Tradewind Charters offers a range of cruising options for exploring the pristine waters of the Kimberley Coast.

With its ancient rock formations, jaw-dropping gorges, and unique flora & fauna these are some of the sights you can expect to see on our expeditions.

Each tour is unique and unlike any other, with over 1000 islands to explore, visit secluded bays and inlets and bask in the serenity of this untouched paradise. This hands-on experience will be adventure-packed and loads of fun.

The MV Alfred Wallace is designed & built with a long-range expedition in mind to take you safely to untouched & remote regions.

Our experienced crew, in conjunction with local guides, aim to get everybody on board involved in every aspect of the adventure from swimming in freshwater rock pools, fishing, mud crabbing, oyster collecting, sightseeing indigenous rock art, beach walking, bushwalking, photography or just relaxing.

We endeavour to set the scene for a very memorable journey of discovery into a part of our country that is largely unknown to the majority.

Optimal Cruise Periods

Destinations

1. Broome 

Broome’s exotic pearling town past lies between one of the world’s last great wildernesses and the incredible Indian Ocean. In Broome you are on Yawuru country, a vast region with a rich history and a unique multi-cultural past. While in Broome you can participate in a traditional Welcome to Country with the Yawuru people, visit Streeter’s Jetty – an original jetty used by early Pearler’s, or enjoy watching the sunset hitting the cliffs at the radiant Reddell Beach.

2. Cygnet Bay Pearl Farm

Cygnet Bay Pearl Farm offers a unique opportunity to tour the first Australian owned and family run, fully operational pearl farm. Set in the pristine waters of the Kimberley Coast you will learn the secrets of the stunning ‘Broome Pearl’ and dine on fresh pearl meat in the restaurant. 

3. Cone Bay/Strickland Bay

Time to take in this fascinating historical site that showcases the early days of pearl farming on the Kimberley Coast. On Edeline Island lies the graves of early day pearl divers. Enjoy a swim, explore the graveyards and learn more about early European life on the Kimberley Coast.

4. Silica Beach

At 150m long, Silica Beach has room to move. With its azure blue, crystal clear water and pure white silica sand, it’s a welcome sight to just relax and enjoy the moment.  

5. Buccaneer Archipelago

More than 1000 islands make up the remote Buccaneer Archipelago – a drowned coastline of rugged sandstone islands, sparsely vegetated with patches of rainforest. We can pull into one of the secluded bays and you can while away the hours inspecting Aboriginal rock art in the caves, viewing tropical fish from aboard the MV Alfred Wallace or learning more about the wildlife that inhabit these tiny pieces of paradise.

6. Crocodile Creek

After a short tender ride along Crocodile Creek, we pass between towering quartz and sandstone cliffs to reach a crystal-clear billabong at the top of a small waterfall. You can cool down with a swim in the natural freshwater swimming hole, and hunt for black lipped oysters for dinner.    

7. Montgomery Reef

Situated between Camden Sound & Collier Bay and covering some 300 km2, Montgomery Reef is a natural wonder of the Kimberley Coast. At low tide the reef can be exposed by up to four meters. With the water cascading from the reef top, an abundant array of diverse marine life can be seen as we navigate the coral outcrop by tender. 

8. Horizontal Falls

No trip to the Kimberley Coast is complete without a visit to Horizontal Falls. ‘The Horries’ as the locals call it, is an incredible natural phenomenon that sees the surging coastal tide pressed between two narrow gorges creating incredible scenes. As part of your tour on the MV Alfred Wallace, you can enjoy an exhilarating speed boat ride through the falls. If you’d like to try something different, you may like to join the local third-party tour operator and experience swimming with sharks or a seaplane experience.

9. Doubtful Bay, Ruby Falls & Sale River

Here we explore the local area. A cruise along Sale River leads us to Ruby Falls, where you can experience a number of freshwater swimming holes and waterfalls and visit some of the Aboriginal rock art that adorns the cave walls of the region.

10. Raft Point

A short walk and climb up a natural watercourse leads to the top of the brilliant red sandstone bluff that houses the entrance to a cave of wonders. Raft Point is on Worrorra country. Here you can see for yourself the incredible Wandjina rock art and learn more about the Worrorra people. Once your tour is complete, we can fish for Barramundi and do a spot of crabbing for dinner.

11. Camden Harbour & Sheep Island 

Camden Harbour was the site of a failed 1864 pastoral settlement which cost the lives of nine early pioneers. Remnants of the settlement can still be found today. We will also go ashore at Sheep Island to visit the grave of Mary Jane Pascoe - one of the early settlers of the region. Camden Sound is also an important humpback whale nursery and great place to see these magnificent whales migrating past.  

12. Prince Regent River

Cruise up the picturesque Prince Regent river to the famous King Cascades. We can take a short walk to the natural waterhole for a swim, drink from the Cascades, and explore the area notorious for where model Ginger Meadows was taken by a crocodile in 1987.

13. Bigge Island

As the second largest island in the Bonaparte Archipelago, Bigge Island lives up to its name. Abundant with both Gwion Gwion (also known as ‘The Bradshaws’) and Wandjina rock art, depictions of sailing ships from early explorers can clearly been seen, along with another of a figure smoking a pipe! Truly worth a visit.  

14. Mitchell River

A short tender ride up the scenic Mitchell River leads to the four-tiered Mitchell Falls, here you can enjoy a relaxing swim in the freshwater pools, or you may like to join a local tour operator and experience the sights from the air. A visit to the Mitchell River is a great opportunity to try your hand at catching the Mitchell’s infamous Big Barra or Mud Crabs at the mouth of the river

15. Vansittart Bay

Visit the historic WW2 US DC-3 crash site that rests just behind the pristine white beaches. With numerous islands, beaches and coves dotting the area, you can also visit the incredible Wandjina rock art that dates back some 20,000 years.

16. Drysdale River

The third largest river system in the Kimberley region, a visit here is another fantastic opportunity for fishing, or to explore the natural beauty of the estuary systems and sandstone gorges. 

17. Glycosmis Falls

If time allows, we can visit this little known and visited waterfall. With its twin falls, sandstone cliffs, and Aboriginal rock art it’s worth a visit. Known as the little brother to King George Falls, a trip to Glycosmis Falls won’t be forgotten.

18. King George Falls

The most iconic waterfall in the Kimberley. As we pass through the towering red sandstone cliffs, we approach the 80m twin falls. Here we anchor for the night so you can enjoy the dramatic scenery at sunset. You can take a short walk to explore the clear pools above the falls and enjoy one of several freshwater swimming holes with their incomparable views down the River.

19. Berkeley River & Casuarina Falls

Across the sand bar and into the Berkeley River, we cruise upstream and take a short tender ride to Casuarina Falls. Here you can enjoy a refreshing swim and take in the abundant wildlife, you can even try your luck catching a Barra. 

20. Wyndham 

The northernmost town and seaport of Western Australia and the oldest town in the Kimberley’s. Wyndham is home to the Boab Prison Tree – an incredible specimen of Boab estimated to be between 2000 and 4000 years old. You can dine on fresh Barra at the Wyndham Town Hotel or take a *snap* with the Big Croc (don’t worry, it’s concrete!) at the entrance to town.

Itinerary Options

Dates and Prices

All trips are customisable, tailored to your needs.
We cater for 7, 9, 11 and 13 night Kimberley Coast adventures.
Get in contact with the crew at Tradewind Charters and tailor your very own Kimberley Coast Cruise.

We’d love to hear from you!

Talk to Simon and the Tradewind Charters Crew about your next unique Kimberley Coast Adventure.