Planning your cruise to the Kimberley in 2025?
Post a brief outline of your sailing plans on the KCCYC forum to meet up with other vessels, ask questions, get info etc. https://kccyc.org/topic/sailing-to-the-kimberley-in-2025/
Also get onto our forum pages if you have any questions, or search the existing forum posts, as your question may already be answered
Indonesian Fishers Rubbishing the Kimberley Coast.
You have probably seen or heard via Australian news outlets that our Border Authorities have intercepted hundreds and burnt several illegal fishing vessels around the Kimberley Coast in 2023 and 2024. https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=985331906531215
Not only are these illegal fishermen pillaging the Trepang fishery along the Kimberley coast, which is stealing income from our licensed and authorised Australian Trepang fishing boats, they throw every scrap of rubbish over the side while they are there.
We have had reports from some of our members who regularly visit the coast, that there are vast amount of water bottles, plastic water cups, noodle & biscuit packets, chocolate wrappers and cigarette packets littering the mangroves and shoreline in the areas where the Indonesian boats hide out.
These illegal boats tend to hide in the mangroves and can be difficult to spot. It’s reported that they cut holes in the mangroves where they can drive the boats in under cover and out of obvious sight. If you see any suspicious looking boats, people walking in the flats picking up things at low tide, campfires on the shore etc, please report them to Customs Coastwatch on 131 881 or report it online, which can be done anonymously.
Larger Cruise Liners Invade the Kimberley Coast.
Since Covid, the number of large passenger cruise
ships regularly visiting the Kimberley Coast has increased enormously. These are big ships that carry hundreds, or in some cases, thousands of passengers. They should not be confused with the smaller luxury tour and fishing charter style vessels, that mostly carry less than 20 guests and are generally respectful and friendly towards private cruisers.
Most of these big ships are limited by their size as to where they can navigate in Kimberley coastal waters. To us private boaties, it’s unlikely they will be nothing more than visual pollution in this pristine environment. However, there are a few places where they come into close quarters with private boats, (us) and they can be a real pain in the bum.
The King Goerge River is a prime example. The ships anchor outside the mouth of the river and run their punters up and down the length of the river in large tenders, usually Zodiac inflatables or lifeboat style transfer tenders. If you cruise the east Kimberley coast, it’s very likely you will anchor in the spectacular King Goerge River.
If there is a cruise liner anchored outside, expect a convoy of 10 to 20 tenders full to the brim with life jacketed punters. This is where the problem lies, because the ship will be on a deadline to move on to their next stop, or to get the punters back for lunch or dinner on board. And the crew driving the tenders don’t seem to give a hoot about curtesy or the WA Boating Rules and Regulations. My experience is that they will drive close past you at top speed and max revs. The wake they chuck up will remind you of anchoring in a half meter sloppy sea, with the breeze holding you side on to the sea. Not fun at all. If you happen to be craning your tender onto the roof of your boat at the time, it becomes dangerous.
This has happened to me several times, and my response now is waving my hands in a “slow down” manor, while yelling some verbal discouragement at the same time. They must be able to hear me, because the punter’s attitude changes from friendly waves to wide eyed shock. I then get on VHF 16 and call whoever is on the bridge of the ship, and regardless of whether they respond or not, I remind them that in WA waters, the speed limit is 8 knots when within 15 metres of a vessel underway, or within 50 metres of a moored vessel, or a riverbank, or low water mark. I usually tell them that I have video of his tenders coming past me at plus 25 knots and I’m about to send it to AMSA with a complaint. This seems to work most times, because on their way back to the ship, they slow down when passing my boat.
The thing to remember, is that we are also subject to these rules, so please be respectful when passing other boats at anchor.
R&R has Left the Kimberley Coast.
An update on the post below. 12 months in the east is enough!! Flying back and forth from Perth to Airlie Beach has got to us. After many 2-3 week trips to the Whitsunday’s to use the boat over the last 12 months, including going there for 3 impending cyclones, we have had a total of about 5 days of good weather. Not that there wasn’t good weather to be had, but luck and circumstances prevented us from finding it.
So, plan B is to get some work done at Boatworks in the new year, then head west again at the end of cyclone season to arrive at R&R’s new home in the South of Perth Yacht Club around September 2025. We are absolutely looking forward to spending a few more months sailing Kimberley waters before taking on the not so pleasant west coast passage from Broome to Perth.
After 16 years cruising the Kimberley and Top End waters, Ross and Roslyn have decided its time to explore other waters. Since November 2023, our power cat “R&R” has called the Port of Airlie Marina its new home. We already miss the Kimberley, and particularly miss the many fantastic friends we have in Darwin, and in ports and oceans around the world.
I will continue to run this website and hope to provide information to KCCYC members about the Kimberley coast. However, I will no longer have hands on local knowledge of news and factors affecting private boating in the Kimberley. Therefore, the News and Events items, which I have attempted to post regularly, will be limited. But I would certainly appreciate members and friends keeping me up to date with Kimberley coast scuttlebutt.
If you see “R&R” on the water on the East Coast, feel free to say hello, and I’m always happy to chat to anyone wanting to pick my brains about the Kimberley coast.
Happy Sailing, Ross and Ros.
Dampier Marine Fuel Hours Restricted.
If you are sailing the WA’s west coast, be aware that Hampton Harbour Boat and Sailing Club will only supply diesel fuel during the trading hours detailed below and will not be available for any call outs. Bookings are recommended.
Refuelling: Monday – Friday from 7am to 5pm and,
Saturday from 7am to 2pm.
Confusion Over Sailing into the King George and Berkeley Rivers.
There has been some discussion on our Forum pages about sailing a boat into the King George River and the Berkeley River in the East Kimberley. Some people have been advised that boats are not allowed into these rivers, or that permits are required to sail into the rivers. This is not correct.
Both rivers are part of the North Kimberley Marine Park, which is overseen by the West Australian Government under the Parks and Wildlife Service at the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions. They are the relevant government authority who control the water area up to the high-water mark, including the creeks and rivers in the Kimberley Marine Parks. The information I have received from the Parks and Wildlife Ranger responsible for this Marine Park, is that there are no restrictions, or permit required to take a private vessel into the Marine Park.
However, a Land Permit from the DPLH Department of Planning Lands and Heritage is required if you want to go ashore in the King George and Berkeley Rivers. In recent years, the Balanggarra Aboriginal Corporation, who oversee the native title ownership of the land adjoining these rivers, is restricting land access and not allowing the DPLH to automatically issue Land Permits for the land around these rivers. It seems that if you apply for a Land Permit to go ashore at these 2 rivers, it will be rejected. The DPLH may advise you to contact the Balanggarra Aboriginal Corporation to request permission to obtain a land permit to go ashore in the rivers, but so far, I have not heard of anyone being successful.
The short version of this story is that you are allowed to sail into the rivers, but it is unlikely you will get a Land Permit to go ashore. These 2 rivers are amongst the most scenic places to sail in the Kimberley coast, so don’t sail past them just because you can’t get a land permit.
Land Permits and a Few Other Rules and Regulations Along the Kimberley Coast.
Land Permits and Visitor Passes.
There are very few restrictions about where you can sail your boat along the Kimberley coast, but there are Land Permits and Visitor Passes required to go ashore along most of the coast where cruising vessels commonly sail.
You need to apply for the two paid Visitor Pass systems to enter native title owned land before you apply for a free government issued Land Permit. The free Land Permit is required if you wish to go ashore along most of the Kimberley coast, including much of the land covered by the two paid Visitor Passes.
NOTE. You must get the paid Visitor Passes for the areas you will be sailing into BEFORE you apply for the free Land Access Permit, or your Land Access Permit application will be rejected for those areas.
Uunguu Visitor Pass. Visit https://wunambalgaambera.org.au/visitors/uunguu-visitor-pass/ to apply and pay for your passes. Comprehensive maps and costs are detailed in their web site. Passes are $100 per person for 30 consecutive days.
Dambimangari Visitor Pass. Visit https://www.dambimangari.com.au/ to apply and pay for your pass. Comprehensive maps and costs are detailed in their web site. This year they have changed their system from needing a pass per person, to a $38.50 pass per vessel for one trip. I assume 1 trip will cover your vessel for 1 dry season.
Note. The GPS coordinates on both sets of Visitor Pass maps are shown in decimal degrees (Google style). You will need to convert these to DMS (Degrees, Minutes, Seconds) to enter them into your GPS plotter. No mobile phone reception in most of the Kimberley Coast, so we suggest you do the conversion while you have internet and Google to assist.
Land Access Permits. Visit https://www.wa.gov.au/service/aboriginal-affairs/aboriginal-heritage-conservation/apply-permit-access-or-travel-through-aboriginal-land to apply for a free Land Access Permit. Their web site is difficult to navigate, so ring them for help is my best advice. Good Luck.
Fishing Licenses.
If you intend fishing off your boat in the Kimberley, including cast nets and crab nets, you will need a current Recreational Fishing License. Visit http://www.fish.wa.gov.au/Fishing-and-Aquaculture/Recreational-Fishing/Pages/Recreational-Fishing-Licences.aspx to apply and pay for your license.
Beware. It is highly likely you will be boarded by Fisheries Department Inspectors while in Kimberley waters. They have the right to search your vessel and they will fine you for infringement of size and possession limits. Download the latest book of rules from the Fisheries website. http://www.fish.wa.gov.au/Documents/recreational_fishing/rec_fishing_guide/recreational_fishing_guide.pdf
Mud Crab Pots/Traps. It is illegal in WA to have a Queensland or Northern Territory style enclosed crab trap in your possession, let alone use one to catch a crab. If you are travelling from the east, leave the crab traps in Darwin. Fisheries will confiscate them and fine you if you have them on board in WA waters, even if you have them stowed under stuff in a foredeck locker and have no intention of using them in WA. Here is a KCCYC forum post regarding crab traps. https://kccyc.org/topic/dont-use-crab-traps-in-west-australian-waters/
Firearms on Board.
Most of the Kimberley coast between the WA/NT border and King Sound is now Marine Park. Below is an extract from information sent to me by a Marine Parks Ranger relating to firearms and ammunition in marine parks.
A person may be in possession of a firearm however unless otherwise authorised it must be stowed and disassembled (bolt out etc). See attached Reg. 12, these regulations apply for all “CALM Lands” including marine and national parks. General firearm regulations for WA would also apply as any other public lands/waters, for example licensing and any restrictions on that licence.
(1) A person must not, without lawful authority, have in his or her possession on CALM land a firearm or ammunition unless that thing —
(a) is completely stowed within a vehicle or vessel; and
(b) in the case of a firearm, is unloaded and disassembled.
Penalty: a fine of $2 000.
CALM land means land, or land and waters, to which these regulations apply, and includes caves and parts of caves on or under that land;
Here is a forum post from 2016 about crocodiles and firearms, which is still relevant. https://kccyc.org/topic/firearms/
KCCYC Annual Beach Parties.
Since 2012 we have organized the annual KCCYC Beach Party. In the early years it was held at the Berkeley River Lodge, but the new BRL owners changed the rules, so it is now held at Caves Beach, near Palm Island in the middle of the Kimberley coast cruising grounds. Not the easiest spot in Australia to get to, but certainly worth the effort.
Caves Beach was chosen for its safe anchorage just off the beach, it’s shady rock pillars, tidal caves to explore only meters away, clean shell grit sand, easy tender access and best of all, the locality has many attractions to explore while you are there.
Attendance has varied over the years, from just a few boats to over 11 boats and 24 crew in 2021. Given that this is one of the most remote places on the Australian coast for cruising boats to reach, we were all excited to be there.
Most boats arrive a few days before the party and leave over the following week, allowing time to explore the area together, with many opportunities to socialize. Old friendships are strengthened, and new friends made.
Crew changes and replenishing supplies from Kununurra by float plane is also high on the agenda. But book the flights well in advance, as this is the high tourist season for the charter aircraft.
The Beach Party is open to crew off any private cruising boat in the area at the time. KCCYC membership is not required.
The date is usually early July and will be announced in the website each year.
It is very much a BYO everything, but after a little
pre-party organizing amongst the crews, a Bar BQ plate is found on board someone’s boat and food becomes a bring a plate and share with all affair. Even if you are running low on supplies, don’t fret, as someone will have excess food they are happy to share.
List of Places to Visit along the Kimberley Coast.
If you’re planning your first sailing or power boat trip along the Kimberley Coast, you are probably struggling with decisions on choosing which of the hundreds of places you want to visit in the limited time you will be at sea in the area.
Don’t expect to see everything in one dry season, even if you plan to be out there for 6 months. There is just too much to see and do. Even our most experienced KCCYC Members, with multiple seasons under their belts sailing and exploring the area, will tell you there is always somewhere new to discover each time they visit the Kimberley.
To help you choose your cruising plan, we have put together a list of the interesting, popular, and scenic places generally visited by private cruising boats. We’ve also included a few “out of the way” spots that aren’t often visited.
We’ve also linked a heap of info to many of the locations for you to research.
KCCYC Members can download the list from the Anchorages pages here.
We have no idea of everyone’s interests, capabilities, cruising speed, fuel range etc. But hopefully the list will assist you as a tool to make plans based on your particular parameters.
Fishing can be Fantastic in the Kimberley Coast.
Paul, a long-standing KCCYC Kimberley Member and past Manager at McGowan Island Camping Ground, sent me these photos of a few of the Barra caught by him and friends late January 2020 in a Kimberley river.
Unless you are there early in the dry season, don’t expect to catch Barra like these. After the wet season run-off, the Barra are fewer and much harder to find in the Kimberley coast during the dry season.
Unlike the Northern Territory river systems, which have vast areas of Barramundi breeding wetlands with extensive river systems that have unrestricted access to the sea, the Kimberley coast rivers are mostly much shorter, without huge wetlands where Barra can breed, and often the access to the wetlands is blocked by rock bars and waterfalls, preventing easy access to the wetlands.
The upside is that there are plenty of better eating fish such as Mangrove Jack and Golden Snapper, which can be caught all year round.
Fuel Availability along the Kimberley Coast and across the top end from Cairns to Darwin.
We recently updated the Anchorage Pages with the latest information on buying marine fuel along the Kimberley coast between Wyndham and Broome. KCCYC members can download the pdf from http://kccyc.org.au/anchorage-pdf-downloads/
We also added a new page to the website with a Google map showing the main marine fuel locations between Cairns and Broome. http://kccyc.org.au/northern-australia-marine-fuel-queensland-to-west-australia/
Crocodiles are getting cheekier and more aggressive on the Kimberley Coast. Dinghy attacked, crew stranded.
Accounts of crocodiles stalking boaties on Kimberley Coast waters should serve as a warning to vessels cruising northern Australian waters. Rubber duckies, small dinghies and paddling craft such as kayaks are not suitable as tenders in this area.
One report was of an attack near Water Pipe Bay in Swift Bay around late 2013 dry season when a croc tore the transom out of a small RIB and stalked the 2 crew for days. They were stranded ashore, living off oysters, and luckily managed to find fresh water. Rescue came by way of experienced Darwin based boaties who were about to leave the area and spotted the stranded couple waving frantically.
The 6-meter croc in this photo stalked and followed the writer’s tender in Mudge Bay, which is not far from Water Pipe Bay, so it’s possibly the same croc. Be wary in this area.
This might be a good time to remind people heading to the Kimberley coast about the importance of always taking a small, cheap, personal EPIRB and a hand held VHF radio with them when they go ashore, or leave their mother vessel in a tender for any reason.
Two other separate incidents of crocodiles stalking small craft happened within days of each other on the Governor Islands and in the Drysdale River late in the 2012 dry season. On both occasions, Don MacLeod from Don’s Camp in the Drysdale River, rescued the people involved. ABC News reported these incidents at the time. Click here for the ABC report.
The “General Information” leaflet in the Anchorage pages of this web site has information and strategies related to safety around crocodiles.