30 Jul 2024

Stunning reefs and indigenous art – a Kimberley Coast adventure

Our Kimberley Explorer voyage continued as we embarked on a Zodiac cruise to Montgomery Reef, the largest inshore tropical reef system in the world. As we arrived, the tide ebbed the reef, and the glorious brown calcareous algae emerged. The rapids ran wild with billions of litres per second cascading off the reef. As we cruised up the river, the current increased, and the turtles played in the eddies and sea snakes were observed along the journey. With the full reef exposed at low tide, we returned to Heritage Adventurer for a tasty lunch and to relocate to our next location, Freshwater Cove.

Freshwater Cove is a site for the Wunambal Gaambera indigenous group. Upon arrival, we were greeted by Raylani and Gideon with a ‘Welcome to Country’ ceremony, and walked to the overhang cave to see the Wandjina art. It was a fascinating experience as local guide Neil interpreted the stories and artwork, guiding us through what we saw. We returned to the Freshwater Cove beach for a conversation with local guides Naomi, Raylani, Gideon and Neil.

After a fantastic day, the evening finished with another stunning sunset and a BBQ onboard.

Images © S. Tranmer, Heritage Expeditions