Kimberley Coast, Western Australia, Australia
A vast ancient coastline of red cliffs, horizontal waterfalls, and 40,000-year-old rock art — accessible only by expedition ship. No cruise terminals, no tourist strips. Just raw wilderness.
A vast ancient coastline of red cliffs, horizontal waterfalls, and 40,000-year-old rock art — accessible only by expedition ship. No cruise terminals, no tourist strips. Just raw wilderness.
There are no cruise piers along the Kimberley wilderness coast — all landings are by Zodiac or expedition tender from the anchored ship.
💡 Pro move: Cruise season April–October. April–May offers the highest waterfalls from the wet season runoff.
There are no piers along the Kimberley wilderness coast — expedition ships anchor and deploy Zodiacs for all landings.
| Cruise Line | Typical Berth / Arrival | Dock or Tender |
|---|---|---|
| Coral Expeditions, Seabourn, APT, expedition lines | Anchored offshore — Zodiac/tender landings📍 | Tendered |
| Embarkation/disembarkation at Broome Port | Entrance Point, Broome (shuttle to town)📍 | Docked |
| Embarkation/disembarkation at Port of Wyndham | Wyndham, East Kimberley📍 | Docked |
Every stop along the Kimberley is an expedition in itself — natural wonders only reachable by Zodiac, with paid helicopter and seaplane upgrades for the most remote highlights.
Watch a 150-square-mile coral reef appear to 'rise' from the sea as the tide falls, creating cascading waterfalls in the middle of the ocean. One of Australia's most spectacular natural phenomena.
Find Kimberley expedition cruises →Tidal forces push water through two narrow mountain gorges in Talbot Bay, creating a 'horizontal waterfall.' A fast-boat ride through the gap is pure adrenaline. David Attenborough called it one of the world's greatest natural wonders.
Find Horizontal Falls tours →Twin waterfalls plunge 80 metres down red sandstone cliffs into the ocean. Most dramatic April–May when the wet-season flow is at full strength.
Find King George Falls cruises →Among the oldest rock art on Earth — Gwion Gwion (Bradshaw) figures dated to roughly 12,000 years, with some Kimberley motifs reaching 16,000–17,000 years. Guided walks to sites on Jar Island and other locations reveal extraordinary paintings by Australia's First Peoples.
Find Kimberley rock art tours →A scenic helicopter flight over the four-tiered Mitchell Falls, deep in the Mitchell Plateau. Many expedition ships arrange pickups from Hunter River or carry their own helicopter.
Find Mitchell Falls helicopter tours →Zodiac safari through mangrove-lined rivers to spot massive saltwater crocodiles (up to 5 metres), jabiru storks, and prolific birdlife in one of Australia's most intact ecosystems.
Find Kimberley wildlife tours →Walks in the Kimberley are expedition hikes to rock art and waterfalls — not strolls; wear sturdy shoes and bring water.
Guided walk from Zodiac landing to Gwion Gwion (Bradshaw) figure rock art panels — extraordinary figurative paintings many thousands of years old on sandstone overhangs.
📍 Open in MapsThe only beach on the Kimberley cruise where swimming is safe (in season). White sand, vivid-blue Indian Ocean, and famous sunset camel rides. Town shuttle drops near the beach.
📍 Open in MapsClimate normals for Kimberley Coast, Western Australia, Australia (2014–2023 averages). Pack for the month you sail — highs, lows, and how many rainy days to expect.
| Month | Avg High | Avg Low | Rainy Days | Sunrise | Sunset |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 89°F / 32°C | 81°F / 27°C | 15 | 5:27 AM | 6:32 PM |
| Feb | 90°F / 32°C | 81°F / 27°C | 11 | 5:45 AM | 6:25 PM |
| Mar | 93°F / 34°C | 81°F / 27°C | 9 | 5:53 AM | 6:05 PM |
| Apr | 94°F / 34°C | 78°F / 26°C | 3 | 6:00 AM | 5:41 PM |
| May | 90°F / 32°C | 71°F / 22°C | 1 | 6:09 AM | 5:25 PM |
| Jun | 86°F / 30°C | 67°F / 19°C | 1 | 6:19 AM | 5:23 PM |
| Jul | 85°F / 29°C | 64°F / 18°C | 0 | 6:22 AM | 5:31 PM |
| Aug | 87°F / 31°C | 66°F / 19°C | 0 | 6:10 AM | 5:40 PM |
| Sep | 90°F / 32°C | 71°F / 22°C | 0 | 5:47 AM | 5:45 PM |
| Oct | 92°F / 33°C | 77°F / 25°C | 0 | 5:22 AM | 5:51 PM |
| Nov | 93°F / 34°C | 80°F / 27°C | 3 | 5:07 AM | 6:04 PM |
| Dec | 92°F / 33°C | 82°F / 28°C | 6 | 5:10 AM | 6:21 PM |
Source: Open-Meteo ERA5 (10-yr daily averages)
Transport options from the pier — taxis, shuttles, transit passes, and whether ride-share apps work here.
The primary way to explore the Kimberley. All remote stops — Montgomery Reef, King's Cascades, Horizontal Falls — are accessed by Zodiac or tender from the ship. Independent transport simply does not exist at these wilderness anchorages.
Taxis operate in Broome, the main embarkation/disembarkation port. Base fare ~AUD 4.60 + ~AUD 2.80/km; a 5 km trip runs roughly AUD 18–20. Broome Private Taxis serves the port wharf directly.
Uber is available in Broome. Coverage is limited to the town itself — useful for getting between the port, Cable Beach, and the town center before or after your cruise.
Broome Transit runs shuttles connecting the port, hotels, and Cable Beach. Resort shuttles (Cable Beach Club, Broome Time Resort) also serve the wharf area for ~AUD 10–11/person.
Local public buses cover Broome town routes for ~AUD 4 per single trip — a budget option for getting around Broome during embarkation or disembarkation day.
Upcoming cruises that call at Kimberley Coast, Western Australia, Australia. Dates, prices, and ports of call change — always confirm with the cruise line before booking.
Itineraries and prices change — always confirm with the cruise line before booking. Some links are affiliate links that may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you.