Reef Prince

Toiletries Provided Onboard

• Hairdryers
• Linen
• Towels
• Shampoo
• Conditioner
• Soap

Power Sockets

All power sockets are standard Australian Australian electricity runs on 220-240 V and 50 Hz. Please make sure your electronics accept 220 – 240 volts (V). 

Footwear Adventure

Expedition travel is about getting to remote places that are often rocky, sandy, wet and glasslands. Sturdy, comfortable footwear is essential. Each destination may have slightly different requirements however every cruise will require runners or walking boots that are worn in and comfortable. If you are worried about ankles etc make sure you have boots that support you.   

Important Note

For wet landings, cheaper neoprene reef shoes, flip-flops, and crocs are not suitable for any terrain. If you do not want to invest in a new pair of sandals, you can use old runners (that will get ruined) for getting your feet wet and then change into dry walking shoes. This does mean carrying a second pair of shoes and a hand towel to dry your feet. 

Your excursion footwear is probably the most important consideration when deciding what to bring. With 11m tides in the Kimberley and no wharfs to disembark onto, getting ashore will be different at each location. For the most part we bring the tenders as close to the shore as possible and you will be required to wade into shore through shallow water over sand, crushed coarse coral and rocks. Other options included disembarking onto rocky banks, dirt banks, dried mud banks and in one case, even onto a ladder.

The walks and climbs are also through varied terrain such as course and undulating rocks, spinifex grasslands, salt flats, mud flats, rough dirt paths and watercourses & waterfalls. Often during the tours we will be walking through water both on fresh and salt at many locations.

So with this in mind, the correct expedition shoe is critical.

Reef Prince would strongly suggest you invest in a pair of trekking sandals from a brand like Keen or Teva. There are many options in both mens and womens styles and when choosing consider a closed in toe, a solid sole with good tread, a decent arch support and quality straps that create a snug fitting around the top of your foot so it still remains firm and supportive when wet.

The advantage of these shoes is that they dry quickly when on the dedicated shoe rack onboard Reef Prince. This means they are usually dried and ready to go for the next activity.

As an alternate option you could use an old pair of sneakers or a pair of zip up dive booties but both don’t allow your foot to breathe during the excursions and they are slow to dry out. They won’t smell great by the end of the trip…

It is not uncommon to go ashore from the tenders multiple times during an excursion so with this in mind, it is not worth taking separate wet and dry shoes and swapping them over when you get to the beach. It simply takes too long and we don’t always finish where we start so you would have to carry them along with you.

Cheaper neoprene reef walking shoes, thongs and crocs are NOT suitable.

Sounds daunting? It’s not. Simply invest in a set of these shoes for your own comfort and safety and life aboard will be a lot easier. Whilst they are available from many retailers, Anaconda has an extensive range of both brands.

All vessels are equipped to deal with the majority dietary requirements with 4 weeks notice.  If you have any questions or concerns please speak with us prior to booking a cruise. 

• Reef Prince chef prepares a variety of delicious meals using fresh, local ingredients, including seafood. If you have dietary restrictions, just let us know.
• Breakfast is continental at 6 am, and every other day they serve a cooked breakfast at 7 am, with options like eggs, bacon, pancakes, and pastries.
• Lunch, around noon, offers hot dishes, salads, and sometimes soup. Fish is a popular choice.
• Both breakfast and lunch are self-service.
• Dinner is served differently, with table service for a special dining experience.

All meals feature local produce and fresh seafood when available.

Reef Prince chef will tempt your tastebuds with a plethora of culinary delights. If you have dietary concerns, let us know so we can adjust your culinary experience accordingly. Our meals are based on healthy local produce and fresh seafood wherever possible.

A continental breakfast is served daily usually at 6am. Every second day a cooked breakfast is served usually at 7am. This consists of treats such as eggs (done so many ways), bacon, mushrooms, beans, pancakes, croissants and mini pastries.

Lunch is normally served at midday and consists of normally 2 or 3 options of hot food, 3 different types of salads and maybe even a soup. Fish is popular at lunch time when you get out and catch some for the chef to cook…

Both breakfasts and lunch are a bain-marie style service.

Dinner is different. We encourage you to have a shower, change into something nice and be seated as dinner is table-service. Enjoy an amazing culinary experience for both main and dessert.

All the meals onboard are based on healthy local produce and fresh seafood wherever possible.

Once the Reef Prince leaves port there is generally no service. There may be a limited time with reception as you pass the iron ore mining areas of Cockatoo and Koolan Islands.

There is a satellite phone in the wheelhouse for emergency contact between the ship and land.

Onboard is a system for limited internet and satellite communications. For a one off fee of $60, guests can purchase an internet pack which allows you 100mb of data per day. This is satellite based and can be accessed for the entire trip. It’s not much and you won’t be able to stream sport or your favourite mini-series, but you will be able to send and receive texts, browse social media and make phone calls through apps such as WhatsApp.

Fishing: An Optional Adventure

Enjoy the thrill of fishing in the Kimberley! Fishing excursions as an alternative to scenic tours or walks. Fishing gear is provided however but you’re welcome to bring your own rod and reel for bottom fishing or lure casting.

Important Note

While we love offering fishing opportunities, this is an expedition vessel, not a dedicated fishing charter. Please pack light on gear and keep in mind that all catches are enjoyed onboard and cannot be taken home.

Reef Prince usually likes to offer a fishing excursion as an alternate option to the scenic tour or walk. Additionally there are locations where we may troll lures for pelagic fish as the Reef Prince has two game chairs located in each rear corner of the vessel.For the fisherman they have an extensive selection of fishing gear onboard. However if you feel you would like to bring your own rod and reel for bottom fishing or lure casting then you are welcome to do so. Please remember though that this is an Expedition boat that has options for fishing. Reef Prince is not a fishing charter boat that fishes from dawn till dusk every day. So please don’t hop on with bundles of rods and reel and multiple boxes of lures and tackle.All fish caught onboard is consumed onboard and you will not be able to take whole fish or filets when you depart.

Embrace the Wild Kimberley: Getting Ashore

The Kimberley’s dramatic tides and untouched landscapes create unique opportunities for adventure. With no wharves, each landing is a thrilling experience:

• Wade Through the Wonders: Feel the Kimberley’s essence as you step from tenders onto sandy shores, crushed coral, or rocky outcrops.
• Explore Diverse Terrain: Hike across rugged rocks, through spinifex grasslands, and over mudflats. You might even ascend a ladder or traverse a waterfall!
• Water Adventures: Prepare to splash through freshwater streams and saltwater pools on your journey.

This is not your typical cruise – it’s an immersive expedition into the heart of Australia’s wilderness.

MV Regent

The pride of the fleet is the new Regent. She is a 7.5m long alloy expedition tender that was custom built for Kimberley Expeditions in late 2020. The main purpose of her construction was to safely take guests through the Horizontal Falls and extended scenic tours in comfort. The Horizontal Hotel was initially owned by Broome local Troy Thomas. Troy was always willing to work with the small Kimberley tourist vessels and allow their guests to do the falls tour in one of his purpose built, high powered, multi-engine vessels. After the sale of the hotel, this option was sadly no longer available to the tourism vessels.

In the interests of safety, guests are only allowed to go through the falls on a vessel that has two or more engines. This created major issues for most of the Kimberley vessels as nobody had tenders with twin outboards. So we had one custom built and it’s the pride of our fleet and the envy of many of the other tour operators.

With its seating for 13 guests and two crew, wide beam and forward facing padded seats with padded backrests, she is a very comfortable boat to do extended scenic cruises in.

Then there is the state of the art electronics, 2 x 140hp outboard motors and forward and rear entries that make the Regent a luxurious way to see the sights of the Kimberley.

Despite the fineries, the tough alloy hull is strong enough to park it up against a set of rocks for disembarking or handling the super turbulent waters of the Horizontal Falls and Montgomery Reef.

MV Hunter, Mitchell, and Durack

Kimberley Expeditions has 3 identical 6m alloy tenders. Two are on board at any one time and there is a spare at the office. These vessels are used for a number of different activities such as scenic tours, excursions, land transfers, fishing, crabbing and diving and snorkeling during our Montebello and Abrolhos Islands shoulder season tours. They’ve even been known to slip under the occasional waterfall with a few guests sitting on the bow!

They are equipped with perimeter seating for 10 guests, cushioned seats, a large open flat floor, a center console with modern electronics, front and rear entries, dive/swim ladders and 140 hp outboards on pods. They have even got a central swivel chair that is removable and is perfect for fighting those really big fish.

Departure/Embarkation

DARWIN: Reef Prince will arrange a charter bus to pick you up between 8am and 9am and transport you to board the vessel at the Fisherman’s Wharf.

BROOME: Reef Prince will arrange a charter bus to pick you up between 8am and 9am and transport you to board the vessel from one of a number beaches in Broome depending on tide and wind direction.

Disembarking

DARWIN: Disembark Darwin at around 10am and say goodbye to the crew. Guests will be transferred to their hotel of choice in the Darwin CBD by coach.

BROOME: Disembark Broome at around 10am and say goodbye to the crew. Guests will be transferred by bus to their hotel of choice in the Broome district.

Transfer options vary depending on your itinerary. Please ask us for specific details. 1300 654 861 or contact@expeditionpartners.com.au