Cruising vs driving the Kimberley Coast: Two very different ways to see one of the last great wildernesses on Earth

The Kimberley is nearly twice the size of Victoria, but with fewer than 40,000 people spread across it. Its coastline is a maze of drowned river valleys, sandstone gorges, islands and tidal flats, hit by some of the biggest tides in the Southern Hemisphere. 

The big question for most visitors is how to see it. Do you cruise the coast, or tackle it by land? 

Cruising the Kimberley by luxury ship

Most of the Kimberley's coastline has no road access at all. By travelling on the water, you can explore places that overland travellers simply can't reach.

Access the unreachable 

Small expedition ships, their tenders and Zodiacs reach remote sites across the Kimberley with no road access: Montgomery Reef, King George Falls, the Prince Regent River, the Buccaneer Archipelago and Wandjina rock art on islands like Bigge Island.

From water level, you’ll feel the rush of the Kimberley’s pounding waterfalls, see into the clear waters at the shallow reefs below and spot wildlife sunning on banks while humpbacks breach out in the open water.

Comfort comes first

The waters along the Kimberley coast tend to be calm, especially once inside secluded bays and upstream on the area’s rivers. The same can’t be said about the limited road access to the region.

At sea, there are no rough, corrugated roads, no unscheduled tyre changes and no camp setups, which suits travellers who want to experience the Kimberley’s rugged wilderness without the hard slog.

Having a private cabin on an expedition ship means you not only travel in luxurious comfort, but you unpack just once. The ship does the travelling overnight while you sleep, allowing you to wake up somewhere new each day.

Not just an expedition, but an education

Expedition cruises can carry many more passengers than tour buses, allowing luxury lines like Ponant, Silversea and Scenic to add topical experts to their crew alongside the chefs, stewards and butlers needed to make the expeditions run.

You’ll typically find teams of naturalists, geologists and often Indigenous guides aboard, which adds depth to every landing. While on the ship, educational lectures about the landscape and its people are available for those looking to learn more about the Kimberley’s fascinating past and present.

Exploring the Kimberley by land

Driving gives you freedom to stop and go as you please, but only if you’re in your own vehicle. Tours, whether budget-friendly or comfortably five-star, stick to itineraries – after all, accommodation bookings need to be booked in advance along with most local activities. However, approaching by land can offer a closer connection to the interior and its communities.

Inland wonders of the Kimberley

Stretching inland hundreds of kilometres, exploring by vehicle can reward you with sights unseen by those sailing the coast by ship. The Bungle Bungle Range, Windjana Gorge, Tunnel Creek and Geikie Gorge are land-based highlights that ship-based passengers may never see.

You'll stop in towns like Derby, Fitzroy Crossing, Halls Creek and Kununurra, visit Aboriginal-owned tours and galleries, and meet people living in the region.

The only way to see this if you choose to cruise are either joining a helicopter-based excursion, which lines like Scenic offer right from the deck, or extending your time with a pre- or post-cruise excursion by land.

A DIY approach to this remote region

Opting to explore the Kimberley by land in a private vehicle does allow you the freedom to choose where to go and when, and lets you travel at a pace that’s perfectly suited for you.

But, this is a land that’s not just quiet, but one that requires plenty of preparation and consideration. From soaring temperatures to flash floods, wildlife to shifting tides, truly understanding the environment here will truly make or break your experience.

Out here, distances are big, many of the best roads are unsealed and some are 4WD-only. The Gibb River Road and tracks like Purnululu's and Kalumburu's are often closed or impassable in the wet season. You need to be self-sufficient with fuel, water, spare tyres and recovery gear. Importantly, you only actually access the coast in a few places due to limited tracks.

Which should you choose?

Choose a cruise if you want the coastal icons (Horizontal Falls, Montgomery Reef, King George Falls), prefer comfort, have limited mobility, or want expert interpretation and a stress-free journey.

Choose a road trip if you value independence, want to see the inland gorges and the Bungle Bungles, are on a tighter budget, or enjoy the adventure of remote driving. Or, opt for a land-tour for the experts and service.

Or, our favourite option, combine them. Many travellers fly into Broome or Darwin to start their cruise, and they typically go just one way. Arriving a few days early or staying a few days later lets you spend a few days exploring in-land areas near either of those cities or heading to Kununurra and the Bungle Bungles. It's an excellent way to see both the coast and the interior without a month of driving.

Whichever you choose, the Kimberley rewards patience no matter the way you go. The coast is about water, tides and wildlife, while the land is about gorges, ranges and open space.