There is something magical about the Kimberley, something that captures your imagination and draws you back time and time again… the region is vast and diverse… from the laid back ambiance of cosmopolitan Broome, to the fascinating indigenous culture of the Dampier Archipelago, the outback adventure of Kununurra, or the vast untouched beauty of the Kimberley coastline. Whatever style of holiday you are chasing, a truly unique experience awaits you.

Most small cruise ships operating luxury adventure cruises along the Kimberley Australia coast specialise in 'expedition style' luxury adventure cruises with an experienced captain and crew guiding you through a true wilderness holiday adventure, as you set out to explore the fabled Kimberley and Western Australia Coast.

Pristine yet rugged, the Kimberley coast is a largely undiscovered remote wilderness isolated and protected from land by inaccessible terrain and ancient river systems - - and best seen from a small cruise ship offering cruise packages on a variety of Kimberley cruises into the Kimberley Australia region. Over billions of years the Kimberley coastal landscape has been sculpted by violent tropical storms and incessant tidal movements forming a unique environment that is found nowhere else on earth.

The vessels operating in the region are true expedition vessels specifically designed to offer luxury adventure cruises that access remote and normally inaccessible areas of the vast Kimberley coast, using zodiacs (motorized, heavy duty inflatable boats) to explore the outer reaches of this timeless land.

On these Kimberley adventure cruises you will experience the thrill of catching and collecting fresh seafood from the plentiful creeks and rivers, all expertly prepared for you by your on board chef… and, with the help of experienced fishing guides, you can try your hand at catching the mighty Kimberley Barramundi and find out why the coastal Kimberley region of WA is well known for some of the best fishing in Australia.

These luxury adventure cruises give you the opportunity to visit ancient art sites like those of the “Bradshaw’s”. Reported to be over 20,000 years old these paintings are some of the oldest forms of art known to man. Relax at the foot of a tranquil waterfall or join a trek through this inspiring landscape.

If yours is a desire to experience the Kimberley Western Australia coastline on a true holiday adventure in expedition style and have a choice of luxury adventure cruises, then we invite you to contact us and we will help you discover the secrets of this remarkable Kimberley Australia coast.

Kimberley & Western Australia destinations travelling south…

Kununurra… known by the local Miriwoong people as “Gananoorrang” Kununurra is situated in the far north eastern corner of Western Australia just a short distance from the Northern Territory border. Centered around the Ord River and located on picturesque Lake Kununurra, the town is surrounded by several other lakes and lagoons. There is a fabulous lookout from the town at Kelly’s Knob, giving views all around the area… A popular water activity is fishing, which is best at either the Lower Dam or the Ivanhoe Crossing along the Ord River… You shouldn’t swim in the river however, as there are crocodiles.

To the south of Kununurra, Lily Creek leads into the popular bird breeding ground of Lily Creek Lagoon, which continues into Lake Kununurra where there are plenty of different water activities on offer.

Heading south east from the town you will pass the Packsaddle Plains, and a number of farms… some of which offer fruit picking work between May and September… Kununurra is the perfect base to explore the rugged Purnululu National Park (Bungle Bungle Range), Mitchell Plateau, the Ord River and or Argyle Diamond Mine. North east of the town is the beautiful Mirima National Park, which is home to the Hidden Valley. There are also some very enjoyable walking tracks around the park, which are well worth taking.

Wyndham… this last frontier is a small and relatively undiscovered town which typifies the character and spirit of the Kimberley. The most northerly town in Western Australia, Wyndham is situated on the southern tidal waters of the Cambridge Gulf where the confluence of the King, Pentecost, Durack, Forrest and Ord Rivers meet.

Fitzroy Crossing and Halls Creek… Fitzroy Crossing is a quintessential outback Australian town, set on the banks of the mighty Fitzroy River, it is an excellent base to explore the Geikie Gorge National Park. Halls Creek is a vibrant and busy centre for pastoralists, mineral exploration, Aboriginal communities and an excellent base to explore the surrounding Purnululu and Wolfe Creek Crater National Parks.

Gibb River Road, Kalumburu Road and Mitchell Plateau… spanning 660 kilometres between Derby and Kununurra, travelling the Gibb River Road is one of the last truly outback experiences. Luxury 4WD coaches now allow easy access to this remote area, home to wildlife sanctuaries, ancient landforms, deep gorges and fresh water holes.

Derby… is the Kimberley’s oldest town and a great jumping off point to view the amazing 1000 islands of the Buccaneer Archipelago… a 'must see' on all luxury adventure cruises… Experience a breathtaking scenic flight, a hair-raising landing in a seaplane and shoot through the world-renowned Horizontal Falls in a jet boat. Derby is also the gateway to the outback adventure along the Gibb River Road, with the ancient Devonian reef structure of Windjana Gorge National Park and Tunnel Creek within an easy day drive.

Rowley Shoals… 300 kilometres off the Kimberley Australia coast west of Broome lies the Rowley Shoals, Australia’s best example of shelf edge coral atolls. Home to an exceptionally rich and diverse array of oceanic coral reef flora and fauna typical of the Indo Pacific region. The area is a premier diving and nature based tourism destination for a number of Kimberley cruises… the Rowley Shoals also provides world class sports fishing.

Dampier Peninsula… just north of Broome, the Dampier Peninsula is characterized by sandy white beaches, clear blue Indian Ocean waters and mangrove lined creeks. Here you will have the opportunity to experience unspoilt beauty and share the lifestyle of the indigenous Aboriginal people who live here… this region is visited by most expedition vessels, and there are a number of luxury adventure cruises that include this region in their itinerary.

Broome… nestled on the shores of Roebuck Bay, Broome is the southern gateway to the magnificent wilderness regions of the Kimberley and the main embarkation point for luxury adventure cruises along the coast. This 1890’s pearling port simply oozes with colour, it is a unique, exotic seaside town with a romantic and flamboyant history. The town’s multicultural heritage and subsequent cultural fusion has developed a unique colonial and Asian matrix of unique cuisine, colourful characters and distinct cultural influences.

Port Hedland... this is the main port for the Pilbara iron ore region so if iron ore interests you and you would like to find out more about the industry, join one of the BHP Iron Ore and Port tours.

A good way to see the whole town is from the lookout at the top of the Observation Tower, which offers fantastic views. At night, head to Richardson Street where you can see the lit up BHP plant on Finucane Island.

Flatback turtles are seen from October to March on Cemetery Beach, Cooke Point, Munda Beach and Pretty Pool. There are trips out to see the humpback whales migrating along the coast.

You can fly to Port Hedland on Qantas or alternatively, catch the Greyhound service which travels along the coast.

Carnarvon... is the centre of a fruit growing region, which offers a warm and tropical climate. Carnarvon is situated along the Gascoyne River, fronted by Babbage Island and Whitlock Island. You can get to Babbage Island driving, from where there is a pleasant One Mile Jetty which offers good fishing and a small historical precinct. Whitlock Island is accessible by a small footbridge which leads from Olivia Terrace.

There are a number of different things to do and tours available from Carnarvon including a tour around the town itself and tours to the nearby Mt Augustus in the Burringurrah National Park, and the Kennedy Ranges.

You can get to Carnarvon on the Greyhound bus and there is also a flight to Carnarvon with Skywest.

Monkey Mia... is a small resort at the northern tip of the Peron Peninsula, which has been made famous by its frequent visits from the lovely bottlenose dolphins.

The major attraction in Monkey Mia is the dolphins which swim up to the shore for the dolphin feeding… They arrive several times a day, and if you are lucky you will get pulled out of the crowd to hand feed one of the dolphins yourself. Another great way to see the dolphins and the sea life around Monkey Mia, is to join one of the cruises around Shark Bay that leave from the jetty.

The only accommodation in Monkey Mia is the Monkey Mia Dolphin Resort, which offers a full range of accommodation styles and prices.

Denham... situated along the Peron Peninsula Denham is the most westerly town in the whole of Australia. Denham used to be a pearling port, although it is now known for its delicious prawns.

Use Denham as a base to explore the rest of the Peron Peninsula and the area around Shark Bay. Just north of Denham is the Francois Peron National Park and the pretty Little Lagoon. Although you can travel to the visitor information centre at the Peron Homestead, a 4WD is needed to drive further into the National Park… North again from Denham is Monkey Mia which is a popular dolphin resort.

Kalbarri... is a coastal town, set alongside the Murchison River. The coastline around Kalbarri is wonderful and has quite a history, with several shipwrecks along the shore.

From Kalbarri visit the Kalbarri National Park, which features a number of beautiful gorges along the Murchison River and plenty of bushwalking trails, the park has added beauty during the spring, when the wildflowers are out. From Kalbarri there are a number of adventure tours including camping tours, fishing charters, horse riding and canoeing.

You can fly to Kalbarri on Western Airlines or take one of the Westrail Buses from Perth.

Geraldton... is the main coastal town along the central west coast of Western Australia, well known for its lobster fishing and windsurfing along the rugged and attractive coastline.

Head to the interesting Geraldton Museum to find out about the history of Geraldton and the many offshore shipwrecks… also known for its lobster fishing, you can find out about this on the Lobster Factory Tour at Geraldton Fisherman’s Co-op.

From Geraldton a popular day trip is out the Abrolhos Islands, which are just off the coastline. You can also head inland to the hinterland, or take a scenic flight over the area.

Margaret River... is a beautiful wine growing region set just inland from the pretty south west coast of Western Australia. The surrounding landscape is made up of deep forests, spectacular beaches, and a number of limestone caves. Several good swimming beaches include Gracetown and Prevally, although much more popular are the many surfing beaches near Margaret River… many of the coastal bays and beaches in this area offer fantastic surf.

Also popular around Margaret River is a trip to some of the 350 limestone caves of the Leeuwin-Naturaliste Caves Region, not all caves, however, are accessible to the public. The main ones to visit are all along Caves Road, including Jewel Cave, Lake Cave, Mammoth Cave and Moondyne Cave. Many of the caves also feature fossilized creatures from years ago.