For Bart Pigram, Founder of Narlijia Tours in Rubibi/Broome, his hope is for those who take his tour to feel that they have made a ‘true’ connection to Broome.
‘Narli’ means ‘true, proper, authentic’ and ‘jia’ means ‘true authentic for you’. I called the company Narlijia because I don’t focus on the glossy side of the pearling industry in WA. Truth-telling is a major part of reconciliation and I cut deep with some tragic stories that no other operator dares to tell. I have been running tours for seven years and I don’t shy away from anything. It’s a revelation. I want to change the narrative. If I wasn’t so committed to continuing our traditional knowledge and practice I would not be in a position to absorb the true living spirituality of the landscape, its beauty and environmental and cultural significance. It is my responsibility to communicate to others the truth about Western Australia’s colonial history and how that impacted our ancestors and the ripple effect that has had on our circumstances today.
“It is my responsibility to communicate to others the truth about Western Australia’s colonial history," says Bart Pigram.
I learned about my culture from my grandmother, through music and heritage, and how that glues people together. What I am most proud of as a Yawuru man is speaking the language, practising the culture and being connected to the Country of my paternal grandmother, who passed away a few years ago. I am a saltwater man and I belong to the Pigram-Puertollano family, who have a long tradition of pearling and performing. I have two Filipino great-great-grandfathers who arrived here due to the pearling industry and married Aboriginal women. That is a common social history in Broome and acknowledging that is a great way to connect visitors with Broome’s history.
“My hope is that anyone who takes my tour feels they have made a ‘true’ connection to Broome."
My hope is that anyone who takes my tour feels they have made a ‘true’ connection to Broome. I’m not talking about lapping up the great weather and beaches, I’m talking about sponging up its fascinating social, political, industrial, cultural and environmental history, which is pretty unique. I have a very strong spiritual connection to this land. I feel the country. When I take visitors on my Mangrove Discovery Experience tour we walk on Country through Roebuck Bay, which is significant both culturally and historically for Broome. We also trek through jabalbal (mudflats) where I talk about the cultural significance of mangroves, and visit the site where first contact happened between pearlers and Aboriginal people. This historic site is a place I’m rooted to both as an Australian and Indigenous person. I also guide groups to a site in Broome that, apart from the dinosaur footprints on the western side of the town, is a very important cultural site with artefacts and Dreamtime stories.
I grew up in Broome and I love living here, but if I do have time off I go to Lake Eda because that is my great-great-great grandmother’s Country. It’s a beautiful lake on the north-eastern side of Roebuck Plains and the largest lake in Yawuru Country. It is full of birdlife and attracts goannas, kangaroos and turkeys so it’s a great hunting ground. When I’m there I whisper, wish and pray for our ancestors to look after us and to provide us with food and fish. It’s off the beaten track for sure. You won’t find busloads of tourists, just the odd birdwatcher.
From thundering waterfalls to ancient Indigenous art, Kimberley’s raw beauty will take your breath away.
Wild, pristine, and shaped by nature, the Kimberley Coast is one of Australia’s most spectacular landscapes. A remote and rugged frontier that remains a bucket list destination for many travellers. Its most breathtaking attractions – including Montgomery Reef, King George Falls and Horizontal Falls – are accessible only by sea or air, making a guided expedition cruise aboard Silversea’s luxury expedition ship, Silver Cloud, the ideal way to explore it.
From its intricate intertidal zones to ancient rock art, extreme tides and rare wildlife found nowhere else in Australia – or the world – this journey offers an unparalleled exploration of one of Earth’s last true wildernesses.
Why Silversea?
Silversea offers a 10-day expedition departing Broome, or an extended 16-day expedition voyage from Indonesia, including landings on the hidden gems of Palopo Sulawesi and Komodo. Accompanied by expert guides and specialists in marine biology, history and geology, guests gain a deeper understanding of the Kimberley’s dramatic landscapes, rich cultural heritage and extraordinary biodiversity.
Silversea offers one of the experiential travel industry’s leading crew-to-guest ratios. Along with all-suite accommodation (80 per cent with private verandah), 24-hour butler service, a swimming pool and four dining options. Silver Cloud also has an experienced crew of multilingual expedition guides and specialists in marine biology, history and geology to enhance your Kimberley Experience.
Take a dip in the pool deck.
1. Koolama Bay
Before visitors see King George Falls, they hear them – a growing rumble in the distance, steady and foreboding as the Zodiac glides through the gorge, the sound echoing off sheer rock formations. At 80 meters tall, the twin cascades carve through the red cliffs, churning the waters below in a spectacular finale – but Koolama Bay holds secrets beyond its striking scenery.
Named after a ship that beached here following an aerial attack by Japanese bombers in World War II, the bay may seem desolate, yet it teems with life. With Silversea’s expert guides on their 10-day Kimberley itinerary, guests gain a sharper eye for its hidden wonders – rock wallabies darting across the cliffs, crocodiles lurking among dense green mangroves, and high above, the silhouette of a bird of prey circling the sky.
Take a shore excursion to see King George Falls.
2. Freshwater Cove / Wijingarra Butt Butt
Connect with Country on a wet landing at Freshwater Cove, also known as Wijingarra Butt Butt. Considered one of the most special experiences on both the 16-day and 10-day Kimberley cruises, Silversea guests are welcomed by the traditional Indigenous custodians of the land, painted with traditional ochre, and invited to take part in a smoking ceremony.
Located on the mainland near Montgomery Reef, Wijingarra Butt Butt holds deep cultural significance to the local Indigenous community. Here, rock formations along the shore represent spiritual ancestors, and guests are guided to a nearby rock overhang filled with ancient art, where traditional owners share the stories and meaning behind these sacred paintings.
Take part in a smoking ceremony. (Image: Tim Faircloth)
3. Vansittart Bay (Jar Island)
Modern history, ancient culture and mystery converge in Vansittart Bay, which is also known as Jar Island. Here, the first thing to catch the eye is the dented, silver fuselage of a World War II-era C-53 plane – a striking relic of the past. Yet, the true cultural treasures lie just a short hike away where two distinct styles of Indigenous rock art – Gwion Gwion and Wandjina – can be found.
The Wandjina figures, deeply connected to Indigenous traditions, stand in stark contrast to the enigmatic Gwion Gwion (Bradshaw) paintings, which date back more than 12,000 years. Significantly different in form and style, the two different styles create a striking juxtaposition, offering a rare glimpse into the region’s rich and complex past.
Explore ancient Gwion Gwion rock art at Vansittart Bay. (Image: Janelle Lugge)
4. Horizontal Falls
Part illusion, part natural phenomenon, the Kimberley’s much-lauded Horizontal Falls aren’t a waterfall, but a tidal and geographic spectacle that visitors have to see to comprehend. Known as Garaanngaddim, the phenomenon occurs when seawater rushes through two narrow gaps- one just twenty metres wide, and the other seven metres in width, between the escarpments of Talbot Bay.
With each tidal shift,the force of the water creates whirlpools, furious currents and the illusion of a horizontal cascade as thousands of gallons of water are pushed and pulled in through the gap every six hours with relentless movement, making this one of the Kimberley ’s most mesmerising natural wonders.
Watch whirlpools and furious currents collide. (Image: Janelle Lugge)
5. Montgomery Reef
As the tide turns in Montgomery Reef, magic happens. With the Kimberley’s legendary tides varying up to ten metres, at low tide the submerged reef almost appears to rise from the depths: exposing up to four metres of the sandstone reef.
The impact is otherworldly: as the water drains, waterfalls cascade on either side of the channel,turtles left exposed scramble and dive, and fish leap in search of sanctuary in shallow pools. Meanwhile, the dinner bell rings for the migratory seabirds dugongs, reef sharks and dolphins that scavenge and feast in the area.
Using zodiacs, guests cruise through one of the world’s most significant inshore reef systems navigated by experienced guides, exploring the most intricate and fascinating parts of a 300-square-kilometre-wide biodiversity hotspot.
Witness seabirds, dolphins and reef sharks on the hunt.
6. Mitchell Falls by Helicopter
Experiencing the Kimberley by sea allows you to feel the power of the tides, but travelling by helicopter reveals the sandstone tapestry of the Kimberley, a landscape geologists believe is over 1.8 billion years old.
One of Silversea’s most popular optional excursions, guests who opt to fly into the interior from the onboard helipad soar up above the rust-coloured landscape of the Mitchell plateau, taking in one of Australia’s most scenic waterfalls: Mitchell Falls, a series of four emerald-coloured pools gently cascades into each other, before plunging down to the river below.
Seeing the landscape from above reveals a landscape weaved and shaped by the power of the freshwater wet season, juxtaposed to the constant lapping of the relentless and powerful tide on the coast.
See emerald pools cascade into the river below. (Image: Tim Faircloth)
7. Indigenous Art Caves, Wandjina Art
The Kimberley Region of Western Australia is home to some of the most striking and significant
Indigenous rock art in Australia. Dotted throughout the landscape are caves, cliffs and rock overhangs depicting the striking, ethereal image of Wandjina, the rainmaker spirit and creation being central to many of the Dreamtime stories in this region.
Some of the paintings are regularly repainted by traditional custodians, while others are believed to be over 4,000 years old. Each artwork serves as both a cultural record and a living connection to the past, offering a rare opportunity to engage with the enduring traditions of the Kimberley’s Indigenous communities.
Walk among cultural records preserved in stone. (Image: Tim Faircloth)
