7 Night Sale River & Buccaneer Archipelago Explorer

Day 1 Fly from Derby into Yampi Sound
Board your light aircraft in the afternoon at Derby and enjoy a scenic flight across the Buccaneer Archipelago to Cockatoo Island. Be amazed by a low level pass over the Horizontal Falls and the spectacular iron ore mines at Koolan and Cockatoo.

After a short tour of the island and a look at the wilderness resort with its famous infinity pool, we welcome you on board the King Tide. We are in Yampi Sound ready to explore and fish the most amazing waters in the world. We will visit some of the superb anchorages listed below in order to arrive at the Sale River with the Spring tides.

Elephant Island

Explore the ultra scenic western Talbot Bay and catch your first feed of fresh fish from the Creeks.Visit a waterfall under a rainforest canopy. Here we will fish mangrove creeks for Barramundi, Threadfin Salmon and Mangrove Jack.

Dugong Bay

Away from the crowds at the Horizontal Falls is a bay enclosed in steep quartzite cliffs. Waterfalls cascade from their heights .We will fish and explore creeks hidden in the mangroves. Here we find resident crocodiles and Barramundi chasing the bait up with the tide.

Talbot Bay

We will go for an exciting ride in the tenders through the Horizontal Waterfalls and experience the power of the tides rushing through the gaps. Hand feed friendly Tawny Nurse sharks at our anchorage, swim with them if you dare.

Montgomery Reef

Catch the outgoing tide to the famous Montgomery Reef and watch the water recede and the 600 square km of reef rise out of the water creating thousands of waterfalls.  Walk the reef and see the myriad reef life including Dugongs, Turtles, sharks and rays. No anchorage here so we proceed to Doubtful Bay.

Raft Point
A climb up a bushy track leads to an incredible Aboriginal art site featuring some of most famous Wandjina paintings in the North West.   The view from the site is spectacular looking over Steep Island and Doubtful Bay.

Ruby Falls

Visit the beautiful Ruby Falls for a swim and climb up to explore explore the headwaters.Swim again in lilly lined pools draped by fragrant Weeping Paperbarks and Frangipani.

Three Ways

Cruise to the fantastic 3-ways creek system for some excellent estuary fishing .Here we encounter all sorts including Black Jewfish, Flowery Cod, Queenfish, Trevally, Salmon, Barramundi Mangrove Jack and Mudcrabs.

Sale River
Zoom up the 20km of gorges of the Sale River in the tenders.This is one of the most beautiful rivers in the Kimberley.   Get above the highest rockbar on the top of the tide where the fresh meets the salt and explore a fantastic rainforest with springfed creek. Swim in the cool fresh water with the local cherabin.

Glenelg River

At the northern end of Doubtful Bay in the uncharted George Water lies the Glenelg River. This is the Barramundi spot of renown. We could fish and explore this remote area for days, but we sadly we must head for our home port.

Yampi Sound
Collect large blacklip oysters then cruise up Silvergull Creek to Squatters Arms for a bbq lunch .At the site of a natural spring, Phil and Marion have set up a tropical paradise replete with a hot freshwater pool .Float around and listen to some amazing yarns.  Here you will have the opportunity to purchase some unique Kimberley jewellery carved from mother of pearl and black coral.

Silica Beach
Start the morning with a swim at the famous Crocodile Creek waterfall.  Cruise past the Yampi Sound pearl farm to Hidden Island which is home to Silica Beach.A pure white beach made from silica for a relaxing swim.  Fish here for some big GT. We then visit a deserted beach to wander around and beachcomb and collect oysters.  We will have a sunset beach BBQ to end this wonderful day.

Strickland Bay
We then visit Ediline Island that has fascinating patterns weathered into is slate stone and the last resting point of ancient pearlers.  Many turtles nest on this island from time to time and there is a good chance of finding one.  As the tide rises its up the Kyulgum River to a large waterfall and plunge pool for a dip.  After a refreshing swim we anchor at a spot where we hand feed our gentle Tawny Nurse Sharks.

Cone Bay to Derby

Anchor at the head of the bay where we are amazed by the giant round boulders resting above the pebble beach. Visit X&X's, an abandoned hermits camp nestled in a gorge that has a freshwater spring amongst rainforest.  Sail through Hells gate, a tidal pass with huge whirlpools and upwellings to Cascade Bay and then sail through to Derby stopping at Doctors Creek for a last dab at the delectable Mudcrabs.

This is a suggested itinerary only and is subject to change due to passengers preferences and the vast tidal range of the region.

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