Explore our magnificent cruises

Strickland Bay contains examples of the great features that make the Kimberley so special – including rivers, mangroves, reefs, beaches, and a number of islands.

It has great fishing and some fascinating historical sites from the early days of the pearling industry. Pearling in the 1880s was conducted by luggers amd was heavily concentrated in this area. There are 15 isolated graves of of early pearl divers in the Strickland Bay area. Cultured pearl farms are now located in this area.

This was the scene of a disastrous agricultural settlement in 1864-1865, based on Merino sheep. Stone ruins and an island cemetery can still be seen. Delicious rock oysters abound. Opposite is Augustus Island, which at 17,950 hectares, is the largest island on the Kimberley coast.

Growing behind a sandy beach is an ancient boab tree with ‘HMC Mermaid 1820’ etched deeply into its twin trunks. The carving commemorates 16 days of hull and rudder repairs undertaken on the naval cutter commanded by Phillip Parker King, while charting the Kimberley coast. Groves of endemic cycads occur at the southern end of the beach.

Behind a salt-pan lie the poignant remains of a US Army Air Corps Dakota, victim of a forced landing during World War II. The crew, flying from Perth to Broome, made a simple navigation error which nearly cost them their lives.

Fringed by formidable sandstone cliffs on either side, this bay commemorates the State Ship Koolama beached here in 1942, after attack by Japanese floatplanes. The long sand-spit beach at the back of the bay disguises the entrance to the King George River.

On the southern side of Koolama Bay lies this shallow inlet with a small freshwater creek and waterfall. Behind the beach and a strip of mangroves is where the survivors of the Koolama camped, before undertaking a difficult overland trek to Pago Mission.

These two sites are associated with the German aviators Bertram and Klaussman. In 1932, the pair were blown off course in their seaplane Atlantis and endured starvation in the wilderness, before being found and rescued by Gwini Aborigines after 40 days.