Cruising the Kimberley coastline

The region known simply as The Kimberley takes its evocative name from its most imposing landmark; an ancient mountain range visible from the rugged sea coast. Covering more than 400,000 square kilometres (an area three times larger than England) in North West Australia, it is a place universally acknowledged as the world’s last - and possibly most beautiful - wilderness.
The Kimberley is a place of magnificent vistas created by towering rock ridges, silent secluded gorges, wide savannah plains and waterfalls which defy both nature and belief. Its coastline is nothing short of stunning and according to all who have seen it, there is no other stretch of coastline in Australia that comes near in terms of its ability to inspire awe and wonder.

Though the majority of Australian don't even know it exists, of those who do, few have seen it as it is in one of most remote corners of the country. There's one pretty average gravel road in and out to a tiny section of it, but apart from that, the only way to experience the Kimberley coast is to either fly over it or take a cruise. While the large ocean going cruise liners can sail the shores of a rugged coastline like the Kimberley, and some do, the extreme tides experienced there, the shallow waters of the estuaries, islands and reefs and the relatively narrow river gorges crying out to be explored, demand much smaller vessels with shallower draughts be employed to unlock the secrets of this pristine wilderness area.

Sample cruise: Oceanic Discoverer

Oceanic Discoverer at Darwin	Oceanic Discoverer in Cambridge Gulf

On cruises along the Kimberley coast, the Oceanic Discoverer is accompanied by a smaller vessel, the specially design aluminium Xplorer, which is used for landings and extensive exploration of rivers and estuaries. It can accommodate the full company of passengers travelling aboard to mother vessel. In addition, two inflatable landing craft are carried aboard, to assist where landing on the beach is required, or special places like Horizontal Falls, where the craft come into their own zipping through the gaps in the rocks. The Xplorer and the inflatables are pulled out at regular intervals as there are plenty of river gorges to travel up, waterfalls to get so close as to feel the spray, and sandy beaches and reefs to comb for shells and other sea life.
Perhaps because of the cost and also because of the time taken do do a journey up or down the North west coast of Australia, the majority of people to take the cruise are over 65 and retired.
The cruise begins or ends in Darwin or Broome. Localities visited include King George Falls, Vansittart Bay, Tranquil Bay, Cape Voltaire, Bigge Island, Prince Frederick Harbour (optional scenic flights over the Mitchell Plateau), Mitchell Falls, Careening Bay (Mermaid tree), Prince Regent River, King Cascade, Camp Creek, Kuri Bay, Raft Point (Bradshaw and Wandjina aboriginal cave paintings), Buccaneer Archipelago, Montgomery Reef, Talbot Bay, Horizontal Falls, Langgi Inlet, King Sound, Crocodile Creek, Lacepede Islands, Pender Day, Yampi Sound.

Berkeley River	King George Falls

Montgomery Reef	Yampi Sound

Horizontal Falls	Crocodile Creek

MV Oceanic Discoverer: Vessel Specifications
Type: Luxury Motor Cruiser
Length: 63 metres 
Cruising speed: 14 knots
Capacity: 72 passengers; 20 crew

Oceanic Discoverer's onboard accommodation comprises 36 staterooms. You can select from spacious Bridge, Promenade or Main Deck staterooms offering a choice of twin through to junior king-size doubles. All staterooms have an ocean view, en-suite facilities, settee, large wardrobe, desk, luggage storage, individual air-conditioning control, and are serviced daily.

Kimberley Cruising on the internet:

• Coral Princess Cruises website
• Oceanic Discoverer information
• 10 night Kimberley Expedition (Darwin/Broome) fares and departures
• Details of Kimberley cruises available