Located in Talbot Bay, the Horizontal Waterfall was named a natural wonder of the world by renowned naturalist, Sir David Attenborough. The waterfall forms due to a fast-moving tidal flow being forced between two narrow gorges of the McLarty Range. The powerful currents create a waterfall effect that is horizontal instead of vertical.
The wet season hits the Kimberley each year from October until March. During this time, the region sees some of the highest rainfall in Australia. The influx of water means that waterfalls such as the Mitchell Falls flow fast and freely. The nearby Mitchell Plateau provides a haven for birdwatchers with its populations of white-bellied sea eagles, brahminy kites and brolgas.
Dugong Bay in the Buccaneer Archipelago features exquisite reefs and an abundance of marine life including sharks, countless species of tropical fish and seasnakes. It is also home to a healthy population of dugongs, which feed on the extensive beds of seagrass that can be found in the bay and surrounds.
Some 20,000 humpback whales migrate up the Kimberley coast each year to give birth and nurse their young at Camden Sound. The calves spend their first months of life in the Kimberley waters, growing strong enough to make the long journey back to the Antarctic for the summer months.
The Kimberley region has been described as one of the last wild places on our planet. The coastline extends for thousands of kilometres and displays some of the most amazing marine biodiversity that has been found in recent times.
Dugong Bay features hidden waterfalls, freshwater pools and widespread mangrove areas. Mangrove forests play an important part in supporting the biodiversity of this region, providing breeding grounds for prawns, mud crabs and fish. These animals are, in turn, important food sources for inshore dolphin species such as the Australian Snubfin dolphin (Orcaella heinsohni) and the Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin (Sousa chinensis).
Ancient rock art can be found in caves throughout the Deception Bay area. Sacred sites scattered along the Kimberley coast are of cultural importance to the Indigenous peoples of the area. Protection of these areas will mean these sites can be preserved for many years to come.
The Kimberley coast encompasses critical habitats for endangered shark species like this tawny nurse shark (Nebrius ferrugineus). Maintaining populations of these large marine predators is an integral part of ensuring the health of marine ecosystems.
Home Travel Destinations Gallery: New Kimberley Marine Park
Exploring the Kimberley by land delivers a more immersive and cultural experience, and you don’t have to rough it, with luxurious lodges to stay in.
“One of the things our guests enjoy most about the rockpools is meeting the resident clownfish in water at a depth of only a few inches.”
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From cuddly companions to realistic native Australian wildlife, the range also includes puppets that move and feel like real animals.