"Quest" Kimberley Ultimate 14D13N

NOTE: This cruise also runs in reverse from Kununurra to Broome.

Your Ultimate Quest begins when a courtesy vehicle picks you up from your Broome CBD accommodation at approximately 4:30pm and transfers you to the Kimberley Quest II, where you will be welcomed on board by your captain and crew. Enjoy a cold drink as you watch the sun dip below the horizon, while cruising past the famous Cable Beach, 22-kilometres (14mi) of pristine white sand edged by dunes and ochre red cliffs.

Your destination is the remote Cape Leveque on the tip of the Dampier Peninsula north of Broome. This rugged and pristine slice of the Kimberley is famous for its Aboriginal heritage, which continues to thrive.

Start your day crossing the vast King Sound, cruising through the breathtaking Buccaneer Archipelago. This remote area consists of some 800-1,000 rocky islands with small embayments and secluded white sandy beaches.

At Dugong Bay, take a scenic tender excursion to cool off with a dip in one of the freshwater pools. Around the corner lies Talbot Bay, home to one of the icons of the Kimberley Coast, the Horizontal Falls. Described by David Attenborough as “one of the greatest natural wonders of the world”, this unique “sideways” waterfall is formed by fast moving tidal currents squeezing between two narrow gorges. The tidal ranges in this area can exceed 10-metres (33ft) and the direction of the flow reverses ensuring the water flows two different ways each day. Take a tender and head in for an up close and exhilarating ride through this natural phenomenon.

In the afternoon, take a scenic excursion up the back of Cyclone Creek to marvel at the unique rock formations.

At sunrise, cast out your line for a spot of fishing in Collier Bay, your first chance to hook the elusive Barramundi.

After, continue on to Montgomery Reef, the world’s largest inshore reef. Take a tender to witness an astonishing marine spectacle as the reef is transformed by some of the biggest tidal changes on Earth. When the tide falls, the coral reef appears to rise from the ocean in a torrent of cascading water and a plethora of marine life makes its escape – manta rays, octopuses, reef sharks turtles and even dugongs and dolphins.

In the afternoon, cruise to Red Cone Creek. Enjoy a refreshing swim at Ruby Falls, a picturesque freshwater swimming hole filled with waterlilies and smooth water-worn rocks to sit on and take in the tranquil surrounds. Alternatively, try your hand at mud crabbing. You might just catch your dinner!

At sunrise, fish the inlets of Doubtful Bay for the legendary Barramundi and Threadfin Salmon.

Next, cruise up the Sale River for a swim in the spring-fed rainforest pools. You will also have the opportunity to view ancient Indigenous rock art.

In the afternoon, cruise towards Raft Point and Steep Island, known for its ancient red rock walls and pebble beaches. Disembark and walk up to the caves on the hill to find some of the best preserved Wandjina art in the Kimberley. From the hilltop, stop to admire the sunset before returning to the vessel.

Start your day with a visit to the mysterious cove at Langii to visit the “Petrified Soldiers”. Local Aboriginal legend states the sandstone pillars at this sacred site represent warriors killed in a Dreamtime battle between the land Wandjinas and an important Sea Wandjina named Namarali.

Next, relax on board as you cruise between Augustus Island and the mainland, passing the remote pearling settlement of Kuri Bay. Built by the Japanese in the 1950s, the settlement was home to Australia’s first cultured pearl farm, which, in the 1970s, produced around 60% of the world’s large white South Sea pearls. The area has only been accessible to the public since 2016.

At nearby Camden Harbour, visit the forlorn settler’s grave on Sheep Island and soak up the history of the first European settlement in the 1860s. From here, you will also be able to see into the brilliant blue waters of Camden Sound – one of the world’s great humpback calving grounds. From April to September, thousands of whales give birth in the Sound, covering themselves in sticky mud to assist with healing wounds gained during mating battles.

In the afternoon, take a tender to explore deeper into the area. Try your hand at fishing or collect rock oysters, before unwinding on the sundeck.

At sunrise, cruise through St George Basin, a deep harbour bounded by steep cliffs with large expanses of mangroves and tidal mudflats.

Leaving the vista of mighty Mt Trafalgar and Mt Waterloo, cruise up the Prince Regent River, one of Australia’s straightest rivers, marvelling at the pristine waterway that cuts through sandstone cliffs and gorges. Your destination is King Cascade, a spectacular terraced waterfall that is inaccessible to larger cruise ships. Make sure to stand on the front deck for a refreshing shower beneath the falls before climbing to the top for a swim in the enticing crystal-clear pool.

In the afternoon, join your guides for an excursion to Cathedral Falls, while spotting crocodiles and flying foxes. Alternatively, fish the Prince Regent River, which is renowned for big Barramundi.

In the morning, cruise out of Prince Regent River to Careening Bay, site of the historic Mermaid Tree, first visited in 1820 by Phillip Parker King and his ship Mermaid. During the 10 days it took to complete maintenance of Mermaid, the ship’s carpenter visited the Boab tree and carved “HMC Mermaid 1820” into the trunk. Nearly 200 years later, the lettering has grown to 12-metres high.

Next, cruise north to Wuuyuru (Bigge Island), a large broken sandstone island famous for its amazing galleries of Aboriginal rock art. Both Gwion Gwion (Bradshaw) and Wandjina art is present in the island’s coastal caves. Potentially up to 50,000 years old, the Gwion Gwion images are possibly the oldest images known to man. As you explore the galleries, keep an eye out for wildlife including Monjon rock wallabies and Northern Quoll.

Cruise into the Bonaparte Archipelago, the remote northern sister of the Buccaneer Archipelago where your adventure began. Make your way through the incredible maze of islands, inlets, rivers and peninsulas to the Mitchell River, the source of the magnificent Mitchell Falls. Charter a scenic heli flight for the ultimate bird’s eye view of this iconic four-tiered waterfall (own cost). Look down and see sheer sunburnt cliffs and millions of litres of water cascading from one emerald green pool to the next. 

UIn the afternoon, drop a lure and perfect your fishing skills in these rich waters or go crocodile spotting. You may also enjoy a swim in the cool tranquil waters of Surveyors Creek.

Arrive into Vansittart Bay, where you will find many islands in close proximity as well as many beautiful beaches and coves surrounded by the glistening aqua waters of the Timor Sea.

With your guides, explore remarkable Gwion Gwion Aboriginal rock art galleries estimated to be up to 20,000 years old. You may also find traces of old jars brought to the Island by Macassan fishermen harvesting sea cucumbers (hence the Island’s English name: Jar Island).

Close by, on the Anjo Peninsula, lies the skeleton of a US Air Force C-53 Sky Trooper aircraft, which veered off course and crash landed on the Island on its way to Perth in 1942. Luckily, all on board lived to tell the tale – they were rescued by a Qantas Flying Boat!

In the late afternoon, cruise around the coastline of the Bougainville Peninsula, where dramatic black basalt cliffs contrast with lush green rainforests. 

Today, you will encounter one of the longest rivers in the Kimberley (432km/268mi): The Drysdale.

Spend the day exploring the Drysdale’s broad rivers and the edge of its eponymous national park, the largest and least accessible in the Kimberley, with no public roads leading in or out and no airstrip within its boundaries. Join your guides on a scenic tender excursion through remote, palm-studded landscape and rapids, keeping an eye out for crocodiles, flying foxes and many species of birds.

In the afternoon, enjoy a swim in one of the river’s numerous freshwater pools, some of which host impressive Gwion Gwion rock art. You might also like to take a walk along a deserted beach, try your hand at fishing, or simply sit back and enjoy the sounds of the Australian bush.

At sunrise, cruise around Cape Londonderry, the northernmost point of Western Australia. 

Next, visit Glycosmis Falls, one of the lesser-known waterfalls on the coast. Described as King George Falls’ little brother, what these falls make up in heigh they make up for in sheer seclusion. Kimberley Quest II is one of the only ships to visit this part of the coast.  

In the afternoon, visit Koolama Bay. Located at the mouth of the King George River, the Bay is named for the Australian merchant vessel that beached here after a Japanese aerial attack during World War II. The passengers were taken ashore by order of the ship’s master and many had to walk overland on an epic cross-country trek to the Drysdale River Mission, guided by a priest. After visiting the survivors’ camp at Pangali Cove, cool off with a freshwater swim beneath a waterfall. 

At high tide, cross the sand bars of the King George River for an unforgettable cruise along this cathedral-like gorge. The breathtaking scenery culminates in the mighty King George Falls, a dual waterfall that has an uninterrupted vertical drop of more than 80-metres (262ft), making it one of the tallest waterfalls in Western Australia. 

Cruise right up to the base of the twin falls for a refreshing ‘shower’, Kimberley style. Intrepid adventurers may also climb to the top of the Falls for spectacular views of the river below, followed by a refreshing dip to cool off. 

Overnight, anchor just metres away from the falls, with an extraordinary view and tranquil sounds from the bow.

Spend the day cruising the Berkeley River, taking in the ancient sandstone escarpments and cascading waterfalls.

Try your hand fishing for barramundi or take a tender excursion with knowledgeable guides to go birdwatching or crocodile spotting. Marvel at the amphitheatre falls and then cool off in a tranquil freshwater swimming hole.

In the afternoon, embark on a tender excursion to the top end of the river, where the fresh water meets the salt water. The freshwater swimming holes found in this part of the river have fun rapids to play in, as well as plenty of opportunities for estuary fishing.

Cap off your Ultimate Kimberley Quest with a cold sundowner as you cruise through the Cambridge Gulf, journeying through the night towards the townsite of Wyndham.

Arrive into Wyndham Port early morning. Enjoy your last breakfast on board before saying farewell to your crew. At 7:30am, board a courtesy coach for a transfer to Kununurra, arriving at approximately 9:00am.

NOTE: This is only a suggested itinerary. The remote Kimberley region experiences large tidal movements which can affect our itinerary. We may need to vary this from time to time, however, no matter the tides, we always visit the spectacular icons of this region. There will be plenty of land and sightseeing excursions to many untouched places, and opportunities to catch fresh fish for the table. Please note scenic helicopter flights are available on request.