Guide · Kimberley coast ·
Kimberley cruise: how to choose a small ship trip
Kimberley cruise trips run along the remote north coast of Western Australia, and the best one for you depends on four things: how many days you have, how big the ship is, how the tides work and how much time you get ashore. Many voyages sail between Broome and Wyndham, the two towns at either end of a long stretch of coast with no road, and they run in the dry season, from May to October.
This guide explains how to compare those four things so you can read an operator's outline with confidence.
Sources for this section: Wikipedia, Kimberley (Western Australia).
Why the dry season is the time to go
The Kimberley has two seasons. The wet season runs from November to April and brings about 90 percent of the year's rain. Cyclones are common, especially around Broome, and rivers flood. The dry season runs from May to October, with sunny days, south-easterly breezes and cool nights.
That is why small ships sail in the dry months. It also changes what you see. The big waterfalls on the coast are at full strength from late December to early May. By September, King George Falls, a twin drop about 12 km up the King George River from the sea, shrinks to a small flow. A trip early in the dry season, around May, can catch more water than one in September.
November is the hottest month, before the rains arrive. Coastal temperatures often pass 37°C.
Sources for this section: Wikipedia, Kimberley (Western Australia); Wikipedia, King George River.
Tides shape every day
The whole Kimberley coast is subject to high tides. Around Montgomery Reef the tide can move as much as 10 metres. Captains plan each day around the tide, so your itinerary may change from the printed one.
Two famous sights show why. At Horizontal Falls in Talbot Bay, seawater is squeezed through two narrow gaps in the McLarty Ranges. The seaward gap is about 20 metres wide and the inland gap about 12 metres wide. Water builds up faster on one side than the other, and it makes a fall of up to about 5 metres high on a king tide. The direction flips with each change of the tide.
Montgomery Reef is the other. It covers about 400 square kilometres and is about 80 km long. As the tide falls, more than 4 metres of reef is exposed, and water pours off it in hundreds of small waterfalls. Birds, turtles, manta rays and reef sharks gather to feed. You see it from a tender boat at the right hour, so a ship that can time its visit well is worth more than one with a fancy lounge.
Sources for this section: Wikipedia, Kimberley (Western Australia); Wikipedia, Horizontal Falls; Wikipedia, Montgomery Reef.
Trip length: how to compare
Voyage lengths differ by operator, so look at the outline rather than the headline number of days. Count these things:
- Days at sea. Long open-water legs are time you do not spend at a gorge, a reef or a beach.
- Days with a landing or a tender ride. A good outline names a place for most days.
- Start and end ports. Broome and Wyndham are the two towns at either end of the roadless coast, so many trips begin at one and end at the other.
- The direction. Sailing east or west changes which sights you meet first, and so how much waterfall flow you find.
A longer trip is not always better. A shorter one that spends every day at a feature can beat a longer one with many sea days. Ask the operator for a day by day plan before you pay.
Sources for this section: Wikipedia, Kimberley (Western Australia).
Ship size and shore access
Large sections of this coast have no road. Some areas can only be reached by boat or helicopter. That is why expedition cruising here uses small ships carrying a modest number of guests, with tender boats to land you on beaches and run you up rivers.
Use this table to weigh up the choice. It is our own rule of thumb, not an official rating.
| What to check | Smaller ship | Larger ship |
|---|---|---|
| Shallow bays and river mouths | Can usually go further in | May have to anchor out |
| Waiting for a tender | Short queue | Longer queue |
| Onboard space | Tighter | More lounges and decks |
| Landings per day | Often more flexible | Often set in groups |
Ask how many guests go ashore in one tender run, how many tenders the ship carries, and whether there is a plan B when the tide is wrong.
Sources for this section: Wikipedia, Kimberley (Western Australia).
Staying safe on the coast
Saltwater crocodiles live along this coast and in its rivers, and they are very large. Never swim or paddle where a guide has not said it is safe. Follow the crew's rules at every landing.
The coast is remote, and controlled burns can happen at any time of year, so ask whether fires affect any area on your route. Pack for sun, heat and spray from tender boats, and ask the operator what medical help and communications the ship has. This is general information, not medical advice. Check current conditions and your own travel insurance before you book.
Sources for this section: Wikipedia, Kimberley (Western Australia).
Before you book
Pick your month first, then your length, then your ship. Ask for the day by day plan, the number of guests, the tender count and the tide plan. For the lead up to the trip, our Broome travel guide covers the town you will likely start from, and the Gibb River Road guide covers the Kimberley by land. Our first cruise from Australia guide covers the basics of cruising.
Sources for this section: our own checklist, drawn from the sources below.
Sources
- Wikipedia, Kimberley (Western Australia): en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, Horizontal Falls: en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, Montgomery Reef: en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, King George River: en.wikipedia.org