Ditch the Crowds: Luxury Kimberley Cruise for Nature Lovers & Explorers

by LukeAdmin

Words by Dorian Mode Photography by Lydia Thorpe

Forget the pokies, the waterslides, and the Pina Coladas. If you’re looking for a cruise that doesn’t insult your intelligence, Coral Expeditions is the one for you.

Coral Expeditions is a cruise for grown–ups who love nature, culture, and history. It’s a 10–night adventure crawling along the Kimberley coastline, one of the last places on Earth where you can feel like a real explorer. You’ll see ancient rock art, stunning waterfalls, exotic wildlife, and learn from the best guides in the business.

We join Coral for their famous Kimberley Cruise, which kicks off from Broome, a town that used to make pearls before it made tourists.

After a safety drill that makes us feel very safe indeed, we enjoy a 5–star dinner on the aft deck, where we meet some of our fellow cruisers and watch the sun go down over the copper–coloured ocean. The service is impeccable, the food is divine, and the company is great, with mostly seniors on board. Indeed, a safety role call reads like the character list from a Victorian novel: Margaret, Edward, Charles, Elizabeth. No Jaykob, Xavyn, Jaxsyn, Zyler here.

Over dinner we meet Nick and Sharon, retired farmers with a property in NSW the size of Singapore. They tell us they hate cruises, but they make an exception for this one. They also tell us a lot about their sheep. A lot! Every night, we have a briefing from our expedition leader, Anita, who has a PhD in something impressive. So your tour guide isn’t the dancer from the cabaret. She tells us what we have seen and what we are going to see the next day. She also tells us some fascinating facts and stories about the Kimberley region, which make us feel wonderfully cultured and smart.

The next day, we board the Xplorer, a specially designed tender that can navigate shallow waters and land on beaches like troops on D–Day. Here we head to the King George River, the largest river in the Kimberley. Approaching the mouth of the river, we see a towering sandstone cliff that looks like giant pieces of toast. We enter the river and cruise along its winding course, admiring the scenery and the wildlife. We spot crocodiles, sea eagles, rock wallabies, the works.

When we reach the end of the river, we are greeted by the majestic sight of the King George Falls, the highest twin falls in Australia. They are positively gushing with water from the wet season, creating a thunderous roar and a fine mist. We get as close as we can to the falls, feeling the spray on our faces and the thrill in our hearts. Some of us opt for the Kimberly Shower as the tender drives under falls. Splash!

We return to the ship, where we are treated to a mouth–watering lunch of tiger prawns, oysters, and pan–grilled snapper, accompanied by fresh salads and bread. We savour the flavours and the killer views, feeling very lucky and satisfied.

The next day, we visit the Mitchell Plateau, one of the most remote and spectacular areas of the Kimberley. Here we take a scenic helicopter flight over the plateau, (I’m scared of heights, by the way) which is covered with lush green vegetation and dotted with waterholes. We land near the Mitchell Falls, a four–tiered waterfall that cascades into deep pools. Walking along a trail that leads us to the falls, we have a refreshing swim and a picnic lunch. No crocs up here unless you’re wearing them. We also see some ancient rock art, depicting Wandjina figures, the ancestral beings of the local Indigenous folk.

We motor back to the ship, where we are welcomed with a delicious afternoon tea of scones, jam, and cream, as well as a selection of cakes and biscuits. Here we relax on the deck, chatting with our new chums and generally sharing our impressions of the day.

The next day, we explore the Montgomery Reef: a massive coral reef that rises and falls with the tide. We time our visit to coincide with the low tide, when the reef emerges from the water Atlantis–like and creates a spectacular sight. Gosh, we see waterfalls, lagoons, and sandbars, teeming with marine life. We see rays, sharks, and fish and of course, turtles. Indeed, our crew give us a ‘turtle money back’ guarantee if we don’t see one.

We return to the ship, where we are served a sumptuous dinner of roast lamb, mashed potatoes, and steamed vegetables, followed by a decadent chocolate cake. We enjoy the food and the company, feeling happy and full and sun touched.

The next day, we visit the Horizontal Falls, one of the natural wonders of the world. The falls are created by the massive tidal movements that squeeze through two narrow gaps in the McLarty Range. The result is a horizontal waterfall that changes direction with the tide. We board a fast boat that takes us through the falls, giving us an adrenaline rush and a splash of water. We also see a huge whirlpool that forms near the falls, swirling with power and mystery.

Returning to the ship, we are offered a light lunch as well as a glass of beer or jolly posh wine. We toast to our amazing experience and our wonderful, chilled crew, feeling very grateful and exhilarated.

At lunch, we meet charming kiwi winemakers Linda and Graeme. Over melt–in–your–mouth pork belly, they speak of their grandchildren, Ocean and Suede. Or was this the interior design pallet of their rumpus room?

The next day, we visit the Raft Point, a sacred site for the Worrorra people. We climb to a rocky outcrop, where we see a cave with some of the finest examples of Gwion Gwion art, also known as Bradshaw art. These are some of the oldest and most mysterious rock paintings in the world, dating back tens of thousands of years. They depict elegant human figures, animals, and geometric patterns, in vivid colours and intricate details. We learn about the stories and meanings behind the art, and feel a connection with the ancient culture that created it. We even see a drawing of a Tasmanian Devil!

We return to the ship, where we are presented with a lavish buffet of local and international dishes, such as barramundi, beef rendang, chicken curry, rice, noodles, and salads. Psst! the tucker is outstanding on this cruise.

The next day, we visit the Lacepede Islands, a group of four low–lying islands that are an important breeding ground for seabirds and turtles. Here we see thousands of brown boobies, terns, and frigatebirds, nesting and wheeling around the islands.

We return to the ship, where we are treated to a farewell dinner. We celebrate our last night on board, feeling sad and happy at the same time. Cocktails help!

The next day, we arrive back in Broome, where we say goodbye to our crew and our new friends. We have experienced the best of the Kimberley, and we have memories and photos to last a lifetime.

This was not your average cruise. It really surprised us. This was an expedition cruise, and we loved every minute of it. So, if you’re looking for a cruise that will blow your mind, not your budget, consider Coral Expeditions.

fact box

  1. Small Ship Cruising: Experience the intimacy and convenience of modern, small ships that can access places larger vessels cannot. With a maximum of 120 guests and a high crew–to–guest ratio, you’ll never have to queue or wait. The vessels are purpose built for the Kimberley with shallow draught, open deck spaces, shaded Xplorer tenders and spacious rooms with a view.
  2. Unique Experiences: Immerse yourself in the nature, history and culture of the Kimberley with expert guides, daily lectures, briefings, and documentaries. You’ll explore ancient rock art, witness spectacular waterfalls, encounter wildlife, and learn from the best in the business.
  3. High–Quality Cuisine: Enjoy fresh and delicious meals prepared by the chefs using Australian and local ingredients, catering to various dietary requirements. You’ll savour the flavours and the views, feeling very lucky
    and satisfied.
  4. All Australian Crew: Meet the friendly and professional crew, who are all Australian seafarers trained and employed by Coral Expeditions. They offer a pathway from entry level through to masters unlimited qualifications, making them unique within the Australian maritime industry.
  5. Reaching the farthest regions: Discover the Kimberley and beyond with Coral Expeditions, which offers over 100 expeditions each year to diverse and exotic destinations. You can choose from Tasmania, Cape York and Arnhem land, the wild islands of South Australia, PNG, Raja Ampat and the
    Spice Islands, New Zealand, Japan, and the Philippines.

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