Australian travellers fall into two camps: those who have visited The Kimberley, and those who still have it on their bucket list, just waiting to be checked off. There’s no third option, such is its universal appeal. But what, exactly, makes this particular area of Western Australia so special?

Making up just a sixth of Western Australia, the Kimberley is double the size of Victoria, covering more than 423,500 square kilometres. Award-winning wildlife expert Mike Cusack has been guiding visitors through this vast region for more than 20 years. “Despite the fact I’ve spent so much time in the area, it still blows my mind,” he says.

Cusack was appointed by Scenic to lead their expert Discovery Team when their ultra-luxury Scenic Eclipse II yacht embarks on its first voyages around the Australian coast.

Along with the rest of the team – comprising marine biologists, historians, naturalists, geologists, ornithologists and astronomers –  Cusack will be on board to provide insights and guide guests on several voyages in local waters.

With 12 departures scheduled between May and August 2024, ‘Discover the Kimberley Coastline: An Ancient Wilderness’, is an 11-day ultra-luxury all-inclusive cruise between Darwin and Broome, giving guests an opportunity to reach some of the most remote parts of the area, many of which are inaccessible by land.

Here, Cusack gives his take on the experiences that make the Kimberley an unmissable destination.

King George Falls

Accessed from the point at which it flows into the Timor Sea, the King George River can be traced upstream, its banks rising ever higher on either side. These sandstone cliffs culminate in the dramatic spectacle of Western Australia’s highest twin waterfalls, where the river plummets 100m from the elevated plateau above.

“It’s like a cathedral of the earth,” says Cusack. “To be underneath those towering sandstone cliffs is, for me, one of the great thrills of the whole coastline.”

With two H130 helicopters on board the Scenic Eclipse II – modified to reduce noise, to avoid disturbing wildlife below – there is also the option of a breathtaking aerial perspective*.

Scenic Eclipse II helicopter. Photo: Scenic

Jar Island

Home to what is considered the planet’s oldest art gallery is Jar Island. Tucked away in the southwest pocket of Vansittart Bay, it offers a unique glimpse into ancient history that’s ideally explored on a hike with the Scenic Discovery Team experts, whose invaluable insights enhance the experience exponentially.

“The Gwion Gwion paintings here are very significant,” explains Cusack, describing the intricate ‘tattooed’ style of art. “What they represent is probably people from the last Ice Age.”

At that time, the continents not yet having shifted, Australia and Indonesia were much closer neighbours. “This is the most likely entry point for the first settlers coming into the Kimberley, 65,000 years ago.”

Another artwork depicts what seems to be a herd of deer – which Cusack points out have never been native to Australia.

“These have been dated as 17,000 years old – at a minimum – and could actually be far older than that, so we’ve got the world’s oldest continuous culture in the region, on some of the world’s oldest rocks.”

Whale Nursery

There’s no shortage of marine wildlife in the Kimberley, from turtles and dolphins to seals and crocodiles. For Cusack, nothing beats the 22,000 humpback whales that pass through each year.

“The Camden Sound is one of the great humpback whale nurseries,” he says. “We’re lucky enough that whales migrate up through there from June to October, so we’re right in the middle of the season. To see humpbacks, particularly when they’re breaching and slapping, is extraordinary.”

Take in views of the Kimberley in ultimate comfort on board the Scenic Eclipse II. Photo: Scenic

Montgomery Reef

The only reef visible from space, Montgomery Reef boasts some of the earth’s biggest tidal ranges, in excess of 11 metres.

“When the tide falls, it does so at about an inch a minute,” says Cusack. “At around the 4-metre mark, the reef seems to rise out of the ocean.”

Scenic’s customised mk6 Zodiac vessels are the perfect way to get the best view, as thousands of little waterfalls cascade from this 400 square-kilometre reef to reveal incredible marine life including turtles, octopi, sharks and rays.

“It’s an extraordinary place to visit.”

Talbot Bay

Famous for the phenomenon of its ‘Horizontal Falls’, Talbot Bay is almost landlocked, aside from two narrow channels – one 20m wide, the other 50m. As the tide rises or falls, millions of gallons of water surge through those gaps, giving the impression of a waterfall on its side. And Cusack isn’t its only fan.

“It’s this twice-daily event that makes Talbot Bay Australia’s most unusual natural wonder,” said David Attenborough in a BBC documentary, calling it, “a compelling reminder of the colossal power of the ocean tide.”

If time and tides permit, Scenic guests can pass through these fascinating channels on a Zodiac to experience Talbot Bay for themselves, followed by the option of a 9.5km hike with the Discovery Team.

What better way to explore this captivating part of the world than by joining the most all-inclusive ultra-luxury cruise in the region.

To find out more about Scenic’s ‘Discover the Kimberley Coastline: An Ancient Wilderness’ tour, visit www.scenic.com.au.

*Flights on board two helicopters and helicopter experiences are at additional cost, subject to availability and regulatory approval, weight restrictions, medical approval, and weather and ice conditions.