THE KIMBERLEY COAST
King George River & Falls
Australia's tallest twin waterfalls, where ochre gorges soar above glassy waters, and ancient stories echo through the Kimberley wilderness.
Far north Kimberley
Through a sixteen-kilometre sandstone gorge
Australia's tallest twin waterfalls, where ochre gorges soar above glassy waters and ancient stories echo through the Kimberley wilderness.
Carving through the dramatic Kimberley landscape, the King George River snakes through a sixteen-kilometre gorge of sheer sandstone cliffs leading to Australia's tallest twin waterfalls. Tumbling more than 80 metres into the tidal river below, King George Falls is best experienced on an expedition cruise, where small Zodiacs sail into the mist at the base of the falls and helicopters fly high above, revealing a scale no photograph can truly capture.
WHERE ANCIENT WATERS MEET THE SEA
Breathtaking destinations you’ll visit nearby
This stretch of the far northern Kimberley coast is dotted with hidden bays, shipwrecks, and rock art galleries dating back tens of thousands of years. Each landing tells a unique story, from the roar of cascading waterfalls to the mystery of a WWII wreck site. Every stop reveals another layer of this ancient, largely inaccessible coastline.
Koolama Bay
This stretch of the far northern Kimberley coast is dotted with hidden bays, shipwrecks, and rock art galleries dating back tens of thousands of years. Each landing tells a unique story, from the roar of cascading waterfalls to the mystery of a WWII wreck site. Every stop reveals another layer of this ancient, largely inaccessible coastline.
Koolama Bay
This stretch of the far northern Kimberley coast is dotted with hidden bays, shipwrecks, and rock art galleries dating back tens of thousands of years. Each landing tells a unique story, from the roar of cascading waterfalls to the mystery of a WWII wreck site. Every stop reveals another layer of this ancient, largely inaccessible coastline.
Access
Why King George River is best experienced by cruise
Few Kimberley experiences rival gliding beneath the thunderous curtains of King George Falls at the peak of the wet season when the cascades are at their roaring apex. Cruising the gorge at dawn, when the ancient ochre cliffs blaze red and gold from the rising sun, offers an adventure on a monumental scale that few travellers ever reach. Designed for those seeking Australia's ultimate remote wilderness, expeditions aboard Zodiac tenders take you right into the spray of the country's tallest twin waterfalls, past sheer sandstone walls and secluded freshwater pools, revealing a pristine landscape steeped in traditional Balanggarra culture.
Season by season
Witness the drama of the seasons changing
Expedition cruises sail the Kimberley Coast during the dry season from March to October, bringing safe access, dramatic waterfalls, and clear skies. While the season is dry, the falls throughout certainly are not.
The wet season has come to an end, but runoff from late storms means the falls are at their most powerful, surrounded by lush, green gorges and lingering humidity.
Destination essentials
Your Questions, Answered
Everything you need to know about visiting King George River & Falls, from peak flow seasons and gorge heights to crocodile safety and access details for your expedition.
A formal survey puts the sheer dual-drop descent at 38 to 40 metres. Most operators quote 80 to 100 metres, almost certainly measuring the full gorge wall rather than the waterfall alone. Both are defensible; they are answering different questions.
It was known as Rulhieres Bay until 1942, when the merchant vessel MV Koolama was bombed by Japanese aircraft nearby and deliberately beached in the bay to stop it sinking. It has carried the ship's name since.
From around December to May, fed by the wet season. Flow reduces through the dry season and can be a trickle by September.
By tender up the tidal gorge from an expedition ship, timed to the tide for the closest approach, or by scenic flight. There is no road access, and no way to reach the gorge independently.
No. The tidal gorge carries the same saltwater crocodile population as the rest of the Kimberley coast, and swimming is not permitted.
Talk with a Specialist
Plan Your Kimberley Journey
Consult with our expedition specialists to tailor your voyage, matching your preferred style, vessel comfort, and itinerary.
EXPLORE THE KIMBERLEY
Other Kimberley Destinations to Discover
From ancient sandstone gorges and roaring waterfalls to remote island archipelagos, explore the iconic landscapes that define the Kimberley coast.
Expeditions & itineraries
