeycomb erosion patterns of sandstone cliffs up close.

Tiwi Islands
Experience a traditional welcome ceremony and morning tea (damper and billy tea). On a guided tour, learn of the culture and history of the Tiwis while exploring the museum and the old mission precinct. Visit Tiwi Design, one of the oldest and most artistically diverse art centers in Australia, which produces ochre paintings on canvas and bark, ironwood carvings, screen printed fabrics, ceramics, bronze/glass sculptures and limited edition prints. Under the guidance of a local artist, enjoy an afternoon art session to create your own artwork to take home.

As the incredible Kimberley adventure draws to a close, on the last evening aboard, enjoy the captain’s farewell drinks amongst new-found friends.

This unforgettable cruise along the Kimberley coast concludes in Darwin this morning after an early breakfast. Arrive in Darwin at 9:00am and disembark Darwin’s Fort Hill Wharf at 9:30am. Post cruise transfers to Darwin’s central business district hotels or the airport are included.

Arrive at Darwin Fort Hill Wharf for boarding at 8:00am, with time to settle into your stateroom before a 9:00am departure. Become acquainted with all the facilities on board and join the expedition team for an insightful introduction to the Kimberley. As dusk falls, meet fellow travelers, the captain and crew for the captain’s welcome drinks.

No two Kimberley cruises are the same. Each expedition is crafted by experienced captains and expedition leaders around weather, tidal and community requirements. Below is a selection of the key destinations visited.

Tiwi Islands
Experience a traditional welcome ceremony and morning tea (damper and billy tea). On a guided tour, learn of the culture and history of the Tiwis while exploring the museum and the old mission precinct. Visit Tiwi Design, one of the oldest and most artistically diverse art centers in Australia, which produces ochre paintings on canvas and bark, ironwood carvings, screen printed fabrics, ceramics, bronze/glass sculptures and limited edition prints. Under the guidance of a local artist, enjoy an afternoon art session to create your own artwork to take home.

King George River & Falls (Oomari Falls)
Fed by the King George River draining across the Gardner Plateau, 262-foot-tall (80m) King George Falls are the most impressive Kimberley waterfalls and the highest twin falls in Western Australia. Before reaching the mist-like spray rising from the base of King George Falls, cruise through steep-sided gorges carved by a flooded river system that carved a swathe through the Kimberley landscape 400 million years ago. Early in the waterfall season, you may cruise around the base of impressive King George Falls while in later months, you’ll take the opportunity to view the honeycomb erosion patterns of sandstone cliffs up close.

Vansittart Bay (Banjal)
Vansittart Bay is home to many cultural and historically significant sites like the remarkable Gwion Gwion (Bradshaw) Aboriginal rock art galleries estimated to be up to 20,000 years old. Jar Island is so-named after the pot shards found here, brought to the island by Macassan fisherman harvesting sea cucumbers (also known as trepang). Nearby, on the Anjo Peninsula lays the well-preserved wreckage of a US Airforce C-53 Skytrooper aircraft, the result of a pilot losing his bearings flying from Perth to Broome in 1942 and putting down on a salt pan near present-day Truscott Airbase.

Mitchell Falls & Winyalkan
Tumbling down the Mitchell Plateau in a series of tiered waterfalls and emerald green rock pools, the Mitchell Falls are the photogenic poster child for the Mitchell River National Park. Take a scenic helicopter flight (additional cost) to multi-tiered Mitchell Falls where emerald-hued rock pools cascade down the escarpment and ancient rock art galleries are concealed in caves behind curtains of water.

Mitchell River National Park is inhabited by significant numbers of mammals, amphibians, reptiles and bird species which are lured by a year-round water source. Sandstone terraces beside tiered rock pools make a terrific viewing platform from which to savor the serenity of this ancient landscape.

An alternative option to Mitchell Falls is exploring the sandstone caves of Wollaston Bay or Wollaston Creek. This mass of weathered tunnels, arches and columns form a labyrinth-like maze and was once an Aboriginal midden. In the evening enjoy watching the sunset over the Indian Ocean while indulging in a gourmet BBQ.

Prince Frederick Harbor & Bigge Island (Wuuyuru)
Prince Frederick Harbor is one of the Kimberley’s most spectacular locations. The harbor is dotted with islands lined with mangroves and monsoon rainforests, set against a backdrop of ochre-hued escarpment. White-bellied sea eagles and other birds of prey are often seen here, and at low tide expansive mudflats reveal large populations of mud-skippers and mangrove crabs. Cruise up Porosus Creek to view some striking rock formations. Bigge Island’s Indigenous name is Wuuyuru, and the Indigenous Group of the area is the Wunambal people.

Prince Regent River & Careening Bay (Wunbung-Gu)
King Cascade is a classically beautiful terraced waterfall and is one of the most photographed waterfalls in the Kimberley. Falling from a considerable height and around 165 feet across, water tumbles down a staggered terrace of Kimberley sandstone. Layer upon layer of ochre-hued and blackened rock sprouts grasses, mosses and ferns in a sort of lushly vegetated hanging garden. Reach King Cascade after cruising in the Xplorer tender vessels down the steep-sided Prince Regent River which is a remarkable anomaly as the river runs dead straight along a fault line.

Lt. Phillip Parker King named nearby Careening Bay after he beached his leaking vessel HMC Mermaid to effect repairs. While stranded on this remote coastline for 17 days, the ship’s carpenter carved HMC Mermaid 1820 into the bottle-shaped trunk of a boab tree near the beach. 200 years later, the Mermaid Boab Tree has since split into two trunks and sports a mammoth girth of 40 feet. Significantly, the bulbous tree is listed on the National Register of Big Trees and the carpenter’s careful inscription now stands almost as tall as a person.

Montgomery Reef (Yowjab)
Montgomery Reef is a biologically diverse area covering over 115  square miles and was named by Phillip Parker King. Twice daily, as the sea recedes in mammoth 36-foot tides, Montgomery Reef rises from the Indian Ocean in a cascade of rushing water revealing a flat-topped reef pockmarked with rock pools and rivulets.

As the reef emerges, get up close in the Xplorer and Zodiac inflatable tenders to witness the spectacle as the expedition team members share their knowledge on the formation of the reef and the myriad wildlife. Opportunistic birds take advantage of the emerging reef, feeding on marine life left exposed in rock pools. Turtles, dolphins, dugongs and sawfish too are also attracted to feeding opportunities as the ocean recedes.

The ocean is awash in a swirl of eddies and whirlpools as the moon’s gravitational force takes hold. Then, a few hours later the entire water-borne drama is reversed as the tide comes in and Montgomery Reef disappears below sea level.

Talbot Bay: Horizontal Falls (Garaanngaddim) & Buccaneer Archipelago
The Horizontal Falls are one of the Kimberley’s biggest attractions and are a result of the mammoth 36-foot tides the Kimberley is renowned for. Naturalist David Attenborough described the Horizontal Falls as “one of the greatest natural wonders of the world.” This natural phenomenon has been created as the ocean thunders through a narrow gorge in the McLarty Ranges. Water builds up on one side and is forcibly pushed through the bottleneck, creating a rushing horizontal waterfall of swiftly flowing seawater. Riding the rapids on Zodiac inflatable tenders is one of the highlights of Kimberley expedition cruises.

Talbot Bay is at the heart of the Buccaneer Archipelago, where rocks on the 800 or so islands are estimated at over 2 billion years old. At Cyclone Creek, see evidence of massive geological forces in the impressive rock formations and cruise through the Iron Islands, past Koolan Island, before enjoying sunset drinks at Nares Point.

The Lacepedes
The Lacepede Islands are a protected class-A nature reserve and are significant as a seabird nesting rookery for brown boobies and roseate terns. Other species often sighted at the Lacepedes include Australian Pelicans, frigate birds, egrets and gulls. The four low-lying islands are also an important breeding and nesting habitat for green turtles. If weather and tide conditions are suitable, explore the lagoons by Xplorer and Zodiac tender vessels.

As the incredible Kimberley adventure draws to a close, on the last evening aboard, enjoy the captain’s farewell drinks amongst new-found friends.

Arrive in Broome this morning at 8:00am. A post-cruise transfer to Broome’s central business district or airport is included.

Arrive at the designated meeting point at 3:30pm before your transfer to Broome Deep Water Port for boarding at 4:00pm. Settle into your stateroom before your 5:00pm departure.

Take the time to become acquainted with all the facilities onboard before joining the expedition team in the Bridge Deck Lounge for an introduction to the Kimberley. As dusk falls, meet your fellow travelers, the captain and crew for the captain’s welcome drinks.

No two Coral Frontiers & Kimberley Icons cruises are the same. Each expedition is crafted by experienced captains and expedition leaders around weather, tidal and community requirements. Below is a selection of the key destinations visited.

Rowley Shoals
The Rowley Shoals sits 170 nautical miles offshore. Rowley Shoals’ three atolls, Clerke, Mermaid and Imperieuse, all offer unique diving and snorkeling. With sheer walls, channels and crystal-clear water, the site provides striking underwater scenery. Conditions permitting, explore via Xplorer with guided snorkels, drift channels and beachcombing on Bedwell Island, home to red-tailed tropicbirds.

The Lacepede Islands
The Lacepede Islands are a protected class-A nature reserve and are significant as a seabird nesting rookery for brown boobies and roseate terns. Other species often sighted at the Lacepedes include Australian Pelicans, frigate birds, egrets and gulls. The four low-lying islands are also an important breeding and nesting habitat for green turtles. If weather and tide conditions are suitable, explore the lagoons by Xplorer and Zodiac tender vessels.

Horizontal Falls & Talbot Bay
The Horizontal Falls are one of the Kimberley’s biggest attractions and are a result of the mammoth 36-foot (11m) tides for which the Kimberley is renowned. Naturalist David Attenborough described the Horizontal Falls as ‘one of the greatest natural wonders of the world.’ This natural phenomenon has been created as the ocean thunders through a narrow gorge in the McLarty Ranges. Water builds up on one side and is forcibly pushed through the bottleneck, creating a rushing horizontal waterfall of swiftly flowing seawater. Witnessing the rapids on your Zodiac inflatable tenders is one of the highlights of a Kimberley expedition cruise. Talbot Bay is at the heart of the Buccaneer Archipelago, where rocks on the 800 or so islands are estimated at over 2 billion years old. At Cyclone Creek, you will see evidence of massive geological forces in the impressive rock formations and cruise through the Iron Islands past Koolan Island.

Please Note: 2028 will be the final year the ship’s crew can operate tender cruises through the First Gap. From 2029 onwards, you’ll still be able to go by Zodiacs and tenders right up to the Gap, where you can witness the powerful tides rushing in and out at their peak flow for the day.

Montgomery Reef
Montgomery Reef is a biologically diverse area covering over 115 square miles (300 sq km) and was named by Phillip Parker King. Twice daily, as the sea recedes in mammoth 36-foot (11m) tides, Montgomery Reef rises from the Indian Ocean in a cascade of rushing water revealing a flat-topped reef pockmarked with rock pools and rivulets. As the reef emerges, get up close in your Xplorer and Zodiac inflatable tenders to witness the spectacle as the expedition team share their knowledge on the formation of the reef and the myriad wildlife. Opportunistic birds take advantage of the emerging reef, feeding on marine life left exposed in rock pools. Turtles, dolphins, dugongs and sawfish too are also attracted to feeding opportunities as the ocean recedes. The ocean is awash in a swirl of eddies and whirlpools as the moon’s gravitational force takes hold. Then, a few hours later the entire water-borne drama is reversed as the tide comes in and Montgomery Reef disappears below sea level.

Scott Reef
Some 185 miles (300km) off Australia’s northwest coast, Scott Reef comprises four atolls, including Seringapatam Reef, site of the 1884 Yarra wreck. Visited by Indonesian fishermen for centuries, the reef has faced recent coral bleaching but remains rich in marine life. Enjoy snorkeling, diving, photography and nature interpretation, with possible glass-bottom boat tours. Weather and tides may allow a landing on a remote sand cay for a rare and isolated perspective.

Ashmore Reef
Located on the outer edge of the continental shelf, Ashmore Reef and Cartier Island are remote coral and sand islands teeming with marine and birdlife. Declared a National Nature Reserve in 1983, the reef supports over 250 coral species, 70 fish species, nesting turtles and visiting dugongs, dolphins and whale sharks. Depending on conditions, enjoy diving and snorkeling in the crystal-clear waters of Ashmore Reef, with also the chance to kayak. Between activities, take time to birdwatch and spot marine life around this pristine sanctuary, where nature thrives far from human habitation.

Day of Rock Art 
Depending on tides and weather, step ashore at either Bigge Island, Swift Bay or Wollaston Bay, remote locations famed for their remarkable Wandjina and Gwion Gwion (Bradshaw) rock art. On short walks of less than a half mile (no more than 600m) return, discover ancient galleries painted on sandstone cliffs, cave walls and low rock overhangs. Learn about the stories behind these sacred sites, from early contact depictions to the iconic Wandjina figures. Keep an eye out for local wildlife, including little rock wallabies, nesting turtles and crocodile tracks along the shore.

King George River & Falls
Cruise down the scenic King George River, through steep-sided gorges carved by a flooded river system that carved a swathe through the Kimberley landscape 400 million years ago. Take the opportunity to get up close and view the honeycomb erosion patterns of the over-260-foot-tall sandstone cliffs.

Arrive in Darwin at 9:00am and disembark Darwin’s Fort Hill Wharf. Post cruise transfers to central business district hotels or the airport are included.

Arrive at Darwin Fort Hill Wharf for boarding at 9:30am, with time to settle into your stateroom before your 10:00am departure. There will be a light breakfast available upon boarding before you cruise across Joseph Bonaparte Gulf and sail into Western Australian waters.

No two Coral Frontiers & Kimberley Icons cruises are the same. Each expedition is crafted by experienced captains and expedition leaders around weather, tidal and community requirements. Below is a selection of the key destinations visited.

King George River & Falls
Cruise down the scenic King George River, through steep-sided gorges carved by a flooded river system that carved a swathe through the Kimberley landscape 400 million years ago. Take the opportunity to get up close and view the honeycomb erosion patterns of the over-260-foot-tall sandstone cliffs.

Day of Rock Art 
Depending on tides and weather, step ashore at either Bigge Island, Swift Bay or Wollaston Bay, remote locations famed for their remarkable Wandjina and Gwion Gwion (Bradshaw) rock art. On short walks of less than a half mile (no more than 600m) return, discover ancient galleries painted on sandstone cliffs, cave walls and low rock overhangs. Learn about the stories behind these sacred sites, from early contact depictions to the iconic Wandjina figures. Keep an eye out for local wildlife, including little rock wallabies, nesting turtles and crocodile tracks along the shore.

Ashmore Reef
Located on the outer edge of the continental shelf, Ashmore Reef and Cartier Island are remote coral and sand islands teeming with marine and birdlife. Declared a National Nature Reserve in 1983, the reef supports over 250 coral species, 70 fish species, nesting turtles and visiting dugongs, dolphins and whale sharks. Depending on conditions, enjoy diving and snorkeling in the crystal-clear waters of Ashmore Reef, with also the chance to kayak. Between activities, take time to birdwatch and spot marine life around this pristine sanctuary, where nature thrives far from human habitation.

Scott Reef
Some 185 miles (300km) off Australia’s northwest coast, Scott Reef comprises four atolls, including Seringapatam Reef, site of the 1884 Yarra wreck. Visited by Indonesian fishermen for centuries, the reef has faced recent coral bleaching but remains rich in marine life. Enjoy snorkeling, diving, photography and nature interpretation, with possible glass-bottom boat tours. Weather and tides may allow a landing on a remote sand cay for a rare and isolated perspective.

Montgomery Reef
Montgomery Reef is a biologically diverse area covering over 115 square miles (300 sq km) and was named by Phillip Parker King. Twice daily, as the sea recedes in mammoth 36-foot (11m) tides, Montgomery Reef rises from the Indian Ocean in a cascade of rushing water revealing a flat-topped reef pockmarked with rock pools and rivulets. As the reef emerges, get up close in your Xplorer and Zodiac inflatable tenders to witness the spectacle as the expedition team share their knowledge on the formation of the reef and the myriad wildlife. Opportunistic birds take advantage of the emerging reef, feeding on marine life left exposed in rock pools. Turtles, dolphins, dugongs and sawfish too are also attracted to feeding opportunities as the ocean recedes. The ocean is awash in a swirl of eddies and whirlpools as the moon’s gravitational force takes hold. Then, a few hours later the entire water-borne drama is reversed as the tide comes in and Montgomery Reef disappears below sea level.

Horizontal Falls & Talbot Bay
The Horizontal Falls are one of the Kimberley’s biggest attractions and are a result of the mammoth 36-foot (11m) tides for which the Kimberley is renowned. Naturalist David Attenborough described the Horizontal Falls as ‘one of the greatest natural wonders of the world.’ This natural phenomenon has been created as the ocean thunders through a narrow gorge in the McLarty Ranges. Water builds up on one side and is forcibly pushed through the bottleneck, creating a rushing horizontal waterfall of swiftly flowing seawater. Witnessing the rapids on your Zodiac inflatable tenders is one of the highlights of a Kimberley expedition cruise. Talbot Bay is at the heart of the Buccaneer Archipelago, where rocks on the 800 or so islands are estimated at over 2 billion years old. At Cyclone Creek, you will see evidence of massive geological forces in the impressive rock formations and cruise through the Iron Islands past Koolan Island.

Please Note: 2028 will be the final year the ship’s crew can operate tender cruises through the First Gap. From 2029 onwards, you’ll still be able to go by Zodiacs and tenders right up to the Gap, where you can witness the powerful tides rushing in and out at their peak flow for the day.

The Lacepede Islands
The Lacepede Islands are a protected class-A nature reserve and are significant as a seabird nesting rookery for brown boobies and roseate terns. Other species often sighted at the Lacepedes include Australian Pelicans, frigate birds, egrets and gulls. The four low-lying islands are also an important breeding and nesting habitat for green turtles. If weather and tide conditions are suitable, explore the lagoons by Xplorer and Zodiac tender vessels.

Rowley Shoals
The Rowley Shoals sits 170 nautical miles offshore. Rowley Shoals’ three atolls, Clerke, Mermaid and Imperieuse, all offer unique diving and snorkeling. With sheer walls, channels and crystal-clear water, the site provides striking underwater scenery. Conditions permitting, explore via Xplorer with guided snorkels, drift channels and beachcombing on Bedwell Island, home to red-tailed tropicbirds.

This unforgettable cruise along the Kimberley coast concludes in Broome this morning after an early breakfast. Disembark at 8:00am and take an included transfer to a Broome central business district hotel or the airport.