Why Cruises Are a Great Way to Experience the Beauty of Australia's Remote North Coast

Imagine sitting on the deck of a luxury cruise ship anchored in a remote inlet miles from civilization.

The night is calm, warm and balmy and as you sip your wine and enjoy your freshly caught fish, you wonder: "Can cruises get any better than this?"

Truth is, they probably can't. Yet just a stone's throw from you is a pristine wilderness area with some of the most breathtaking natural wonders in the world.

A vast and ancient landscape.

This raw and ancient landscape is so vast and sparsely populated that some areas have never felt the footprint of man. A true remote wilderness that few Australians and even fewer overseas visitors have ever experienced.

This is why cruises around the Kimberley coast of Western Australia are so popular and it is this remoteness that makes it so appealing. If you are planning to visit these areas, chances are that you will share these beauty spots with few other visitors.

You will experience the spine tingling power of thundering, misty waterfalls, view ancient Aboriginal rock art, swim in champagne clear rocky pools and view from a safe distance huge salt water crocodiles.

One of the most spectacular sights is the King George Falls.

Imagine a waterfall so remote that it cannot be reached by road and is almost inaccessible by foot. It can only be reached by small cruise boats and helicopters. Yet it is one of the most majestic scenic wonders in Australia.

The King George Falls cascade from the Kimberley escarpment, down steep cathedral-like gorges to the crystalline waters below. The only people lucky enough to witness this pulse-raising sight at close quarters are those in cruise boats anchored in the King George River at the base of the falls.

These are the tallest falls in the Kimberley, dropping about 80m from the plateau to the river below. Normally boats can cruise right up to the base of the falls, with the passengers taking a shower from the tumbling water.

However at the end of the wet season in April and early May, particularly if it had been a very rainy wet, the water under the falls is usually too turbulent for the boats to get close.

At this time of the year the falls may almost disappear behind a shroud of spray and mist. One cruise boat passenger described the experience:

"We were cruising up the King George River from the sea. We experienced the almost overpowering force of huge rock walls enclosing us like giant hands. As we approached the falls we heard a rumble like distant thunder. Rounding a bend in the river, the sight that greeted us took our breath away.

Partly hidden behind the Niagara-like mist were these 2 huge waterfalls. It was a magic moment I will never forget and we all felt very privileged to view a natural wonder shared by so few."

How to view the King George Falls.

A number of small cruise ships visit this spectacular spot as part of their cruises around the north west coast from Broome to Wyndham from March to October.

A popular luxury cruise is conducted by North Star Cruises on their vessel, True North. An on board helicopter enables passengers to view the falls from the air as well as the base of the falls.

Luxury wilderness retreat.

Another very popular option is to spend a few days at Faraway Bay Wilderness Lodge. This beautiful spot is one of the most isolated luxury retreats in the world and can only be reached by light aircraft from the nearest town, Kununurra.

If you visit this retreat you will experience the feeling of true isolation. The aircraft from Kununurra will fly over the falls to enable you experience this amazing sight.

You will also have the opportunity to visit the falls by boat. It is just a short trip from Faraway Bay and owners Bruce and Margaret Ellison conduct regular cruises to the base of the falls.

Seed Newsvine

Bookmark this article in your preferred program

Comments

Add Comment

Popular Articles in this cathegory

This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 License.