I specialise in expedition cruising, especially to the Kimberley and nothing makes me happier than helping people tick off their bucket list travel dreams.
And of course that’s how I earn a living.
But that doesn’t mean I book every cruise for every person. In fact, sometimes the best advice I can give is not to book.
Recently I was chatting with a client who was keen to book a Kimberley cruise this August (2024). It was a very good deal and they wanted to book it there and then.
I was discussing the logistics of flights and hotels to work around the cruise when I realised that my customer’s number one priority was seeing the Kimberley waterfalls at their most spectacular. It became clear that this was the aspect of the trip that she was most looking forward to.
But here’s the thing: the Kimberley waterfalls are highly seasonal. This “deal” cruise was scheduled for late in the cruise season when many of the waterfalls are somewhat subdued.
The Kimberley is stunning all year-round but due to the tropical nature of far North West WA the cruise season runs from late March at the earliest to around late September. (Outside of that period the weather is too unpredictable to travel.)
Even during the cruise season the experience changes depending on when you go. I have written a more detailed breakdown of the different Kimberley cruise seasons here.
Now personally I think August is a great time to cruise the Kimberley. One of my favourite sites is the picturesque waterfall King Cascade located on the Prince Regent River. I think this gorgeous place looks better later in the season when the terraced rocks are clearly visible under the cascading water. Two other famous Kimberley icons, the Horizontal Falls and Montgomery Reef, are tidal phenomena so unrelated to rainfall.
But King George Falls and (subject to a helicopter visit) Mitchell Falls are definitely more spectacular during the early cruise months of April and May. And of course there are scores of little waterfalls throughout the area that do look great after the rains.
I had to honestly voice my opinion to this lady that if seeing gushing waterfalls was a priority then she should wait for another deal that meant she could travel in April or May.
Even with a special deal a Kimberley expedition cruise is not going to be cheap . If your heart is set on those cascading waterfalls, booking a late season cruise might leave you disappointed.
We are expedition cruise experts and we pride ourselves on helping you find the perfect journey at the ideal time. We’ll consider your interests, budget, and the unique characteristics of each vessel and in this instance, the specific period of travel, to ensure you have the adventure of a lifetime.
We ask a lot of questions and we will tell you straight up if we feel a specific vessel, itinerary or departure date is not for you.
About Jenny
I’m an expert in small ship cruising in the Kimberley and have completed four cruises on different vessels along this spectacular coastline. With a family I now work part-time so if you would like to have a chat with me about Kimberley cruising at a time that suits you book in a call here and I will call you then.
Cruises in the Kimberley are not ‘one size fits all’ scenario; there are different ships and itineraries each offering their own special elements. If you would like some general information to start your research then download my free guide to Kimberley cruising here. I have also written some really interesting blogs (if I do say so myself) click here to have read.
Here are a few of the most popular ones.