Thurs, 21st April, 2022 Kimberley Coast Cruise, WA (Montgomery Reef, Red Cone Creek and Ruby Falls etc)

We arrived at Montgomery Reef just after sunrise which was blocked by a band of cloud.

The maps.

Another Coral Expedition ships is here - Coral Adventurer - who has just left Broome. The Adventurer’s guests are already out and about.

We boarded the Xplorer and headed in to the reef. This fringing reef is huge and can be 5 metres high depending on the tide movement. Phillip Parker King named it after Andrew Montgomery, the surgeon on this ship, ‘Bathurst’. There is a long channel that we can run along to watch the sea water pour off the reef as the tide lowers. The zodiacs are on hand too so people can get up close to the falls though the Xplorer gets in just as close and it is covered!

A sandy island is appearing with the lowering tide and the reef is in the background.

Only 5 years ago people were allowed to walk on it but that has been banned now so we can’t see the inland lake where the water remains with brighter corals, fish etc. The edge of the reef is like a levee bank and in places where it has worn down the water flows down in waterfalls. Fabulous. There were only a few birds about and the lumps are bits of coral growing up. Ian stayed on the Xplorer with us and told us lots of information about plants and animals and the aborigines who lived on an island nearby but vanished years ago. They were seafaring people who travelled on rafts - maybe they were at sea and got swamped or a cyclone hit and they were all lost at sea (300 or so of them) but it is an unanswered question of what happened to the whole clan. Others got on the zodiacs. As we progressed up the channel the tide continued to drop and the waterfalls improved. We spotted some turtles too.

Back to the ship for a late cuppa and Mike’s presentation on the sea life of the Kimberley. Things have changed names now - Starfish are Sea Stars same for Jellyfish - they are Sea Jelly as neither are fish. Very interesting.

The ship moved position into Doubtful Bay. Here we are going between Raft Point on the right and Steep Island on the left (also called the Ayres Rock of the Sea).

Easy to see the tide marks on the islands.

Passing through.

Looking back.

The moving map shows our new location.

Smoke on the hills - bit early for burn-offs, maybe from some lightning strike.

We boarded the Xplorer and headed up Red Cone Creek for a swim above Ruby Falls. Spotted a few boabs on the way and lots of mangroves - did I say there are 17 varieties here - that bit of info has stuck in my head.

The creek narrowed then we turned the corner and here is a lovely waterfall. Jamie and Jesse had left earlier in a zodiac to put up the rope so we can climb up the rocks to get to the creek above. We can’t swim in the pool below the falls as crocs are known to frequent the area when the tide rises up into the pool.

Looking back at the narrow gap.

Slowly does it up the rocks.

The Xplorer left for a cruise with those who weren’t up to the climb. The last ones climb up the rock face.

Nice view.

Followed the others along the rocks past another smaller falls up the top then the creek where the pandanas are.

Through some grass then down the rocks and everyone was ready for a swim. Steve in first - thumbs up.

We did some laps then sat on the rocks chatting. I loved floating in the water and listening to the voices and the sound of the rapids through the water. Steve got out and took some photos.

Had a lovely soak. Jamie etc wandered further along the creek trying to see where the fire was. There is another big pool further up. 

We were all refreshed from being in the water so long so we were ready to head back. Now is that a boab or bottle tree. It is a boab but you can see why people confuse them as it looks more like a bottle.

I walked closer to the creek on the way back to get photos of the other falls.

The crew had stayed here and had their own dip in this pool and under the falls which was quite deep apparently.

Back to the top of the falls and down. The tide has come and some mullet are zooming in and out of the clear and muddy waters. Another great Gecko moment!

Everyone pointed at something on the rock below - a water monitor not a croc.

The Xplorer arrived back and we slowly made our way back down the rocks using the rope and back on board. Need another swim!

We heard a helicopter go over and then more smoke. Definitely is a burn-off though as the guys said it is too early as the grass is still too green.

Back on the ship for a late cuppa upstairs as we set off again back past Raft Point and Steep Island.

Through Collier Bay which has the highest tide variant of 13.5 metres. Lots of things floating in the water for the birds to rest on.

Drinks as the sun started to set. Played a couple of games of Canasta with Charlotte - she and her Mum were travelling with their aunt who unfortunately had to be taken to hospital via the helicopter. She is doing well now which is good.

After dinner I went up to the Bridge Deck Lounge to join some others for Bingo with Ilana. Not the conventional type as Ilana was just learning about bingo but we had a bit of fun and I managed to win a game and win a cap.

We continued ‘steaming’ to Talbot Bay where we anchored about 10pm.