Kimberly Cruise 2024

 'Once everyone was back on board yesterday afternoon we set sail for Talbot Bay. The plan was go through the narrows to get into the bay on a slack tide at 10 pm and anchor overnight so we would be ready to go to the falls to catch the outgoing tide in the morning. We awoke this morning to a lovely day and beautiful calm waters in Talbot Bay Unfortunately it is our turn to be the early expedition group this morning, so we are lined up at 7 am to get into our zodiacs. The morning program is to visit the horizontal falls first and then continue on up Cyclone  Creek for a 2.5 hour return trip. Sadly you are no longer allowed to go through the falls unless you use the services of the high speed boat company that is resident here during the tourist season. Ironically, it is the same company that had the serious accident which has resulted in others being banned. It is a bit hard to capture in a still photo, but the water is rushing through here We are allowed to poke the nose of t...

 Unfortunately the weather forecast turned out to be correct this morning and the wind is already up to 19 knots before the first lot of zodiacs are launched to take a 15 -20 min run to Montgomery Reef where the tide is running out and exposing the reef. The seas are very lumpy with wind against tide and it looks like it will be a very wet passage.  Our group departure is scheduled for 8.30 am, which is when the early group will return. As we watch them get out of the zodiacs it looks like they got soaked.  We are much more fortunate, as either conditions have lightened, or we have a better Zodiac driver. We managed to get to the reef dry. Montgomery Reef is the World’s largest inshore reef and has a tidal range of up to 10 m. At high tide the reef is under water, becoming visible as the tide runs out. By the time we reached the reef the tide was about half way out. As the reef emerges there are spectacular waterfalls of salt water running off the reef. A large valley run...

At the entrance to Porosus Creek, we see a couple of dolphins. Our guide thought they were snub fin dolphins that are unique to the Kimberley, but they were too far away to really tell. We approached a sandy beach just inside the entrance to the creek to see if any crocodiles were basking on the beach. Unfortunately, we could see where they had been, but none were there this morning. Soon we were in amongst the mud and the mangroves and the crocodile sightings began. The crocs seem to like these little creeks running out of the mangroves for feeding. Waiting at the entrance to the creek catching fish being washed down We also saw a number of crocs just quietly cruising along the shoreline picking us a few fish along the way. The little bird on the shore was watching the croc closely Also anchored well into the creek was the NSW registered private boat. Another small cruise boat, Great Escapes, was also anchored in the creek. They run cruises from Broome dedicated to these parts of the ...