Pearl Expeditions for the Travel Trade

Kimberley Expedition

About This Expedition

The Kimberley Coast, Western Australia

  • 7 nights aboard the Paspaley Pearl – maximum 30 guests
  • Broome return, covering the full Kimberley coastline including sites inaccessible to larger vessels
  • Daily excursions by expedition tender, guided walks, and fishing
  • Immersive experiences – barramundi fishing, rock art galleries, waterfall swimming
  • Ideal for luxury FIT, milestone celebrations, and incentive group charters
A small expedition vessel navigates the crystalline turquoise waters of Vansittart Bay, with dramatic rocky outcrops and pristine white sand beaches visible in the foreground and surrounding coastline dotted with weathered sandstone formations.
An aerial photograph showcasing the dramatic Kimberley region's pristine archipelago with dark forested islands scattered across turquoise and deep blue waters, featuring shallow bays and intricate waterways characteristic of this remote Australian coastal destination.
A luxury cruise ship anchors in pristine turquoise waters off a rugged, forested coastline featuring red rock formations and sandy beaches. The vessel is positioned in calm, crystal-clear water with dramatic coastal cliffs and dense vegetation visible in the background.
A stunning golden-hour sunset over the Kimberley region of Western Australia, with the sun reflecting across calm waters and revealing scattered settlements and agricultural land on the coastline below.
An aerial view of the expansive Kimberley region's dramatic tidal landscape, featuring vast mudflats, winding waterways, and anchored vessels in the shallow waters. The image showcases the distinctive reddish-brown tidal flats characteristic of Australia's remote northwestern coast, with lush vegetation visible along the shoreline.
A stunning secluded beach featuring crystal-clear turquoise waters, white sand, and rugged rocky outcrops covered in native vegetation. The pristine cove demonstrates the natural beauty of remote coastal destinations ideal for cruise excursions and tropical getaways.
A massive blue and red oil tanker or bulk carrier is moored at a wooden pier extending into crystal-clear turquoise waters, with vegetated hillsides rising behind the facility. The isolated location and pristine tropical setting suggest a remote port facility in the Indian Ocean or similar region.
An stunning aerial photograph of the Kimberley region's rugged coastline featuring vibrant turquoise waters, dramatic rocky cliffs, and several tour vessels exploring the pristine Australian wilderness. The contrast between the deep blue ocean and bright turquoise shallows highlights the region's unique geological formations and natural beauty.
A breathtaking aerial perspective of the Kimberley region's pristine island archipelago, featuring turquoise waters, dramatic rocky outcrops with lush vegetation, expansive tidal mudflats, and numerous islands scattered across the seascape. The image captures the raw beauty and untouched wilderness characteristic of Australia's remote Kimberley Coast.
A stunning seascape featuring towering rust-red and white rocky cliffs framing a turquoise ocean with white-capped waves. The dramatic geology and pristine waters suggest a remote, pristine coastal destination perfect for cruise exploration.
A stunning aerial view of a narrow coastal gorge with sheer red rock cliffs framing turquoise waters and powerful tidal currents. Lush green vegetation clings to the cliff faces, and a calm bay lies beyond the dramatic gap, showcasing pristine wilderness.
A dramatic coastal landscape featuring towering red sandstone cliffs with sparse vegetation overlooking crystal-clear turquoise waters, characteristic of Australia's Kimberley region. The rugged geological formations and pristine marine environment showcase the natural beauty of this remote and iconic destination.
A small expedition cruise vessel anchors in brilliant turquoise waters near rocky, vegetation-covered coastline, characteristic of Australia's remote Kimberley region. The pristine tropical seascape features dramatic limestone formations and lush greenery under a partly cloudy sky.
Dramatic red sandstone rock formations rise from pristine turquoise waters along the Kimberley coast, with lush vegetation clinging to the cliff faces and calm seas extending to the horizon beneath a clear blue sky.
A dramatic coastal landscape in the Kimberley region featuring rugged rocky cliffs overlooking turquoise waters at golden hour. A white helicopter is visible on the rocky outcrop, with a settlement nestled in the distance along the shoreline.
A stunning coastal landscape featuring towering red sandstone cliffs with cascading waterfalls plunging into turquoise waters, with a small expedition vessel visible in the foreground. The pristine wilderness and dramatic geology are characteristic of Australia's remote Kimberley region.
A striking waterfall cascades down towering red sandstone cliffs into turquoise waters off the Kimberley coast. The rugged geological formations and pristine seascape capture the remote natural beauty of Australia's northwest coastal region.
An aerial photograph of Simpson Beach in Broome, Western Australia, showcasing distinctive red-orange laterite cliffs and soil contrasting with vibrant turquoise ocean waters. The scene includes a long pier extending into the bay, scattered fishing boats, lush vegetation, and coastal buildings, with the characteristic red earth and mangrove-dotted shoreline typical of the Kimberley region.
A serene tropical beach scene at sunset featuring a silhouetted palm tree on sandy Cable Beach in Broome, Western Australia. Golden sunlight reflects across the calm water as beachgoers enjoy the warm evening, with the Kimberley landscape creating a picturesque backdrop.
Two small expedition vessels anchor in the shallow turquoise waters off Broome, Australia, with expansive sandy tidal flats visible in the background under a clear blue sky. This scenic maritime landscape exemplifies the remote coastal exploration characteristic of expedition cruising in Australia's Kimberley region.
Three tender boats are anchored in turquoise waters off a pristine white sand beach, with passengers wading ashore. Dramatic rocky hills covered in eucalyptus forest rise behind the beach, showcasing the remote wilderness of Australia's Kimberley region under a clear blue sky.
An aerial view of the Kimberley Quest expedition vessel anchored in emerald-green waters near dramatic rust-colored cliff formations and Glycosmis Falls in Western Australia's remote Kimberley region. The small cruise ship creates a white wake against the pristine turquoise water, showcasing the rugged natural beauty of this pristine coastal wilderness.
A close-up view of crustaceans (likely crabs or crayfish) caught in a blue fishing net or trap, displaying the marine wildlife and fishing practices typical of coastal expedition cruising regions.

COMPLETE ITINERARY

Your Kimberley Expedition – Day by Day

Board the Paspaley Pearl in Broome

Guests arrive in Broome and transfer to the Paspaley Pearl for embarkation. The atmosphere is immediate – this is a working expedition vessel, not a floating hotel, and the crew sets that tone from the moment you step aboard. There is time to settle in, meet the expedition team, and familiarise yourself with the ship before a welcome dinner as the Paspaley Pearl prepares to head north along the Kimberley coast.

Broome itself is worth arriving a day early for. Cable Beach, the pearling history, the town’s red-earth character. For clients flying in from Perth, Darwin, or the east coast, an extra night here avoids a rushed start and lets the expedition begin properly.

Trade tip: We recommend booking clients into Broome the night before embarkation. Flight schedules into Broome can be tight, and starting the trip relaxed makes a real difference. Pre-cruise accommodation and local touring in Broome can be arranged through AABH.

Buccaneer Archipelago

The expedition’s first full day takes the Paspaley Pearl into the Buccaneer Archipelago – over 800 islands scattered along the southern Kimberley coast. The landscapes here are weathered sandstone formations, hidden beaches, rich birdlife, and tidal movements that reshape the environment twice a day. It is a dramatic introduction to what the Kimberley actually looks like when you are in it rather than reading about it.

Excursions by expedition tender explore island channels, with the team pointing out geological formations, nesting seabird colonies, and the effects of the massive Kimberley tides on the shoreline. There is usually a beach landing and a swim.

Trade tip: The Buccaneer Archipelago is visually striking from the first tender ride. For clients who are new to expedition-style travel, this day eases them into the rhythm of daily excursions before the more remote sections of the coast ahead.

Collier Bay & Montgomery Reef

Montgomery Reef is one of the most underappreciated natural spectacles in Australia. As the tide drops, the reef appears to rise from the ocean, water cascading off its surface in every direction. Billions of litres draining away. It creates the illusion of a massive living island emerging from the sea. The effect is genuinely mesmerising, and difficult to convey in marketing copy. You have to be there.

Guests explore by tender across the reef surface, observing turtles, manta rays, reef sharks, and an astonishing variety of marine life in the shallows. The expedition naturalist provides commentary throughout. The experience is tide-dependent, which means the timing and intensity varies between visits – when conditions align, it is jaw-dropping.

Trade tip: Montgomery Reef is a strong selling point for clients who respond to natural phenomena and marine life. It photographs well but the real impact is being there as the reef reveals itself. Worth emphasising that this is something most Australians have never seen, let alone international travellers.

Kuri Bay & Pearling Heritage

Kuri Bay is deeply connected to Australia’s pearling history. This remote stretch of coastline was once home to pearl farms producing some of the finest South Sea pearls in the world – and the Paspaley name is inseparable from that story. The expedition team shares the history of pearl diving in the Kimberley, from the early lugger days through to modern aquaculture.

Guests explore the bay by tender and on foot, with opportunities for fishing and swimming in waters that feel genuinely untouched. The coastline is beautiful in an understated way – mangroves, sandy coves, clear water. The pace is unhurried.

Trade tip: The pearling connection gives this stop a narrative depth that clients enjoy. It is also a good day for fishing – barramundi and other species are regularly caught here. For incentive groups, this is the kind of exclusive-access experience that cannot be replicated on a standard holiday.

Kings Cascades & the Prince Regent River

Kings Cascades is one of those Kimberley moments where the scale catches you off guard. Water tumbles over a wide sandstone ledge in a series of cascading tiers, surrounded by lush monsoon vine thicket. The expedition tenders bring guests right to the base. During the early dry season, when the falls are at their fullest, the spray drifts across the tender and the noise fills the gorge.

The Prince Regent River itself is spectacular – a deep, winding waterway cutting through ancient sandstone. Saltwater crocodiles are regularly sighted along the banks. The expedition team navigates the river by tender, with stops for wildlife observation and guided commentary on the geology and ecology of the region.

Trade tip: Kings Cascades delivers a strong visual payoff and the tender approach to the base of the falls is a highlight for most guests. Pair this with the crocodile sightings on the Prince Regent River and it is a day that gives clients plenty to talk about. The falls are at their best earlier in the dry season.

Prince Frederick Harbour & Hunter River

Two days at Prince Frederick Harbour, one of the most biodiverse marine environments along the Kimberley coast. The Paspaley Pearl anchors while guests explore by tender through the Hunter River system – a labyrinth of mangrove channels, sandstone gorges, and tidal flats. Saltwater crocodiles are regularly sighted. So are white-bellied sea eagles, ospreys, and jabiru storks.

The Naturalist River, a tributary of the Hunter, features striking Wandjina rock art accessible by a short walk from the tender landing. These spirit figures – large, round-eyed faces painted in white, red, and black ochre – are central to the cultural traditions of the Worrorra, Ngarinyin, and Wunambul peoples. Nearby, guests encounter Gwion Gwion (Bradshaw) paintings – delicate, finely detailed figures estimated to be over 20,000 years old, predating European civilisation by millennia.

There is also serious fishing here. Barramundi in the estuaries. For clients who enjoy casting a line, the expedition team knows these waters intimately – spots known only to pearl lugger captains. Catch goes to the on-board chef for that evening’s dinner.

Trade tip: This two-day stop is where the expedition really deepens. The rock art – both Wandjina and Gwion Gwion – is world-class and a genuine differentiator. Clients with an interest in archaeology, Indigenous culture, or wildlife will find these days among the most memorable. The fishing-to-dinner element resonates strongly with incentive groups.

Disembark in Broome

The Paspaley Pearl returns to Broome in the morning. Guests disembark and are transferred to their accommodation or the airport. After a week immersed in the Kimberley, Broome feels like a gentle re-entry into the world. Cable Beach at sunset, a cold drink at one of the local spots, the famous Staircase to the Moon phenomenon if timing aligns.

Trade tip: We strongly recommend at least one night in Broome post-expedition. After seven nights of early mornings and full days exploring, a comfortable hotel and a sunset on Cable Beach is the right way to close the trip. We can arrange Broome accommodation, touring, and onward flights to Perth, Darwin, or beyond. This expedition pairs naturally with extensions to the Dampier Peninsula, the Red Centre, or east coast destinations. AABH builds complete Australian itineraries around it – flights, accommodation, touring, transfers.

WHAT’S ON BOARD

Inclusions & The Paspaley Pearl

Expedition Inclusions

  • 7 nights aboard the Paspaley Pearl (max 30 guests)
  • All meals prepared by the on-board chef using local produce
  • Premium wines, spirits, beer, and non-alcoholic beverages
  • All expedition excursions – tenders, guided walks, fishing
  • Expert expedition team including naturalist and cultural guides
  • Fishing equipment provided for barramundi and estuary fishing
  • Transfers in Broome on embarkation and disembarkation days

About the Paspaley Pearl

  • Under-50m classification unlocks sites inaccessible to larger vessels
  • Twin Azipod thrusters for superior manoeuvrability in narrow gorges
  • Multiple expedition tenders for daily excursions
  • Fishing equipment and expert guides on board

Add This Destination to Your Australia or New Zealand Itinerary

Contact our team for trade rates, availability, and help packaging this tour into your clients’ tailor-made itineraries. As a leading inbound travel specialist for Australia and New Zealand, we’ll build the complete journey, including flights, accommodation, connecting tours, and onward travel.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Kimberley expedition season runs from April to October – the dry season in Australia’s tropical north. Warm days, clear skies, calm seas, and the waterfalls at their most impressive after the wet season rains. Most departures concentrate between May and September. Capacity is limited and demand is high, so we recommend booking well in advance. Contact us at enquiries@aabh.com.au for current departure dates and availability.
Her classification under 50 metres is the key difference. While larger ships are restricted to a handful of anchorages, the Paspaley Pearl reaches the vast majority of Kimberley visitor sites. The twin Azipod thrusters give her exceptional manoeuvrability in tight gorges and tidal waters. And with the small guest capacity, the experience is genuinely intimate. You are not sharing a tender with 50 other people. You are not waiting in line. The expedition team knows every guest by name from day one.
A moderate level of fitness is recommended. Excursions involve getting in and out of expedition tenders, walking on uneven terrain including rock platforms and sandy beaches, and some light hiking. Guests do not need to be athletes, but they should be comfortable on their feet and able to manage boat boarding. The expedition team assesses conditions daily and offers alternatives where possible. Guests with mobility concerns should discuss requirements at the time of booking so we can advise honestly.
Yes – and this is where the Paspaley Pearl really comes into its own for the travel trade. With only 30 guest berths, a full charter is achievable for corporate incentive groups, private celebrations, or high-end group departures. Charter clients can influence the itinerary, dining preferences, on-board activities, and special events. We have managed incentive charters that include exclusive beach dinners, Indigenous cultural experiences, and bespoke entertainment. Contact us at enquiries@aabh.com.au to discuss charter options. AABH specialises in MICE programmes for groups of all sizes.
Naturally. The Kimberley charter pairs well with pre-cruise time in Broome and the Dampier Peninsula, extensions to the Red Centre (Uluru, Kings Canyon), east coast destinations like the Great Barrier Reef and Sydney, or Western Australian experiences including Margaret River and Ningaloo Reef. Australia and Beyond Holidays builds complete Australian itineraries for the travel trade – flights, accommodation, touring, and transfers, all managed end to end. This expedition works particularly well as the centrepiece of a 2- to 3-week Australian journey for clients who want something beyond the standard highlights circuit.