Kimberley Expeditions
Kimberley Expeditions
Kimberley Expeditions
5
Multi-day ToursCultural ToursScuba & SnorkellingBoat ToursEco Tours
Monday
7:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Tuesday
7:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Wednesday
7:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Thursday
7:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Friday
7:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Full view
About
Kimberley Expeditions offers 11 day cruises onboard MV Reef Prince from Broome to Darwin, Australia. We visit all the top sites, without the 'top end' price tag
Broome, Western Australia, Australia
Meets animal welfare guidelines
Awards
Travellers' Choice
2024
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5.0
154 reviews
Excellent
144
Very good
1
Average
3
Poor
2
Terrible
4
KathlynB
Sydney, Australia44 contributions
Aug 2024 • Couples
It might seem a cliché but this really was the trip of a lifetime and way surpassed our expectations. We couldn’t have asked for anything better. Accommodation was very comfortable and included our own en suite and hot shower. The food was terrific, Karl and Anne served us such delicious food we ate now dieting. We are a couple in our mid seventies and we were the oldest of the guests, most of whom were in the 50s to early 70s range. The crew/staff were faultless. Without exception they were friendly, caring, respectful and knowledgeable.
The itineraries each day offered a variety of levels, some quite strenuous but others very easy. Everyone had a good choice of things to do, from whale-watching, scenic tours in one of the four tenders, fishing (we ate the catch), rock climbing and walks to swim in fresh water holes, a helicopter flight to the Mitchell Plateau, and much more. For couples like us with different levels of fitness, stamina, and interest, it was perfect, we each could do exactly what and as much as we wanted.
It was greatly enhanced by the very knowledgeable and personable cruise director, Paul, who also took many photographs we could purchase on a USB stick at the end of the cruise. As he said, he didn’t want us spending our sightseeing staring at a small phone screen or through the lens of a camera. This was well worth the very reasonable cost, everyone participated happily. Every evening after dinner Paul would recap the day we had had, expanding our understanding of what we had seen, and then detailing the itinerary for the next day. We learned so much. Mercifully this was not a booze cruise, although there were definitely fun times.
The scenery! Well, it was simply breathtaking and astonishing. If you have the opportunity to go to this amazing part of the world, go. The colours are simply amazing, sunrises and sunsets like you have never seen before. Just wow.
The itineraries each day offered a variety of levels, some quite strenuous but others very easy. Everyone had a good choice of things to do, from whale-watching, scenic tours in one of the four tenders, fishing (we ate the catch), rock climbing and walks to swim in fresh water holes, a helicopter flight to the Mitchell Plateau, and much more. For couples like us with different levels of fitness, stamina, and interest, it was perfect, we each could do exactly what and as much as we wanted.
It was greatly enhanced by the very knowledgeable and personable cruise director, Paul, who also took many photographs we could purchase on a USB stick at the end of the cruise. As he said, he didn’t want us spending our sightseeing staring at a small phone screen or through the lens of a camera. This was well worth the very reasonable cost, everyone participated happily. Every evening after dinner Paul would recap the day we had had, expanding our understanding of what we had seen, and then detailing the itinerary for the next day. We learned so much. Mercifully this was not a booze cruise, although there were definitely fun times.
The scenery! Well, it was simply breathtaking and astonishing. If you have the opportunity to go to this amazing part of the world, go. The colours are simply amazing, sunrises and sunsets like you have never seen before. Just wow.
Written 22 August 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kit S
1 contribution
Aug 2024 • Couples
Have just returned from 12 day Broome to Darwin expedition on Reef Prince. Extraordinary! Cruise Director Paul has a vast knowledge of everything animal, botanical, cultural and geological. Learnt so much on our several daily shore excursions. You could do as much or as little as you wanted to do according to your interests or stamina! All of the staff were happy, helpful and very professional. The ship was well appointed and the cabins relatively spacious and clean. Reef Prince is a catamaran with jet propulsion so it’s very stable and has a shallow draft able to access channels where larger boats cannot go. We were extremely well fed throughout the voyage. The demographic of passengers was largely active retirees and we all got along famously. I highly recommend Reef Prince and Kimberley Expeditions for their professionalism and diverse itinerary.
Written 18 August 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lisa B
Melbourne, Australia2 contributions
Sept 2024 • Solo
This is not a cruise ship, it is an expedition. As long as you are aware of this then you will have the most fabulous time!
My first impression was wonderful from the smiling faces of all the crew to my gorgeous cabin, morning tea and a tour through the boat. There were 6 solo's on board and we all got along fabulously, whether you were a couple or solo, it is a very inclusive, engaging environment and everyone eats together at night and enjoys wine and talks about the day. Annie and Son make sure you are well looked after as a solo as well!
You will see the rugged wilderness from a completely different perspective, wake and end the day with the most amazing sunrises and sunsets which change the colour of the landscape and visit lots of gorgeous swimming holes and crystal clear bays in between coastal walks and hikes up into the falls. The days kept getting better and better - Sailing from Broome to Darwin. Tour director Paul is a wealth of knowledge who keeps everyone on schedule as well as taking the most amazing photos, he will offer extra information if required and shows a few documentaries on board if interested. The tender drivers were so knowledgeable and helped everyone on each and every tour to their own abilities.
Captain Leo was extremely approachable and you could visit most days to have a chat and learn about the boat. You can see how much the staff love their job as they work from morning to night tirelessly in multiple roles. My washing would be taken in the morning and back on my bed folded neatly at night. These are just the little things that make your experience so relaxing.
What can i say about the food apart from WOW! For a small boat you are well looked after with Gigi. He is a master in the kitchen and whips up the most amazing meals with Anne using either what he has on board or with what was caught that day. We had breakfast, lunch and dinner, plus morning and afternoon tea or a cheese board and desert. Being French, the desserts and pastries were so good! and he has an eye for designing a meal at whim if required. Really nice guy who comes around to chat after every meal and makes sure you enjoy your meal and if you have any dietary requirements, he is all over it!
If you like to fish, there are quite a few opportunities, but this isn't a fishing charter. Our boat caught more than enough for everyone on board and some to freeze for the next sailing, so you won't miss out if you are a fisherman. For me being active, I loved the walks, swims and look outs.
We had two special nights on board where you get a little done up and enjoy your dinner under the night sky surrounded by stunning red sandstone cliffs. I don't want to give too much away, but i dont think many holidays have topped this amazing journey. So if you are unsure please just book and i promise you will not be sorry.
My first impression was wonderful from the smiling faces of all the crew to my gorgeous cabin, morning tea and a tour through the boat. There were 6 solo's on board and we all got along fabulously, whether you were a couple or solo, it is a very inclusive, engaging environment and everyone eats together at night and enjoys wine and talks about the day. Annie and Son make sure you are well looked after as a solo as well!
You will see the rugged wilderness from a completely different perspective, wake and end the day with the most amazing sunrises and sunsets which change the colour of the landscape and visit lots of gorgeous swimming holes and crystal clear bays in between coastal walks and hikes up into the falls. The days kept getting better and better - Sailing from Broome to Darwin. Tour director Paul is a wealth of knowledge who keeps everyone on schedule as well as taking the most amazing photos, he will offer extra information if required and shows a few documentaries on board if interested. The tender drivers were so knowledgeable and helped everyone on each and every tour to their own abilities.
Captain Leo was extremely approachable and you could visit most days to have a chat and learn about the boat. You can see how much the staff love their job as they work from morning to night tirelessly in multiple roles. My washing would be taken in the morning and back on my bed folded neatly at night. These are just the little things that make your experience so relaxing.
What can i say about the food apart from WOW! For a small boat you are well looked after with Gigi. He is a master in the kitchen and whips up the most amazing meals with Anne using either what he has on board or with what was caught that day. We had breakfast, lunch and dinner, plus morning and afternoon tea or a cheese board and desert. Being French, the desserts and pastries were so good! and he has an eye for designing a meal at whim if required. Really nice guy who comes around to chat after every meal and makes sure you enjoy your meal and if you have any dietary requirements, he is all over it!
If you like to fish, there are quite a few opportunities, but this isn't a fishing charter. Our boat caught more than enough for everyone on board and some to freeze for the next sailing, so you won't miss out if you are a fisherman. For me being active, I loved the walks, swims and look outs.
We had two special nights on board where you get a little done up and enjoy your dinner under the night sky surrounded by stunning red sandstone cliffs. I don't want to give too much away, but i dont think many holidays have topped this amazing journey. So if you are unsure please just book and i promise you will not be sorry.
Written 16 September 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sheryl J
1 contribution
June 2024 • Couples
We researched our trip to Kimberley extensively and when settling on the reef prince, we were totally blown away with our choice and experience. All staff provided the utmost in customer service . Staff were experienced in their areas of expertise ,patient and kind , and provided us with a safe and the most exhilarating experience . The staff were able to continually adapt to conditions, and tides, so that we could experience the best the Kimberley had to offer.
Paul the tour director provided us with great knowledge of the area and the added bonus was his amazing photography. Gi, Gi and the catering staff provided meals that were second to none .
Brian our captain navigated our boat safely, up gorges and juggled tides, so we could experience all the places on offer.
We got to experience amazing widelife, indigenous artwork, swimming in rock pools, scenic tours , fishing, all the fantastic scenery of Kimberley, sunsets and sunrises . We could not be happier, we loved every minute, enjoyed the company of all onboard both passengers and crew .
Paul the tour director provided us with great knowledge of the area and the added bonus was his amazing photography. Gi, Gi and the catering staff provided meals that were second to none .
Brian our captain navigated our boat safely, up gorges and juggled tides, so we could experience all the places on offer.
We got to experience amazing widelife, indigenous artwork, swimming in rock pools, scenic tours , fishing, all the fantastic scenery of Kimberley, sunsets and sunrises . We could not be happier, we loved every minute, enjoyed the company of all onboard both passengers and crew .
Written 29 June 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Nikki F
Sussex Inlet, Australia15 contributions
June 2024 • Couples
Awesome, Brilliant, Challenging, Dynamic, Exciting, Fantastic, Greatest, Humbling, Informative - well enough with the superlatives!
The Kimberley Expeditions 12 Day cruise on the Reef Prince (Darwin to Broome) was more than no we could have imagined🙏
We couldn’t recommend Kimberley Expeditions highly enough.
The crew are fantastic and caring.
The itinerary is excellent and every day brings new adventures and stunning vistas.
If you’re into fishing then there’s a fish with your name on it! If you’re into hiking there’s a hike for you!.. if you’re into history, geology and Ancient Rock
Art this is for you🤩
If you’re into birdwatching this is for you!
The food is absolutely delicious and plentiful🤤
In the words of Molly Meldrum “Do yourself a favour” and go to see The Kimberley with Kimberley Cruises - the holiday of a lifetime 🤩🙏👏
The Kimberley Expeditions 12 Day cruise on the Reef Prince (Darwin to Broome) was more than no we could have imagined🙏
We couldn’t recommend Kimberley Expeditions highly enough.
The crew are fantastic and caring.
The itinerary is excellent and every day brings new adventures and stunning vistas.
If you’re into fishing then there’s a fish with your name on it! If you’re into hiking there’s a hike for you!.. if you’re into history, geology and Ancient Rock
Art this is for you🤩
If you’re into birdwatching this is for you!
The food is absolutely delicious and plentiful🤤
In the words of Molly Meldrum “Do yourself a favour” and go to see The Kimberley with Kimberley Cruises - the holiday of a lifetime 🤩🙏👏
Written 12 July 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tony W
Melbourne, Australia80 contributions
July 2023
We were on Reef Prince for the Broome to Darwin 11 day cruise. The whole experience was sensational and far better than we could have ever hoped for. We saw and experienced close up the wonders of the Kimberley that can not be seen from land.
The ship is one of the smaller vessels operating this route, with only 32 passengers and 11 crew. The crew are just fantastic and they all pitched in to make sure that we had a great holiday. It would not be fair to name one or two crew as being outstanding; they all were. We always felt safe on board and any time we went out on the tenders or an activity.
Every cabin is ensuite; we were in cabin 2 and it was perfect. A comfortable double bed and a great view. We only really used our cabin for sleeping. There are plenty of lounge chairs on the main deck inside, plus other lounges on the top and front outside decks to take in the stunning views. Many nights we relaxed on one of the decks with a drink and watched stunning sunsets.
The food was impossible to fault. Breakfast and lunch are buffet self serve with a great selection, while the evening dinner is served to you. One night the chef prepared the fish we caught that day; yummy!
This is promoted as an "adventure cruise" and I would agree with that description. Every day there is an activity to do if you wanted it. They have 3 tenders that take all the guests to view rock art, swim in waterfalls, fishing, spotting wildlife, through the Horizontal Falls, view Montgomery Reef close up, or get drenched under the waterfalls. Just great fun and excitement. Some days we set off at 6.30am and back for breakfast!
Or if you just want to rest on the top deck and do nothing that is OK. But I would suggest that if your idea of a Kimberley Cruise is to sit on a sun lounge all day and admire the view from your cabin with private deck, then don't come on this cruise; go with one of the 200 passenger large ships.
One of the advantages of a small ship is the ability to get up close to the cliffs and waterfalls that the large ships cannot manage. One night we anchored right near the waterfall at King George Gorge while the other ships had to stay in the ocean. And another benefit is the Captain is not locked in to a fixed itinerary and in conjunction with the Tour Director will amend the days activities to fit in with the tide.
Our group of 32 guests all had great fun and after 11 days we have made some great friends. A wonderful experience and another item ticked off our bucket list. I highly recommend Reef Prince for a trip of a lifetime.
The ship is one of the smaller vessels operating this route, with only 32 passengers and 11 crew. The crew are just fantastic and they all pitched in to make sure that we had a great holiday. It would not be fair to name one or two crew as being outstanding; they all were. We always felt safe on board and any time we went out on the tenders or an activity.
Every cabin is ensuite; we were in cabin 2 and it was perfect. A comfortable double bed and a great view. We only really used our cabin for sleeping. There are plenty of lounge chairs on the main deck inside, plus other lounges on the top and front outside decks to take in the stunning views. Many nights we relaxed on one of the decks with a drink and watched stunning sunsets.
The food was impossible to fault. Breakfast and lunch are buffet self serve with a great selection, while the evening dinner is served to you. One night the chef prepared the fish we caught that day; yummy!
This is promoted as an "adventure cruise" and I would agree with that description. Every day there is an activity to do if you wanted it. They have 3 tenders that take all the guests to view rock art, swim in waterfalls, fishing, spotting wildlife, through the Horizontal Falls, view Montgomery Reef close up, or get drenched under the waterfalls. Just great fun and excitement. Some days we set off at 6.30am and back for breakfast!
Or if you just want to rest on the top deck and do nothing that is OK. But I would suggest that if your idea of a Kimberley Cruise is to sit on a sun lounge all day and admire the view from your cabin with private deck, then don't come on this cruise; go with one of the 200 passenger large ships.
One of the advantages of a small ship is the ability to get up close to the cliffs and waterfalls that the large ships cannot manage. One night we anchored right near the waterfall at King George Gorge while the other ships had to stay in the ocean. And another benefit is the Captain is not locked in to a fixed itinerary and in conjunction with the Tour Director will amend the days activities to fit in with the tide.
Our group of 32 guests all had great fun and after 11 days we have made some great friends. A wonderful experience and another item ticked off our bucket list. I highly recommend Reef Prince for a trip of a lifetime.
Written 1 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Julie K
22 contributions
July 2024 • Couples
What an incredible experience our 12 day cruise on the Reef Prince around the Kimberley was.
The small size with 27 guests was fabulous and looked after so beautifully by the crew of 11.
Paul the tour director was a font of knowledge on everything Kimberley.
The amazing crew of Annie, Izzy, Marine, Leo, Al, Jackson, Jack and Jai went above and beyond to make our trip comfortable and special.
Gigi our French chef and his accomplice Ann were truly amazing cooking up the fish caught during the day and delivering beautiful high quality meals.
The days were very busy out in tenders visiting places large cruise ships could not.
Something for everyone and generally followed by sunset drinks.
And an unexpected treat were the great people we met on the tour.
Many laughs and great memories made.
Thankyou
The small size with 27 guests was fabulous and looked after so beautifully by the crew of 11.
Paul the tour director was a font of knowledge on everything Kimberley.
The amazing crew of Annie, Izzy, Marine, Leo, Al, Jackson, Jack and Jai went above and beyond to make our trip comfortable and special.
Gigi our French chef and his accomplice Ann were truly amazing cooking up the fish caught during the day and delivering beautiful high quality meals.
The days were very busy out in tenders visiting places large cruise ships could not.
Something for everyone and generally followed by sunset drinks.
And an unexpected treat were the great people we met on the tour.
Many laughs and great memories made.
Thankyou
Written 30 July 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Freedom16957827444
1 contribution
July 2022 • Friends
On the first full day of a Kimberley Expeditions 11 day Broome to Darwin cruise on the MV Reef Prince, an incident occurred that resulted in a passenger sustaining a bone fracture. They were flown to Derby hospital. A subsequent investigation by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority led to Kimberley Expeditions being issued with a significant fine due to various breaches relating to the incident. Now, over 8 months later, Kimberley Expeditions have still not refunded any of the price of passenger's cruise. Nor have they refunded any of the passenger's out of pocket medical expenses which included orthopedic surgery. Kimberley Expeditions appear to be avoiding communication with the passenger and their representatives.
Written 13 April 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ray B
Melbourne, Australia511 contributions
July 2024 • Couples
The Kimberley experience is right up there with the best holidays and places we’ve visited in Australia and around the world. This pristine part of Australia was made extra special by the professional Captain Leo and crew of the Reef Prince . The Cruise Director Paul while being a brilliant photographer his knowledge of the Kimberly is second to none. While it’s a “pacey” itinerary it’s gets you into areas of the Kimberley the big cruise boats can’t access properly. Even if you dint feel like the hard climbs of fish scenic tender tours are provided or you can simply stay on the Reef Prince and relax. The extra bonus for us was the amazing cooking of French Chef GiGi.
Written 23 July 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Angela B
South Australia, Australia4 contributions
Sept 2024 • Couples
Our expedition aboard the Reef Prince from Broome to Darwin was well above our expectations.
The Reef Prince is a 38 metre catamaran which could access areas unreachable by larger cruise ships. The outstanding crew knew every guest by name on day two, which made the holiday more personalised. I cannot speak highly enough of them.
The food was superb, many thanks to our French chef and his wonderful assistant.
We were spoilt with the most amazing, caring, friendly and knowledgeable crew whose only mission was to make our holiday memorable. From sunrise to sunset and beyond we created memories every day. We accessed fresh water holes, hiked to art sites, saw incredible scenery, flora and fauna, all intermingled with fishing adventures and information sessions onboard directed by our superb tour guide and photographer.
Thank you to the Reef Prince family!
The Reef Prince is a 38 metre catamaran which could access areas unreachable by larger cruise ships. The outstanding crew knew every guest by name on day two, which made the holiday more personalised. I cannot speak highly enough of them.
The food was superb, many thanks to our French chef and his wonderful assistant.
We were spoilt with the most amazing, caring, friendly and knowledgeable crew whose only mission was to make our holiday memorable. From sunrise to sunset and beyond we created memories every day. We accessed fresh water holes, hiked to art sites, saw incredible scenery, flora and fauna, all intermingled with fishing adventures and information sessions onboard directed by our superb tour guide and photographer.
Thank you to the Reef Prince family!
Written 18 September 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Are there any wheelchair accessible ships available?
Written 19 January 2019
We travelled on Kimberley Expeditions, Reef Prince. The access to all decks of the ship was by staircase. I recall that there was a track on the staircase between the main two accommodation decks that looked as though it might have been set up to use an inclinator. However, as Vincent B says, getting on and off the ship for the excursions would be difficult. I would check with the Kimberley Expeditions office - they were very helpful. Also, the ship was being refurbished at the end of last season, so definitely worth checking with the office.
Written 20 January 2019
Any tips for best cabin positions on Reef Prince and what were cabins like? What was boat like?
Written 28 June 2018
Hi, all cabins have their positives! If you would like further information or a brochure emailed through with layout of the vessel and photos of the cabins please contact us
Written 28 June 2018
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