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The Kimberley Cruise | Darwin – Broome | 10 Nights
Highlights
- Witness the stunning King George River and its towering twin falls, immersing in nature's raw beauty.
- Explore ancient rock art with expert guides, connecting with the rich cultural heritage of the Kimberley.
- Spot majestic Humpback Whales migrating north, experiencing a breathtaking display of marine life.
- Join the pioneers of Kimberley expeditions, benefiting from decades of navigational expertise and local knowledge.
Thirty years ago, when they made the first exploratory cruises in the Kimberley, they had to rely on hand-drawn ‘mudmaps’ and the knowledge of fishermen and early explorers to navigate the vast and unpredictable coastline. Today, with decades of experience behind them, and in-house experts, maps, tidal charts, and landing notes, they have a level of knowledge that cannot be easily replicated.
Now, Coral Expeditions invite you to join them on the classic 10-night Kimberley expedition. Witness the power of nature at the magnificent King George River and its towering twin falls, explore ancient rock art with expert guides, and witness diverse marine life and cascading waters at Montgomery Reef. Later in the season, you may also see the majestic Humpback Whales on their migration north to breeding grounds. Every Kimberley voyage is different. Come and discover the Kimberley for yourself with the pioneers.
Itinerary highlights
Explore the natural beauty of King George River & Falls (Oomari Falls)
Fed by the King George River draining across the Gardner Plateau, 80m tall 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, we 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, we may cruise around the base of impressive King George Falls while in later months we take the opportunity to view the honeycomb erosion patterns of sandstone cliffs up close.
Discover ancient indigenous rock art & the wreckage of 1942 Aircraft At 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.
Discover the breathtaking King Cascade at 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 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.
We reach King Cascade after cruising in our 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 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.
Immerse yourself in the beauty of Montgomery Reef
Montgomery Reef is a biologically diverse area covering over 300 sq km and was named by Phillip Parker King. Twice daily, as the sea recedes in mammoth 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, we get up close in our Xplorer and Zodiac inflatable tenders to witness the spectacle as our 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.
Experience an exhilarating ride through Horizontal Falls (Garaanngaddim( & Buccaneer Archipelago
The Horizontal Falls are one of the Kimberley’s biggest attractions and are a result of the mammoth 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 our Zodiac inflatable tenders is one of the highlights of our 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, 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.
Tour details
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Single Available from 1 April 2026
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Single Available from 9 April 2026
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Single Available from 11 April 2026
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Single Available from 22 April 2026
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Single Available from 29 April 2026
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Single Available from 4 May 2026
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Single Available from 13 May 2026
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Single Available from 24 May 2026
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Single Available from 3 June 2026
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Single Available from 4 July 2026
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Single Available from 14 June 2026
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Single Available from 24 June 2026
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Single Available from 30 June 2026
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Single Available from 15 July 2026
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Single Available from 20 July 2026
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Single Available from 25 July 2026
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Single Available from 5 August 2026
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Single Available from 10 August 2026
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Single Available from 26 August 2026
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Single Available from 22 March 2027
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Single Available from 12 April 2027
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Single Available from 14 April 2027
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Single Available from 24 April 2027
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Single Available from 3 May 2027
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Single Available from 5 May 2027
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Single Available from 26 May 2027
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Single Available from 27 May 2027
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Single Available from 14 June 2027
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Single Available from 29 June 2027
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Single Available from 5 July 2027
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Single Available from 7 July 2027
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Single Available from 20 July 2027
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Single Available from 26 July 2027
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Single Available from 28 July 2027
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Single Available from 17 August 2027
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Single Available from 18 August 2027
Features
Service facilities
This business does not currently offer accessible facilities.
Operation information
Coral Expeditions – Northern Territory
At Coral Expeditions, they have one purpose: to take small groups of like-minded explorers to remote places, with expert guidance and warm Australian hospitality. From humble beginnings on the Great Barrier Reef, they’ve taken their fleet of small ships to explore the remote coastlines of the Kimberley, Tasmania, Papua New Guinea and beyond.
For four decades, they’ve proudly sailed under the Australian flag, upholding the highest standards of safety. With Australian and New Zealand crew, their vessels are renowned for the relaxed and intimate atmosphere that makes you feel at home.
With extended time ashore and led by an expert Expedition Team who are passionate about their destination, their guests have the opportunity to truly connect with the people and places they visit and experience authentic encounters with nature. Their small ships provide the flexibility to visit destinations inaccessible to larger vessels, with minimal impact on the environment.
Immersive experiences, respect for cultures, and connection with communities are the foundation of their expeditions. They bring you closer to nature, culture, and history through the spirit of discovery and shared knowledge.
Activities
Tags
Accreditations
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ECO Certified (Advanced Ecotourism) by Ecotourism Australia
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ECO Certified (Ecotourism) by Ecotourism Australia
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Quality Tourism Accreditation
Memberships
- Australian Tourism Export Council
- Regional Tourist/Tourism Association/Organisation
- NT – Tourism Top End
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