"True North" Ultimate Kimberley 14D13N (Kununurra - Broome)

Your ultimate Kimberley cruise begins with a coach transfer from your Kununurra accommodation to the frontier town of Wyndham, where you will be warmly welcomed aboard by your captain and crew. Enjoy a cocktail with your fellow adventurers before departing at approximately 6:30pm. Dinner is served shortly after leaving and then it is an overnight cruise to the King George River.

As soon as the tide is high enough, 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 another Kimberley-style shower on the front deck. You will then have the opportunity to climb or take the helicopter to the top of the falls for spectacular views of the river below.

In the afternoon, visit the wreck of MV Koolama, an Australian merchant vessel that sank as a result of several attacks by Japanese aircraft in February-March 1942. It was also at the centre of the Koolama Incident, an alleged mutiny resulting from these attacks.

Meanwhile, the tenders will also be busy exploring local beaches and creeks.

Finish off your day with a stroll at Tranquil Bay.

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

Spend the day exploring the Drysdale’s beautiful palm-studded landscape and rapids. Explore the edge of the 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 fishing expedition targeting the legendary Barramundi and Mangrove Jack. You will also have time for beachcombing and swimming.

In the afternoon, take to the air for a scenic flight to Cape Londonderry, the northernmost point of Western Australia. Look down to see the low rocky headland peeking out into the shimmering Timor Sea.

Start your day with a visit to an incredible Gwion Gwion (Bradshaw) Aboriginal rock art gallery. The Gwion Gwion paintings pre-date other examples of Aboriginal culture and are possibly the oldest images known to man.

Next, take to the air for another breathtaking helicopter flight to Eagle Falls, where you will enjoy a special ‘heli-picnic’ overlooking a magical cascade. As the only way to access the falls is via helicopter, you are almost guaranteed to have the place to yourself.

In the afternoon, venture to Vansittart Bay to uncover the skeleton of a US Air Force C-53 Sky Trooper aircraft. The lone bomber veered off course and crash landed on its way to Perth in 1942. Luckily, all on board lived to tell the tale – they were rescued by a Qantas Flying Boat!  

Cruise around Cape Voltaire into the Bonaparte Archipelago, the remote northern sister of the Buccaneer Archipelago. Make your way through the incredible maze of islands, inlets, rivers and peninsulas to the Mitchell River, the source of the magnificent Mitchell Falls.

After lunch, indulge in a freshwater swim in Surveyors Creek or take to the air for a bird’s eye view of the iconic, 4-tiered Mitchell Falls. Look down and see sheer sunburnt cliffs and millions of litres of water cascading from one emerald green pool to the next. 

In the evening, join the crew for cocktail hour ahead of another unique dining experience.

Join your crew in gathering bountiful Black Lip Oysters. These oysters can be dislodged with a strong, sharp, metal instrument and opened by piercing the hinge – they taste amazing with a squeeze of lemon and a pinch of salt. They are also responsible for producing beautiful black pearls. While in the area, take time to admire Gwion Gwion and Wandjina rock art and fish for Giant Trevally, mackerel and queenfish.

Back on board, you’re invited to a special “pearl party”. Enjoy a glass of bubbly and a taste of pearl meat, while learning about and trying on exquisite pieces created by the artistes at Linneys, Jewels of the Kimberley and Kimberley Fine Diamonds.

Start your day fishing on the Roe River, which boasts one of the highest crocodile counts in the Kimberley. The river was named for John Septimus Roe – the first Surveyor General of Australia – and ship’s helicopter will dramatically demonstrate the maze of creeks and endless coasts that the early explorers encountered.

In the afternoon, cruise into Prince Frederick Harbour and enjoy sunset drinks on Art Island.

Wake up this morning on the magnificent Hunter River. About as far away from civilisation as you can get in Australia, this stunning river system is teeming with Barramundi, succulent mud crabs, and castaway island beaches. Spend your day fishing, mud crabbing, bird watching and croc-spotting. You will also have the opportunity to make the short hike to Jackson Falls. The reward is a waterfall-fed pool that is super-cold because it never gets to see the direct rays of the sun – the perfect place to cool off!

In the morning, pay a visit to 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 up the Prince Regent River, 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 Kimberley-style shower beneath the falls before climbing to the top for a swim in the enticing crystal-clear pool.

Alternatively, why not partake in another heli-picnic? Your pilot will take you to a crystal-clear billabong, one of the most remote places on Earth. A second heli option is a visit to the Kimberley’s very own “Jurassic Park”, where scientists have uncovered more than 20 different types of dinosaur tracks (some over 1.5-metres in size)!

In the afternoon, head up Camp Creek, where the freshwater meets salt. Crocodiles are common in the creek and are sometimes seen in the first billabong, surrounded by paperbark trees, lilies and marsh-warts. This is also a great site for bird watchers. Take time to complete a walk to find 2 magnificent pools that end in a series of waterfalls.

Early risers will be treated to a heli-flight with a difference – a champagne sunrise on top of a mountain!

Spend the rest of the day exploring in the tenders. You will have the opportunity to embark on scenic bush walks and swim in picture-perfect billabongs. You may even take to the air for another scenic heli flight to fish the Kimberley’s most secret fishing holes.

This morning is devoted to exploring the Sale River. Fish the mouth for Barramundi then ‘ride the tide’ on a classic river expedition. Cool off with a swim in a spring-fed rainforest pool before returning to the ultimate comfort of the cruise.

After lunch, pay a visit 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. You will have the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to view the reef from the air thanks to the onboard helicopter (own cost).

Star the day with some hot fishing action – this time at “Three Ways”.

After lunch, cruise to Raft Point and Steep Island, known for their 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 top of the hill, take a moment to admire the sunset before returning to the vessel.

Say hello to one of the Kimberley Coast’s most famous icons, 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 for an up close and exhilarating ride through this natural phenomenon or get the ultimate bird’s eye view with a scenic heli flight.

Take a swim at Crocodile Creek and a walk on Silica Beach before cruising across the vast Yampi Sound and through the thousand islands of the Buccaneer Archipelago. This remote area consists of some 800-1,000 rocky islands with small embayments and secluded white sandy beaches. You won’t miss the biggest islands: Cockatoo and Koolan!

All too soon your adventure cruise is coming to an end! Enjoy a farewell dinner as you cruise past the rugged red cliffs of the Cape Leveque and the Dampier Peninsula to Broome.

Arrive into Broome early morning. Enjoy your last breakfast on board before saying farewell to your crew. Transfers to either your accommodation or to the airport can be arranged as you disembark.

Note: This itinerary is provided as example only – prevailing conditions, local arrangements and indeed, what we discover on the day, may cause variation. Helicopter flights can be purchased additional to the indicated tariff as a package or individually.