Unforgettable Horizontal Falls Tours to Choose From

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

There are several ways to explore the mighty Horizontal Falls, but how to pick the best Horizontal Falls tours? The good news is, there’s something for everyone depending on budget, time to spare and preferred way to travel. Here, we discuss all your options.

Kimberley Day Cruise — See Horizontal Falls fall from the air, or from water level.

Horizontal Falls Scenic Flight tours

To really understand the majesty and soak in the colours of The Kimberleys, your best option is by air. While all boat tours will also include a seaplane ride into the area, many Horizontal Falls tours will pick you up from Broome or Derby, soar you over and around the falls and back again. Expect incredible views, and incredible ease (you don’t even need to get out of the plane).

1. Broome Aviation

As the longest-standing aviation company in Broome (operating since 1982), Broom Aviation has its Horizontal Falls tours down pat. They currently offer six different day tours out of Broome, starting from $750 for an adult, all flying you over the top of the falls in a small plane.

The main benefit of choosing one of these tours is that you’ll get to see a lot of other nearby highlights on the same flight: Cygnet Bay Pearl Farm, Mitchell Falls, Windjana Gorge, the Bungle Bungles and more all make appearances on different itineraries. Some places even included a short time on the ground to explore further.

Broome Aviation horizontal falls tours — Get a bird’s-eye view with Broome Aviation.

2. Fly Broome

This family-owned scenic and charter flight company is also based out of Broome and offers a half or full-day Fly The Falls tour , starting at $745 for adults. The half-day tour will fly over the top, but the full-day tour also includes a Cygnet Bay Sea Safari. You’ll also enjoy a Cygnet Bay Pearl Farm tour and view Cape Leveque, Beagle Bay, the Lacepede Islands, James Price Point and more from above.

Horizontal Falls tours — Enjoy the view from the best seat in the house.

3. Air Kimberley

Choose from seven different scenic flights that take you over the majestic falls with Air Kimberley . With prices starting from $730 per adult, different options will also see you flying over Willie Creek Pearl Farm, stopping in at the Ardyaloon Trochus Hatchery and Aquaculture Centre, enjoying a bottle of sparkling as the sun goes down or even driving along one of the most remote Kimberley tracks through ancient Livistona Palm forest in an airconditioned 4WD.

Air Kimberley Horizontal Falls tours — View the falls then stop in scenic surrounds to enjoy a bottle of sparkling and nibbles.

4. Frontier Tours

Flying might be the best way to see the falls, but flying over this natural wonder in a helicopter is the pinnacle. It might be louder, but your view will be far less restricted. Frontier Tours offers six tours from around two to about eight hours, including a flight over Horizontal Falls, as part of the itinerary. The Horizontal Falls Discoverer departs from either Broome ($2,639pp) or Derby ($1,799pp) and Montgomery Reef & Horizontal Falls Discoverer from Broome ($3,089pp) or Derby ($2,249pp) both include landing in Talbot Bay and taking a boat tour through the falls, as well as lunch.

KAS Helicopters, Broome, Horizontal Falls tours — Flying over this natural wonder in a helicopter is unmissable. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)

Horizontal Falls boat tours

While the view may be more encompassing from above, to truly understand the might of the currents that make Horizontal Falls what it is, getting on the water is the best way to go.

1. Kimberley Day Cruise

While most Horizontal Falls tours will at least involve a flight of some kind, Kimberley Day Cruise offers something slightly different. Its full-day tour, departing Broome (for a 12-hour day) and Cygnet Bay (for an eight-hour day), will take you on an expedition vessel through the Kimberley region towards Talbot Bay, and right up to the falls. You won’t get to zoom through them as you can on jetboat activities offered by some other tour providers, but you can enjoy the natural beauty of these vibrant blue waterways. Starting at $1,075, the tour includes a four-course breakfast and a seven-course degustation lunch.

Kimberley Day Cruise dining — Dine on a four-course breakfast and a seven-course degustation lunch.

2. Horizontal Falls Seaplane Adventures

Get the best of both worlds when you take a half-day tour (starting from around $895 per person) with the region’s longest-running Horizontal Falls tour operators. Flying out of Broome, Derby or Cygnet Bay, catch a seaplane into Talbot Bay and relax on their main pontoon before jumping in a jetboat and zooming through the rushing tides of the falls themselves. The tour also includes a cruise through the wider area, a gourmet lunch of locally sourced Barramundi, a swim with sharks from the marine viewing platform and coach transfers to and from your original accommodation.

seaplane and jetboat with Horizontal Falls Seaplane Adventures — Get the best of both worlds on a half-day tour with Horizontal Falls Seaplane Adventures.

Horizontal Falls overnight tours

The only tour provider offering overnight stays is Horizontal Falls Seaplane Adventures. They have two options, depending on your budget. The first includes a stay in an air-conditioned cabin on board the houseboat (also in Talbot Bay). On top of the day trip offerings, you’ll get extra speedboat rides through the falls at different times of day, a helicopter ride, sunset appetisers and (BYO) drinks, dinner and breakfast. Prices start from $1215 per person.

The second is a luxury option aboard the newly refurbished Jetwave Pearl in the secluded nearby Cyclone Creek. To get the full guide on what to expect, read our tour review here.

cheese plate on Jetwave Pearl, Horizontal Falls Seaplane Adventures — Stay overnight with Horizontal Falls Seaplane Adventures.

For more insider tips and unforgettable experiences, read our guide to the Kimberley.

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.

silversea cruise ship pool deck — 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.

King George Falls at koolama bay excursion on Silversea Kimberley Cruise — 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.

welcome to country on freshwater cove during silversea kimberley cruise — 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.

aerial view of Vansittart Bay, See it in you Silversea Kimberley Cruise. — 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.

Horizontal Falls are described as "One of the greatest wonders of the natural world". They are formed from a break in-between the McLarty Ranges reaching up to 25m in width. The natural phenomenon is created as seawater builds up faster on one side of the gaps than the other, creating a waterfall up to 5m high on a King tide. — 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.

aerial view of boat going along Montgomery Reef — 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.

aerial view of mitchell falls on silversea helicopter excursion — 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.

Freshwater Cover Rock Art the kimberleys — Walk among cultural records preserved in stone. (Image: Tim Faircloth)

See the best of this incredible part of the world on a Silversea Kimberley cruise. Book your 10- or extended 16-day expedition voyage at silversea.com

Unforgettable Horizontal Falls tours to choose from