Kimberley Expedition: Waterfalls & Wandjinas

Darwin, the vibrant capital of Australia's Northern Territory, is home to approximately 150,000 people, making it the region's most populous city. Known for its tropical climate with distinct wet and dry seasons, Darwin boasts a rich multicultural community where Indigenous heritage intersects with influences from international cultures. The city has a fascinating history, dating to September 9, 1839, when HMS Beagle entered its harbor during a survey. The area was named "Port Darwin" in honor of Charles Darwin by John Clements Wickham, a former shipmate. Over time, Darwin has been resiliently rebuilt four times due to cyclones and World War II air raids, showcasing its enduring spirit and unique cultural and historical significance.

Spend your day at sea enjoying the many facilities available.

Explore the King George Falls, the two highest twin waterfalls in Australia, at 80m/250ft in height. The river was named in 1911 by explorer Charles Conigrave after a privately funded expedition in the area. The river is named in honor of King George V. This incredible sandstone gorge is a highlight of any Kimberley Expedition.

INCLUDED EXPEDITION--NO BOOKING REQUIRED*

Zodiac Tour
Join the expedition team as you leave the anchorage position in Koolama Bay and head into the entrance of the King George River and the falls. The 10 nautical mile Zodiac expedition takes you through a winding sandstone gorge, with incredible honeycomb and vertical erosion. Keep a lookout for Saltwater crocodiles, sleeping on the banks of the river. A wide variety of birdlife can also be pointed out by your Zodiac driver/naturalist. The highlight is of course, the King George Falls, the two highest twin waterfalls in Australia at 80m/250ft in height. Depending on conditions, you hope to get the Zodiacs close to the waterfalls for a refreshing spray to cool you down. This zodiac tour really is one of the highlights of the Kimberley region and a wonder of nature.

*Please note this expedition experience is exclusively available on the expedition ships, Seabourn Venture or Seabourn Pursuit. All shore excursions shared here are subject to availability and are weather and conditions permitting.

Vansittart Bay is a small, remote bay of about 30k m², synonymous with the Truscott air base that was operational during the Second World War. The bay features beaches and aircraft wrecks, but the reason for your visit is the Gwion Gwion or Bradshaw art found on Jar Island. Jar Island was named after an early survey team that found clay jars on the island. These jars were the same type as those used by the Macassans, who would travel down from (what is today known as) Indonesia to the top end of Australia in search of sea cucumbers.

According to Aboriginal legend, the art was created by birds. It was said that these birds pecked the rocks until their beaks bled, and then they created these fine paintings using a tail feather and their blood. The bird said the responsible was known as Gwion. The Gwion Gwion art is often called Bradshaw art after Joseph Bradshaw, the first European person to record the painting style in 1891.

INCLUDED EXPEDITION--NO BOOKING REQUIRED*

Zodiac Landing on Jar Island:
This morning you head out with the expedition team to explore the uninhabited Jar Island. From the ship's anchorage position, a short Zodiac ride brings you ashore for a wet landing onto a perfectly white sandy beach. Once ashore, a short walk of about 250m/750ft along a flat sandy beach and then on to flat rocks brings you to the base of the rock art gallery that depicts the Bradshaw or Gwion Gwion art. After a short scramble over some rocks, you are at the gallery itself, enjoying a rare glimpse into a fascinating part of history along with a vivid interpretation by the expedition team.

*Please note this expedition experience is exclusively available on the expedition ships, Seabourn Venture or Seabourn Pursuit. All shore excursions shared here are subject to availability and are weather and conditions permitting.

Ashmore Reef Marine Park is an Australian marine park that covers the Ashmore Reef, located about 630 km (390 mi) north of Broome and 110 km (68 mi) south of the Indonesian Islands of Rote. The marine park covers an area of 583 km² (225 sq mi). It is one of 13 parks managed under the North West Marine Network.

The marine park comprises several marine habitats, including seagrass meadows, intertidal sand flats, coral reef flats, and lagoons. It supports a significant and diverse range of species, including 14 species of sea snakes, a population of dugongs that may be genetically distinct, a diverse marine invertebrate fauna, and many endemic species, especially sea snakes and mollusks. There are feeding and nesting sites for loggerhead, hawksbill, and green turtles.

INCLUDED EXPEDITION--NO BOOKING REQUIRED*

Snorkeling

*Please note this expedition experience is exclusively available on the expedition ships, Seabourn Venture or Seabourn Pursuit. All shore excursions shared here are subject to availability and are weather and conditions permitting.

The Hunter River was named in 1820 by the explorer Philip Parker King aboard the Mermaid Cutter while making charts in the area. The river was named after the surgeon on Mermaid, James Hunter. The river is home to a large mangrove estuary that forms part of Porosus Creek (Crocodile Creek) and several bird species, Osprey, Brahminy Kite, and White-tailed Sea eagles.

Mitchell River National Park is one of Kimberley's two national parks. The park lies in some of Australia's most remote and inaccessible countries. It is about 350 km north-east of Derby and 270 km north-west of Wyndham. The park of 115,300 hectares lies in a remote part of the Kimberley and contains some of the region's scenic jewels. The Mitchell Plateau is one of the most picturesque and biologically important areas of the State. Small patches of rainforest grow around the margins of the plateau, where they are protected from fire and receive additional moisture.

INCLUDED EXPEDITION--NO BOOKING REQUIRED*

Zodiac Cruise
Leaving the ship from its anchorage position, you start the Zodiac tour of Hunter River, passing first Naturalist Island and then Indian Head. (a sandstone headland depicting the head of an Indian) You then start to enter the mouth of the Hunter River. Near the end of Hunter River, you turn left down Porosus Creek, named aptly after the many saltwater crocodiles that call the area home. Depending on the tide, you have the opportunity to head into the mangroves and explore this unique environment, coupled with a detailed interpretation of the area. Keep a lookout, as sightings of saltwater crocodiles, osprey, White Bellied Sea Eagles, and Brahminy Kites are quite common. This is a magnificent Zodiac cruise showcasing one of the Kimberley highlights.

*Please note this expedition experience is exclusively available on the expedition ships, Seabourn Venture or Seabourn Pursuit. All shore excursions shared here are subject to availability and are weather and conditions permitting.

Kuri Bay, situated on the remote northwestern coast of Western Australia, is a place of pristine and untouched wilderness. This secluded bay is renowned for its rugged, untouched beauty, where ancient red cliffs meet the turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean. The bay's waters are rich in pearls, earning it a unique place in the world as a hub for the South Sea pearl industry. Its pearling history dates back to the late 19th century; today, it is a remote outpost that offers a glimpse into this lustrous past, with the spectacular Kimberley region as its backdrop.

INCLUDED SHORE EXCURSION

Kuri Bay Pearl Farm
Offering an intriguing and unique glimpse into the South Sea Pearl industry, guests hear directly from the farmers about the entire process. Travel to and from the ship by Zodiac, where your expedition team points out Tawny Nurse Sharks in the crystal-clear waters below you.

Wiggingarra Butt Butt (Freshwater Cove) lies on the mainland adjacent to Montgomery Reef. Named appropriately, as fresh water pours from out the ground all year round, making this an ideal area for a traditional camp. 

The area is managed in partnership with the Damibmangari traditional owners, who have strong cultural connections to the Lalang-garram / Camden Sound Marine Park and Montgomery Islands.

Montgomery Reef is a reef off the Kimberley coast of Western Australia. It is situated at the southwestern end of Camden Sound and surrounds Yawajaba (Montgomery) Island. With its total area of 400 square kilometers (154 sq mi), it is the world's largest inshore reef. The reef and island were named by Philip Parker King, the first European to sight the island, aboard the HMS Mermaid while exploring the area in 1818. King named the island after the ship's surgeon, Andrew Montgomery.  When the tide is out, vast lagoons, sandstone islets, and a central mangrove island are revealed. The outward movement of the tide forms a torrent of water, creating a river cutting through the reef and hundreds of cascading waterfalls. At low tide, more than 4 meters (13 ft) of reef can be exposed.

While the tide is going out, the waterfalls attract migratory wading birds, feeding turtles, manta rays, black tipped reef sharks, and dugongs. 

EXPEDITION SHORE EXCURSION:

Zodiac Cruise

Arriving on high tide, you leave the ship and head out by Zodiac to the edge of  Montgomery reef. As soon as the tide drops it exposes the “river” a narrow channel you explore by Zodiac. You witness torrent water and endless cascading waterfalls. As the water drops further, the reef is exposed, and fish are trapped on the reef and in pools. They brings in an array of birdlife. Keep a look out for the white and grey morph eastern reef egret, ospreys, white bellied sea eagles, and the beach thick knee. In the water you hope to see dugongs, stokes sea snake, tawny nurse sharks and hammerhead sharks. When the tide is out, many turtles are concentrated into the "river", and over a few hours one can see dozens and dozens of them. They are often found both in the water and stranded on the reef.

Talbot Bay is the site of the Horizontal Waterfalls, which lie about 20 miles east of Cockatoo Island in the Buccaneer Archipelago. The effect of the waterfalls is created by the rapid tidal fall on the ocean side of gaps in the sandstone cliffs. Waters on the inland side of the gaps cannot escape fast enough, so a ‘’horizontal waterfall’’ is created by the cascades, with water levels sometimes differing by several meters on either side of the gaps. The gaps were once layers of siltstone in the strata of the sedimentary rock. Through these gaps, tide movements push seawater to create Horizontal Waterfalls.

The Lacepede Islands are a remote and pristine region located in the Kimberley region of Western Australia. It is renowned for its stunning natural beauty and abundant wildlife. The islands feature rugged coastlines, white sandy beaches, and crystal-clear waters, making it a haven for nature enthusiasts and birdwatchers. The Lacepede Islands are particularly famous for nesting seabirds, including the brown booby and the roseate tern. The islands are also important for marine life, with coral reefs and diverse fish species in its surrounding waters. Visitors can enjoy snorkeling, wildlife observation, and the untouched wilderness of this isolated and unspoiled island group. It offers a unique opportunity to experience the unspoiled beauty of the Kimberley coastline.

After breakfast, disembark in Broome.