Explore the wild beauty of the Kimberley, where thundering falls, ancient rock art, and wildlife await across Western Australia’s remote northern frontier.

Red sandstone cliffs carved by billions of years. Thundering waterfalls plunging into surging rivers. Aboriginal rock art with ancient origins. The Kimberley region in Western Australia is home to some of Australia's most inspiring landscapes. With its remote gorges, reef-fringed islands, and Aboriginal stories etched across cave walls, this is a place where nature and culture run deep. 

Discover the iconic wonders of the Kimberley, where ancient landscapes and unique wildlife await.

Discover Western Australia’s Tallest Twin Cascades 

A low thrum builds as your Zodiac glides up the King George River. On either side, towering red cliffs rise from what looks like a depthless river, and mangrove forests sprout from the same brackish waters. Rounding a corner, the source of the noise materialises: King George Falls.  

The two 100-metre-tall cascades are Western Australia’s highest twin waterfalls. The best times to visit are in April and May, when rainfall is at its heaviest, giving way to a spectacular display of surging whitewater.  

For the Balanggarra people, the twin falls represent male and female Rainbow Serpents and hold deep cultural significance. To witness this sight is to experience both natural power and sacred spirit in one awe-inspiring moment.  

Watch an Underwater World Emerge at Montgomery Reef  

Covering an area of 400 square kilometres, Montgomery Reef stands as the world’s largest inshore reef. Some of the biggest tidal ranges on Earth occur in this corner of the planet, resulting in spectacular, natural magic.  

As low tide approaches, watch in wonder as the 1.8-billion-year-old flat rock reef – which is usually completely submerged – appears to rise almost four metres from the ocean’s surface.  

As the tide recedes and the reef emerges, watch as water runs in great cascades while marine life hurries to make an escape. Octopus, fish, reef sharks and even larger creatures like dolphins and manta rays scurry off the reef shelf into deeper waters. Turtles are especially plentiful here, giving rise to the nickname Turtle Alley. Watch these graceful creatures as they glide through the channels with the changing tide. 

Soar Over the Spectacular Mitchell Falls  

Emerald pools. Tiered sandstone cliffs. The fine spray from cascading water. Mitchell Falls is without a doubt a jewel in the Kimberley crown. The four-tiered waterfall reaches 80 metres in height, and can be accessed by foot, 4WD road, or air.  

While you can hike in or take a rugged 4WD track, a memorable way to view the falls is by scenic helicopter. Soar over the Mitchell Plateau and admire the forested plains, snaking waterways and vast gorges from above.  

Experience the Rush of Horizontal Falls  

In Talbot Bay, where tides can rise and fall by up to 12 metres, the immense force of water squeezing through the narrow gorges of the McLarty Range creates the remarkable natural phenomenon known as Horizontal Falls. Experiencing this natural wonder – whether soaring overhead by seaplane or skimming across its racing currents by Zodiac – is nothing short of awe-inspiring. 

Uncover a Wildlife Paradise at the Lacepede Islands 

Four low-lying islands off the Kimberley coast form one of Australia’s most important seabird breeding grounds. The surrounding waters are rich in marine life; if you’re lucky, you may spot green turtles, dolphins, dugongs and even whales (in season). With over 50 species of bird – many of them threatened or protected – birders can delight in spotting fairy terns, eastern curlews and the world’s largest nesting colony of brown booby.  There are plenty of ways to immerse yourself in the spoils of the islands on a Kimberley Coastal Cruise. On shore, explore the area via a variety of beach walking trails and bring along your binoculars for bird watching, or stay on your ship and keep watch for marine life. 

Underwater Utopia at Ashmore Reef Marina Park 

Float above kaleidoscopic coral gardens and lush seagrass meadows at Ashmore Reef, located 630 kilometres north of Broome. This protected marine park lies at the edge of Australia’s continental shelf and supports an astonishing variety of life beneath its turquoise waters. Here, peer below the surface and observe rainbow-bright coral gardens and seagrass meadows that are home to over 500 species of fish, giant clams, reef sharks, loggerhead turtles, sea cucumbers, sea sponges, and corals of every shape and colour. 

Discover Some of the World’s Oldest Rock Art in the Kimberley  

Among the most powerful experiences you can encounter on a Kimberley tour is witnessing one of the world’s oldest continuous art forms: Aboriginal rock art. At Freshwater Cove, be led by a local Aboriginal guide to a Wandjina rock art site that shows Wandjina figures: powerful, ancestral spirits associated with rain, clouds and the creation of the land and people. These figures are represented with large eyes, round heads, halo-like head decorations and mouthless faces. 

More Sites to Explore in the Kimberley 

Spanning over 423,000 square kilometres, it’s almost impossible to cover the entirety of the Kimberley’s vast and ancient landscape in one journey.  But if time allows, be sure to visit: 

• The Buccaneer Archipelago: Home to more than 800 islands scattered across the bright blue sea, the archipelago offers much in the way of wildlife watching, fishing, snorkelling, swimming and cruising.  

• Swift Bay: The Traditional Owners of the land, the Wunambal Gaambera people, are part of a long ancestral line of people who were among the first to settle in Australia. Here, discover some of the oldest and most abundant Aboriginal rock art in the world. 

• Vansittart Bay: This pristine natural wonderland located 500 kilometres northeast of Broome is accessible exclusively by sea or air.  Here, see ancient Gwion Gwion (Bradshaw) Aboriginal rock art, view the remains of a World War II DC-3 aircraft, or stretch out on white sand.