The ultimate guide to visiting Horizontal Falls

Kassia ByrnesBy Kassia Byrnes
hero media
A unique natural phenomenon in the striking Kimberleys, Horizontal Falls is an underrated Australian wonder.

No photos can do justice to Horizontal Falls, the secret treasure of The Kimberleys that were so named by Sir David Attenborough himself, who also described them as “one of the greatest natural wonders in the world". There’s no way to get here on your own, but there are several tour options to experience this incredible natural phenomenon (including a stay on a floating luxury houseboat) – from day trips to spending a few nights on a liveaboard.

Horizontal Falls Seaplane Adventures jetboat through Horizontal Falls
Zoom through the Horizontal Falls on a jetboat.

What are the Horizontal Falls?

The Kimberley coast (and the northwest of Australia) has the highest tides on the continent, with a difference of up to 10 metres between low and high tide. These rapidly changing tides force themselves in and out of this large ocean inlet known as Talbot Bay, located around 250 kilometres from Broome, and consequently fights itself to rush through two small gaps (one 20 metres wide, the other only 10) in the Maclarty Ranges. The result? The Horizontal Falls. While not technically waterfalls, this rush of the changing tide does indeed mean that the water on one side is higher than the other, and that the water flows in different directions – something that is ever-changing depending on the tide flow. These aren’t the only falls of their kind in the world, but they are the deepest and most forceful.

aerial view of Horizontal Falls
See Horizontal Falls from above. (Image: Kassia Byrnes)

They also hold strong cultural significance to the Traditional Owners of Dambeemangarddee Country, who have lived on this sacred land for 56,000 years. They named this place Lalang-garram: a Worrorra word meaning ‘the saltwater as a spiritual place as well as a place of natural abundance’. And tell of how much of this Country was created by the writhing actions of a female Woongudd Snake. Woongudd’s power is most obvious in the movement of tides and whirlpools in the region, such as at Garaanngaddim (Horizontal Falls). The power of the whirlpools is the constant, visible and real manifestation and reminder of the presence and potency of Lalai (Law.)

“The Lalang-gaddam Marine Park Joint Management Plan is a modern way for us to remember our elders and ancestors," the Traditional Owners shared in a statement. The falls are on Aboriginal Reserve Land, meaning they have exclusive possession native title over the area. As such, local tour operators work with them to ensure visitors here are respectful, such as no longer driving speed boats through the middle of the smaller gap, as it, specifically, is sacred.

How do you get to the Horizontal Falls?

You must book a Horizontal Falls tour, all of which leave from either Broome or Derby. You’ll need to catch a seaplane or helicopter over the approximately 1.8 billion-year-old landscape for about an hour until you reach the falls and land in Talbot Bay. You can find direct flights to Broome from Perth and now Sydney as well. You can fly to Derby from Broome, book a Greyhound Australia bus during the week, or drive 2.5 hours.

Horizontal Falls Seaplane
Catch a seaplane from Broome or Derby. (Image: Kassia Byrnes)

The best time to visit Horizontal Falls

The tour season is from May to September (depending on the weather and the wet season), while the tides are at their highest and therefore the Horizontal Falls at their most spectacular. While this may be winter, with temperatures typically ranging from 20 degrees Celsius to 27 degrees Celsius, it’s actually the perfect time to be in Western Australia.

Horizontal Falls tours

Tour options range from half or full day in and out, to luxury liveaboard packages that include all food and activities. While you’re there, tour activities can include jetboats through the Horizontal Falls, swimming with sharks (you’ll be safe in a glass box), helicopter rides (unmissable), fishing, boat tours around the rest of Talbot Bay and more. Discover all your options at our comprehensive guide to Horizontal Falls tours here.

Horizontal Falls Seaplane Adventures over Talbot Bay
Enjoy a bird’s-eye view of Talbot Bay.
Kassia Byrnes
Kassia Byrnes is the Native Content Editor for Australian Traveller and International Traveller. She's come a long way since writing in her diary about family trips to Grandma's. After graduating a BA of Communication from University of Technology Sydney, she has been writing about her travels (and more) professionally for over 10 years for titles like AWOL, News.com.au, Pedestrian.TV, Body + Soul and Punkee. She's addicted to travel but has a terrible sense of direction, so you can usually find her getting lost somewhere new around the world. Luckily, she loves to explore and have new adventures – whether that’s exploring the backstreets, bungee jumping off a bridge or hiking for days. You can follow her adventures on Instagram @probably_kassia.
See all articles
From laid-back to luxury: exploring the Kimberley two ways
Kimberley

From laid-back to luxury: exploring the Kimberley two ways

The Kimberley’s red landscape is iconic, but its true colours run deeper than the eye can see. From a croc cruise to wild bush luxury and cultural ceremony, the region reveals its many layers.

Read more
A Kimberley cruise drifts beneath King George Falls, where sheer sandstone cliffs frame the thunderous plunge into turquoise waters. Discover the best of Australia's North West cruises.
Kimberley

6 reasons the best way to experience the Kimberley is by cruise

This remote corner of Australia is one of the world’s last frontiers. This is how to see it properly.

Read more
flying over Horizontal Falls in a seaplane
Kimberley

Unforgettable Horizontal Falls tours to choose from

From the sky or the sea, these Horizontal Falls tours need to be on your bucket list.

Read more
a couple in the pool at Lake Argyle
Kimberley

Inspire your senses with these iconic East Kimberley stays

The East Kimberley should be on every bucket list, and here’s why.

Read more
hero media

Your Mandurah guide: art, dining & dolphins await in WA’s coastal gem

    Monique CeccatoBy Monique Ceccato
    Continue
    Discover the perfect road trip stopover between Perth and wine country.

    Western Australia punches above its weight when it comes to coastal hot spots, but no other town or city has seen a tourism boom quite like Mandurah. Named Australia’s Top Tourism Town in 2023 , it’s the relaxed, beachside break you’ve been searching for. And it’s perfectly placed, sitting between Margaret River and Perth, as it’s just a 55-minute drive from Perth’s CBD. Which is why we’ve put together your ultimate Mandurah guide.

    Aerial view of Mandurah.
    Plan your perfect coastal escape to Australia’s Top Tourism Town of 2023.

    The best things to do in Mandurah

    Wetlands and rivers, ocean and inlet; Mandurah’s laid-back lifestyle centres around the aquatic. Its waterways cover twice the ground of Sydney Harbour – measuring some 134 square kilometres in total – and form a unique environment for oceanic and estuarine flora and fauna to thrive.

    In the city’s estuary lives perhaps the region’s most famed inhabitants – a resident pod of 100 bottlenose dolphins – and the inlet’s silty bottom is home to the prized blue manna crab. Spot the former breaching and playing on an hour-long dolphin cruise through the channels, or try your hand at catching the latter by wading through the estuary’s shallows with a scoop net in hand.

    While swimming at the circular Kwillena Gabi Pool, chance encounters with the local wildlife aren’t uncommon. The sheltered estuarine pool takes its name from the traditional custodians of the land, the Bindjareb people, and directly translates to ‘dolphin waters’. Jutting out of the eastern foreshore, it’s enclosed by a ring of net-free floating pontoons, which allow the dolphins to swim freely through the attraction.

    If that’s a little too close for comfort, book a kayak tour with Down Under Discoveries . The dolphins have been known to cruise beside the paddle-powered crafts, which are a fun, family-friendly way to explore the city’s inner waterways.

    Dolphins swimming in Mandurah.
    Watch dolphins glide by as you explore Mandurah.

    You don’t have to be on the water to appreciate the coastal city’s aquatic beauty, with 600 kilometres of cycleways and scenic walking trails traversing Mandurah’s estuary, inlet and coast.

    Follow the 30-kilometre coastal trail and you’ll come face to face with one of Thomas Dambo’s headline-making ‘Giants of Mandurah  sculptures, Santi Ikto, along the way. There are five sculptures around Mandurah in total, hidden among gum-filled reserves or sitting sentry over the water.

    Head to the Mandurah Visitor Centre to pick up a map to pinpoint their exact location and download the traveller’s companion to learn more about the sights along the way. Or join a three-hour e-bike tour from The Bike Kiosk and you’ll stop by two of the giants – Santi Ikto and Yaburgurt Winjan Cirkelstone – as you sightsee central Mandurah.

    The towering Santi Ikto, one of Thomas Dambo’s iconic Giants of Mandurah.
    Meet Santi Ikto, one of the legendary Giants of Mandurah.

    Where to eat in Mandurah

    Mandurah’s culinary scene reflects its laid-back lifestyle, with large, honest meals and locally brewed beer. After visiting Lake Clifton’s 2000-year-old thrombolites, head to the peppermint and gum-shaded beer garden at Thorny Devil Brewery . Tuck into a platter of house-smoked meats and an ale pulled fresh from the tanks. Closer to town and right on the waterfront is Boundary Island Brewery ; here, woodfired pizza, pub-style seafood dishes and easy-drinking brews are centre stage.

    On a Murray River Lunch Cruise , the focus is as much on the environment around you as the food you’re filling up on. Help yourself to the colourful salads and freshly cooked meats on the buffet as you meander up the winding, jarrah tree-lined waterway, stopping at the heritage Cooper’s Mill for a quick walking tour along the way.

    Keep your eyes trained on the Creery Wetlands as you pass – you’ll spot much of the region’s migratory birdlife, and, as always, might see the playful bottlenose dolphins in the inlet.

    The most memorable meals aren’t necessarily always the fanciest, and lunch aboard a self-skippered Mandurah BBQ Boat is a testament to that. All food and beverage prep is left up to you as you cruise through the canals, sausages and steaks sizzling away on the central hot plate.

    If seafood is more your kind of fare, board the Wild Seafood Experience , where dolphin cruise meets long table lunch. Eight courses of crab, crayfish and scallops await.

    A table filled with plates of crab, crayfish, and scallops.
    Dine on the water with eight courses of ocean-fresh fare.

    Where to stay in Mandurah

    With so many waterways comes abundant waterside stays. Like the self-contained Seashells Mandurah on the shores of Comet Bay. The calm, oceanic outlook from the one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments and villas is as close to Maldivian as Mandurah gets. Families especially enjoy the property, bouncing between the protected cove and the beachfront pool for endless hours of fun.

    Seashells Mandurah; on the shores of Comet Bay.
    Stay right by the sea.

    The Sebel Mandurah , just a hop, skip and jump from the Mandurah Ocean Marina, has a different outlook entirely, overlooking the estuary and lively foreshore on the other side. It’s also within walking distance of the Mandurah Performing Arts Centre , cinema and a swathe of waterfront bars and eateries.

    But you can’t get any closer to the water than on a vessel from Mandurah Houseboats . You don’t need a skipper’s ticket to hire one, nor do you need comprehensive boating experience; just a full driver’s license and your undivided attention during the pre-departure tuition will do. Then you’re free to take to the estuaries and tributaries for a few nights of peaceful rest, surrounded by the very element that makes Mandurah so special.

    A houseboat cruising in Mandurah along the river
    Captain a houseboat to explore Mandurah at your own pace.

    Plan your next WA getaway in Mandurah.