The Absolute Kimberley Experience
14 nights
You will commence your Kimberley adventure by being collected either from the Broome Airport or your booked accommodation, or if departing from Wyndham, you will be collected from Kununurra Airport and transported by coach to join the MV Diversity II waiting peacefully at the Wyndham Jetty. Once aboard you will be shown your cabins and taken through a safety induction by your captain and crew before settling in to partake of a cold drink along with trays of appetisers to meet your fellow intrepid traveling companions, while your captain departs the jetty and your adventure begins. While you enjoy one of the Kimberley’s stunning sunsets, the MV Diversity II will steam out of Cambridge Gulf and travel overnight to Revelly Island and the mouth of the Berkeley River.
The Berkeley River is one of the many ochre tinted sandstone walled rivers on offer through out the Kimberley’s, You will travel between the sheer cliff grandeur of the Berkeley carved out of thousands of years. Don’t forget to look for the amazing birds of prey nesting hundreds of feet over you and enjoy the rivers unique beauty as we wind our way along this river to our favourite spot to drop anchor, unload the MV Diversity II's purpose built discovery dinghies and spend the day exploring the multitude of waterfalls, swimming holes and ancient escarpments this amazing river offers. For the fishing enthusiasts today is your first chance to bag a barramundi.
After an overnight steam you will awaken to your next Kimberley experience, the majesty of the King George River. You will be humbled by the sheer power of the twin falls at the very end of this stunning river, these waterfalls are the highest recorded falls in Western Australia and to enjoy them at the height of their awesome intensity it is best to book your trip in the earlier period of the Charter season when the “wet” has dumped an average of two metres of rain to create the sheer noise and power that no video or camera can adequately capture but will leave you with memories to last forever. For the intrepid adventurers it is well worth the trek to the top for a breathtaking vista of the river and immensity of this truly ancient landscape. Once at the top you can enjoy a well deserved swim in one of the cool upper safe fresh water swimming holes, your MV Diversity II crew will be on hand to assist you on your trek and have a cold drink waiting for you. It should be noted that this trek is fairly strenuous.
After leaving the awesome King George the MV Diversity II will sneak into Vansittart Bay to view the first of the famous Bradshaw Paintings, named after Joseph Bradshaw who was the first European to record these incredible rock paintings some of which have been dated at over 17,000 years old, and thought in some cases to predate the Wandijina figures. You will also have the opportunity to view the remains of a WW11, DC3 aircraft that crashed after running short of fuel before landing at Truscott Airbase, this airbase is still in use today. The remains of this aircraft are intact and make for great conversation. After leaving Vansittart Bay MV Diversity II will steam to the Mitchell River. Here you can either have the Diversity organise a helicopter flight to take in an aerial view of the Mitchell River and the truly breathtaking Mitchell falls, or you can try your luck at catching the elusive ‘barramundi’. A picnic lunch or afternoon tea will be held at the top of this trek with the opportunity to relax in a cool freshwater swimming hole before climbing back down to the dinghies and either relaxing on board the MV Diversity II swinging gently on her anchor or taking a further opportunity to fish.
From the Mitchell River you will head south to Bigge Island and exploring a deserted beach to find rare Aboriginal paintings depicting the ‘first fleet’ and a few ‘old timers’ keeping guard over these extraordinary paintings and Bigge Island. From here we keep moving through the Bonaparte Archipelago, named after Joseph Bonaparte, elder brother of the French Emperor, Napoleon 1 who explored the area in the early 1800’s, until we reach York Sound and the Hunter River with its entrance guarded by a rock form many folk think resembles the Egyptian Sphinx or an Indians Head. We think our guests may have used the sight created from a couple of ‘chardies’ in these descriptions but will leave it up to you to decide. The Hunter at this time of the day gives us the greatest opportunity to leave the boat and explore the wonders of this river and the tumultuous waterfall at its end. Along the way you may like to drop a net for delicious mud crabs for dinner or another chance at that ‘barra’.
From the Hunter River the MV Diversity II will continue moving south slowly passing Coronation Island and Careening Bay the site of the Boab tree where Australia’s best but least known Mariner Phillip Parker King carried his ship the Mermaid in 1820 to enable repairs before discovering the fabulous King Cascades in the Prince Regent River. MV Diversity II will drop anchor in this huge river and explore the area just as Phillip Parker King did all those years ago. Taking a walk along a freshwater rivers edge you will be able to spot a variety of water birds unique to the area as well as incredibly powerful birds of prey. Leaving the river edge you will climb a path leading you to a freshwater pool to view another beautiful waterfall and take a refreshing swim in the safe water hole it empties into. Back on board the MV Diversity II will as the tides allow it; make her way up to the majesty of the Kings Cascade and into a photographer’s paradise.
After leaving the mighty Prince Regent River we will continue South passing on the way the spiritual site of Langgi and the Petrified Warriors, a natural formation of carved sandstone pillars created from centuries of tidal movement. From Langgi we move on to Doubtful Bay, you will be able visit Raft point where after a scenic trek overlooking Steepe island view the awesome sight of a gallery of Aboriginal art that tells the visual story of an ancient race of water people that lived in the area approximately 1000 years and then disappeared without a trace. Doubtful Bay offers a myriad of activities from walks through a tropical rain forest, relaxing in freshwater pools, viewing another of the Kimberley’s stunning waterfalls or trying your luck for either tasty mud crabs or a fish for Dinner.
Just a short steam from Raft Point is a reef system called Montgomery Reef named after Phillip Parker Kings Surgeon on the Mermaid. We will drop anchor in a channel carved out of the reef by tidal activity over millions of years and watch the wonder of this huge reef platform rising out of the ocean with the water cascading into the channel. MV Diversity II's dinghies will take you to explore the channels and run offs, you will have the opportunity to spot Dugongs and turtles, on the outer side of the reef during their migratory season whales cruise the Kimberley Coast with their young looking for food and enjoying the warm waters.
From Montgomery Reef and Doubtful Bay we continue south passing the Kingfisher Islands and into Talbot Bay to witness the power of the truly astounding Horizontal Falls. The Kimberley region is world renowned for the quality of its Pearls and you will be able to view one of the pearl farms producing these natural gems when passing through Talbot Bay. When back in Broome there are many places to admire or even purchase one of the Kimberley regions Pearls.
After leaving Talbot Bay MV Diversity II heads past the Iron Islands, Cockatoo and Koolan Islands, which produce ore, that has the highest concentrate of iron in the world. Rumour has it that the quality is such that you can weld two pieces of ore together. Across from the mine site is a swimming hole developed by the mine decades ago called crocodile creek, the MV Diversity II will drop anchor so that you can explore the area and take a refreshing dip.
From here while you are enjoying your last Kimberley sunset on deck with good company, good food and your favourite liquid indulgence, the MV Diversity II will steam overnight into Broome to have you disembarking in time to catch connecting flights or to enable you to book into any reserved accommodation you may have organised, prior to your Diversity Charters adventure.
*This is only a suggested itinerary. Due to the vast tidal movements and remote terrain of the Kimberley region, Diversity Charters cannot guarantee that the itinerary will remain the same. However, during the time you spend with us you will experience many more spectacular places not listed on the itinerary. There will be plenty of opportunities to catch fresh fish for the table as well as land and sight seeing excursions to many untouched places. Scenic Helicopter flights available on request.
Diversity Charters supports Catch and Release Fishing and the Fishing for our Future concept.
You can also find out about our other charters by using the links below:
