Sandstone cliffs and crocodiles: Why you should go to this remote Australia region

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Shortly after 6 a.m., the Zodiac boat pulled away from the cruise ship with the sunrise at our backs.

I was on an expedition through Australia’s Kimberley region with Seabourn, and we were up early to visit Montgomery Reef. After about 15 minutes, a structure came into view like a black sand beach suspended in the open ocean.

As we got closer, I could see the white foam of water rushing off its surface, disappearing into blue ripples. Birds perched on craggy landings, presumably in search of fish and crustaceans that get trapped in pools on the top of the reef platform. Our guide slowed the Zodiac down so we could take in the white noise of the rapids.

Just a few hours later, none of that may have been visible: the reef is exposed when tides drop below about four meters – roughly 13 feet – before being submerged again as they rise. I’d say that was worth setting my alarm for 5 a.m.

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Each day of the June itinerary aboard the Seabourn Pursuit was filled with something dazzling.

“It's an incredible destination where several things happen that don't happen anywhere else in the world,” Robin West, Vice President and General Manager, Expeditions for Seabourn, told USA TODAY on board. “I think in the spirit of expedition, that's really what a product should deliver.”

More internationally-known expedition cruise operators have added the sparsely-populated area to their books, with new offerings for those looking for rugged landscapes, distinct plant and animal life and a true off-the-grid feel.

There were at least eight cruise operators sailing in the region in 2024, Travel Weekly reported, including newcomers Seabourn and Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours. The Port of Broome – a key departure and arrival point for Kimberley itineraries – welcomed 74 cruise ship calls in the 2023-2024 fiscal year, up from 53 the prior year after cruising resumed in the wake of COVID-19, Tourism Western Australia told USA TODAY in an email.

The port is expecting 82 calls in the 2024-2025 fiscal year.

Here are five things to know about the Kimberley.

There are striking natural phenomena all over

From the moment my flight landed at my embarkation point in Broome, Western Australia – its airport a short distance from the coast and surrounded by reddish soil – the Kimberley offered scenery unlike any I’ve seen.

That included King George Falls, twin 100-meter (about 328 feet) waterfalls that cascade over towering sandstone cliffs, where we took a Zodiac cruise one afternoon. Another day, we walked along a sandbank that looked like a piece of desert had gotten lost and wandered off into the ocean.

At the Paspaley pearl farm in Kuri Bay, we took a tour along a boab-tree-lined path that ended with a pearl meat tasting.

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Wildlife sightings were plentiful, too.

One day, as we explored Whirlpool Pass near Hidden Island by Zodiac, a white-bellied sea eagle flew overhead. We weren’t close enough to hear the bird, but one of the guides imitated its call (a hoarse kind of honk). On another occasion, we spotted at least six saltwater crocodiles lounging on mudbanks and swimming in Hunter River and Porosus Creek.

And make time for the sunrises and sunsets, which set the uncluttered horizon ablaze in mesmerizing shades of orange.

How far is the Kimberley?

The Kimberley is far from major population centers, and U.S. travelers planning to visit have a long trek in front of them.

From my home in Nashville, that consisted of a more than four-and-a-half hour flight to Los Angeles, followed by a roughly 15-hour flight to Sydney. After an overnight stay, it took a final five-or-so-hour flight to Broome to finally board the ship.

The remoteness makes for a special experience. One night after dinner, my boyfriend and I walked across an open portion of Pursuit's ninth deck toward the Constellation Lounge. We lingered outside to take in the brightness of the stars and realized we were looking at the Milky Way.

Tourists can also explore the region on land, but doing so by ship offers a unique vantage point.

“It's interesting because people in Australia are very familiar with the Kimberley, but they’re not very familiar with the Kimberley coast,” said Kieran Buckley, an onboard lecturer and naturalist. “Everywhere we've been on this voyage so far, you cannot access by road.”

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When can I visit the Kimberley?

The region has a tropical monsoon climate with a dry and wet season.

Expedition cruises can generally operate from April through September or October, though the humidity can still be “very, very” high early and late in that period, according to Buckley.

“The middle of the season … is the most tolerable for people to come here as far as the ‘sog factor,’ is what I call it.”

It’s a cultural destination, too

Around 35,100 people reside in the Kimberley, nearly half of whom identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander, according to Australian census data.

Seabourn has been working for years to develop relationships with Traditional Owners in the region. The term refers to Indigenous people whose ancestors have a connection to an area of land.

“My experience was (that) this is described as a wilderness area, but actually it's not because people live here,” said Michael Mihajlov, Director of Destination Management at Carnival Australia. Seabourn is part of Carnival Corp.

After our visit to Montgomery Reef, we transited to Freshwater Cove on day five – or Wijingarra Butt Butt – in Dambimangari Country for a hike, and a local guide shared stories about ancient rock art.

The Wunambal Gaambera Traditional Owners also served as the godparents of Pursuit. Seabourn has made a roughly $150,000 AUD (around $97,417.50 USD) contribution to support the development of tourism facilities and products for them to live in the country – from which families were displaced – in the dry season. The line also gave additional funds for art supplies.

Catherine Goonack, Chair of Wunambal Gaambera Aboriginal Corporation, said in a July news release shortly after the ship’s christening that it was “good to see our people working on Country and sharing our unique culture in the right way.”

“Living and working on Country is important for us,” she added. “When we are living and speaking language on Country, we are healthy.”

How much does a Kimberley cruise cost?

Prices vary by sailing date, cabin category and other factors, but a 10-day Kimberley expedition with Seabourn departing from Broome on July 6, 2026, currently starts at $11,179 per person based on double occupancy. The fare includes meals, wines and spirits, Wi-Fi and more.

That price does not include hotels or flights, but passengers can book both through Seabourn at additional costs.

For those willing to make the journey, the region offers a rare type of adventure. “You know, there's absolutely no infrastructure up here,” West said. “We're on our own, and we have the expedition team to deliver a true expedition experience in terms of exploring places that people haven't been to before.”

The reporter on this story received access to this event from Seabourn. USA TODAY maintains editorial control of content. 

Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at ndiller@usatoday.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Kimberley expedition cruise: What to know about the Australia region