Kimberley Coast (Western Australia)

Kimberley is the northernmost of 9 regions located in Western Australia. It covers a total area of approx 424 km2 (164 mi2), or about 3 times the size of England or twice that of Victoria. The region has population around 50,000, with approx 40% of the inhabitants being of Aboriginal descent. On the west, Kimberley Coast is bordered by the Indian Ocean, on the east - Northern Territory (NT), on the north - Timor Sea, and on the south - Great Sandy and Tanami deserts (in Pilbara).

The best time (high season) for Kimberley cruising vacations is April through October (dry season) when the temperatures range 82-93 F (28-34 C). The most popular cruisetour companies in the region include Silversea Expeditions, Ponant Cruises, Coral Expeditions, APT Kimberley Cruises (APT Touring), True North Adventure Cruises, Kimberley Pearl Charters, Ocean Dream Charters, The Great Escape Charter Company.

The region was named to honour John Wodehouse (1826-1902, First Earl of Kimberley), who served as Secretary of State for the Colonies in the periods 1870-1874 and 1880-1882. Kimberley consists of steep-sided northwest mountain ranges cut through with limestone and sandstone gorges and steep ridges from which much of the soil has been removed by extreme monsoonal climate. 

In local weather reports, North Kimberley Coast is WA Border to its Kuri Bay section, while West Kimberley Coast runs from Kuri Bay to Wallal Downs. Large sections of the coastline (from Broome to Wyndham) have no road access, and helicopters or boats are the only means of transportation. Because of its isolation, several tourist operations on the Kimberley coastline have been named wilderness areas. The varied and rugged sandstone landscape homes a distinctive mixture of wildlife. Kimberley has a diverse economy, the main contributors to which are tourism, mining, agriculture, retail shopping and pearling. Broome has a flourishing pearling industry operating along the Kimberley coast.

Off Kimberley Coast, there are 2500+ islands, most of which are inhabited by Aboriginal tribes but still designated as reserves. Some of the bigger-sized cruise ships navigating along the Kimberley Coast visit the small/4-island archipelago Lacepedes, located approx 120 km (75 mi) north of Broome.