Kimberley Coast Cruise Port
Kimberley Coast, Australia · Pacific
Cruise ships anchor offshore in Kimberley Coast — tenders ferry passengers to the port.
Plan my port daysA remote expedition coast, not a port: no town, no dock and no roads. Large ships cruise offshore; expedition ships run included Zodiac outings to waterfalls, reefs and rock art sites.
At a glance
Port summary
The Kimberley Coast stretches roughly 1,000 km between Broome and Wyndham in far north Western Australia. There is no town, no cruise berth, no road access and no mobile coverage along most of it. How you experience it depends entirely on your ship. On large ships such as Princess or Holland America, a "Kimberley Coast" day is scenic cruising: the ship sails along the coast or past the islands and nobody goes ashore. Bring binoculars and find a shady spot on deck; whales are often seen in Camden Sound from July to September. On small expedition ships (Seabourn Pursuit, Ponant, Silversea, Coral Expeditions, Heritage Expeditions and the local Kimberley operators) the ship anchors at a different site each day and the expedition team takes everyone out by Zodiac. Typical highlights are King George Falls, the crocodile creeks of the Hunter River, Montgomery Reef emerging at low tide, the Horizontal Falls in Talbot Bay, and Wandjina and Gwion Gwion rock art at Raft Point, Freshwater Cove and Vansittart Bay. These outings are included in the fare and run on the tide, so the daily programme is only confirmed the evening before. The one common paid extra is a helicopter flight to Mitchell Falls from the Hunter River anchorage (Seabourn lists it from US$795). Book it on board early: seats are limited and flights are weather-dependent. There is nothing to do independently here. Saltwater crocodiles live in the rivers, creeks and along the beaches, so never swim unless your expedition team says a spot is safe. The cruise season runs from about March to October, during the dry season.
Cruise dock
Expedition anchorages — Zodiac landings (site varies daily)
There is no dock on the Kimberley Coast. Expedition ships anchor at a different site each day (pin: Prince Frederick Harbour, at the Hunter River mouth) and land passengers by Zodiac; large ships scenic-cruise offshore.
Latitude: -15.04693, Longitude: 125.28997
See dock on port map →Getting to Kimberley Coast
From the cruise terminal to the city centre
Expedition ships run all landings and river cruises by Zodiac. Expect wet or rock landings; wear sturdy sandals or reef shoes and keep a dry bag for your camera.
Zodiacs leave from the ship's marina platform or side gate; the expedition team calls groups in turn.
Optional helicopter flight to Mitchell Falls, sold on board by expedition lines. Seats are limited, weight limits apply and flights are cancelled in bad weather.
A Zodiac takes you from the ship to the helicopter pad near the Hunter River anchorage.
Map & things to do
Money & payments
You do not need cash or cards ashore. If a community art visit is on the programme, ask the expedition team how payment works.
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Frequently asked questions
- Where does my cruise ship dock in Kimberley Coast?
- Kimberley Coast is a tender port: your ship anchors offshore and passengers transfer to shore by small boat.
- Can I walk from the cruise port into Kimberley Coast?
- Walking into Kimberley Coast from the cruise port isn't practical. Plan to use a shuttle, taxi, or public transport.
- How do I get from the cruise port to Kimberley Coast centre?
- Typical options include Other transport. Durations and costs are listed in the transport section above.
- How much time do I need in Kimberley Coast?
- Plan for at least 2 hours ashore to see Kimberley Coast independently and return to the ship with a safe buffer.
- What currency is used in Kimberley Coast and are cards accepted?
- Kimberley Coast uses the Australian Dollar. Carry some cash for markets, taxis, and smaller vendors — cards aren't accepted everywhere.
- Is there Wi-Fi at the cruise port?
- Wi-Fi isn't reliably available at the Kimberley Coast cruise terminal. Consider a local SIM or your cruise line's data package.
- When should I be back at the ship?
- Cruise lines usually require all passengers on board about 30 minutes before scheduled departure. Confirm the exact all-aboard time on your daily programme.
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