Experience the ultimate Kimberley cruise adventure from New Zealand. Explore Australia's remote Kimberley region on a luxury expedition cruise through ancient landscapes, rugged coastlines, towering gorges and pristine wilderness. Discover world class natural attractions, unique wildlife and Aboriginal cultural heritage as you journey through one of Australia's most spectacular and untouched destinations
The Kimberley
Discover the wild beauty of Australia's Kimberley region, where ancient landscapes, dramatic coastlines and rich cultural heritage come together
What to See in The Kimberley
Horizontal Falls
Experience the powerful tidal currents rushing through narrow coastal gorges, creating one of the Kimberley's most iconic natural wonders
Horizontal Falls_ Jeff Leckey June 25
Mitchell Falls (Punamii-unpuu)
Discover the breathtaking four tiered waterfall surrounded by ancient Aboriginal rock art and rugged wilderness
Mitchell Falls_Jeff Leckey June 25
King George Falls
Cruise through the towering sandstone cliffs to witness Western Australia's highest twin waterfalls
King George Falls Jeff Leckey June 25
Montgomery Reef
Watch the reef appear to rise from the ocean as massive tides drain away, revealing lagoons, coral reefs and amazing marine and bird life
Montgomery Reef Jeff Leckey June 25
Ancient Aboriginal rock art
Discover some of the world's oldest living cultural traditions through guided visits to significant ancient rock art sites
The Kimberley
Lacepedes Islands
A remote chain of coral islands off the Kimberley coast, renowned as a sanctuary for a huge range of seabirds, green turtles and of course the odd crocodile. This truly is an incredible experience as you explore the lagoons by zodiac
Lacepdes Islands Jeff Leckey June 25
How do you get to the Kimberley from New Zealand?
Our Founder Jeff Leckey cruised in the Kimberley last year, so we asked him what is the best way to get there from New Zealand? Jeff advises, the easiest way is to fly from NZ to Darwin, there are good air options via Brisbane and Sydney. We chose Darwin as it is an easier starting point with more flight options, lots of hotel choices and the opportunity to add on a visit to Kakadu National Park. If you decide to start in Broome then there are flight options from NZ via Perth which work well. If starting your Kimberley cruise in Broome, Jeff advises it is essential to book your pre cruise accommodation very early as options are limited
Best time to visit The Kimberley according to our founder & cruise specialist Jeff Leckey
April - June
We love this time of year as it is the beginning of the dry season but the waterfalls are still usually at their best. The humidity is relatively low so it is also the perfect temperature as you spend a lot of time outdoors in the open zodiacs
July - August
This is the peak season, you can expect warm days and higher humidity. It is also the start of the whale migration so you may be lucky enough to spot them on your cruise
September - October
Days are still warm and as you are coming to the end of the season there are fewer visitors and still excellent conditions for exploration and marine encounters
Frequently Asked Questions about Kimberley Cruises
We prefer to start in Darwin as it has better air connections from New Zealand and also a wider range of pre-cruise hotel options. Also great to add on a pre-Kimberley trip to Kakadu
Large cruise ships will often do a scenic sail past the Kimberley coast and may offer a stop at Kuri Bay, but they are not able to navigate the narrow rivers and back waters of the Kimberley. For the best experience we recommend an Expedition cruise, as then you will get to explore deeper into this amazing region
We saw amazing birdlife, estuarine crocodiles, turtles, rock wallabies, dolphin, sharks and insects like Dragon Flies and Colourful butterflies. It will vary by season but there is no shortage of things to see
Yes, when you book an Expedition cruise, your excursions off the ship are included and are usually in a zodiac style boat. We cruised with Coral Expeditions who operate their own unique covered Explora vessels
Yes, an expedition cruise appeals more to travellers who like to experience the wilderness and are active adventurers, rather than a traditional cruise passenger. This is more about the destination than the facilities onboard the ship, so it is perfect for first time cruisers
The most popular Kimberley cruise duration is around 10 nights and operates between Darwin and Broome. There are occasionally longer 14 -18 night options, that may also visit the Abrolhos Islands
Yes, this is one destination where you need to book early as Expedition ships are small so sell out far in advance. Try and lock in your flights early as well, up to a year ahead, as Darwin and Broome airfares get very high the closer you get to departure and there are rarely any flight specials to these destinations
Important Note re Expeditions in the Kimberley
Indicative prices shown are for cruise only with most expedition brands including all your shore excursions by zodiac style boats. Note there are some optional extras, like the optional helicopter scenic flight to Montgomery Falls you will want to budget for. Please submit a request for your preferred date and our team will check the best available current pricing for you.