Horizontal Falls Tours from Broome

Horizontal Falls tours from Broome pair a seaplane flight over the Buccaneer Archipelago with a fast boat ride through the falls in Talbot Bay, and the right one depends on where you want to start and how long you want to be away. The tours here leave from Broome, Cygnet Bay or Derby, and they sit within Broome tours for anyone weighing them up against other days out.

Half-day Horizontal Falls tours that leave from Broome

Seaplane tours from Broome take off from the base on Gus Winckel Road and land on the water in Talbot Bay. Return transfers from your Broome accommodation are included, so the day starts at your hotel. Both half-day options add a creek cruise, a swim in a marine viewing enclosure and a meal on a luxury houseboat.

The morning flight and boat tour with breakfast picks up from 5am and departs at 6am, with a cooked breakfast served on the houseboat. The afternoon flight and boat tour with lunch departs Broome at about 11.30am and returns at about 5.15pm, with a barramundi BBQ lunch. Each is a 6-hour half-day outing, so keep the rest of the day free.

A full-day Horizontal Falls and Dampier Peninsula trip

The full-day Horizontal Falls and Dampier Peninsula tour leaves Broome at about 5.30am and returns at about 4pm, a 10.5-hour day that starts on the ground. A guided 4WD drive stops at Beagle Bay to see the Mother of Pearl Church, then carries on to Cygnet Bay for a cooked breakfast and a guided pearl farm tour.

From there, two seaplane flights bookend the fast boat ride through the Horizontal Falls, with a BBQ barramundi lunch on a luxury houseboat in between. Return transfers from your Broome accommodation are included.

Horizontal Falls tours from Cygnet Bay and Derby

Some tours start outside Broome, so the first part of the day changes.

From Cygnet Bay Pearl Farm

The Horizontal Falls and Cygnet Bay half-day adventure starts at Cygnet Bay Pearl Farm on the Dampier Peninsula, a 2.5-hour drive north of Broome. It is a 5.5-hour trip with morning departures only, plus a check-in and briefing before departure.

The seaplane flies over the Buccaneer Archipelago before landing in Talbot Bay. The day adds a shark show with a swim or snorkel alongside Tawny Nurse Sharks, a cruise through Talbot Bay's creek systems, morning tea and a barramundi lunch on a houseboat, and a guided tour of the pearl farm.

From Derby Airport

The half-day seaplane flight and boat cruise from Derby departs from Derby Airport. It is another 5.5-hour trip with morning departures only, and coach transfers run to and from your accommodation.

The seaplane flies the Kimberley coast to Talbot Bay, where the Horizontal Falls power boat cruise is followed by a creek cruise with onboard dining and a gourmet barramundi lunch. A swim or snorkel at the marine viewing platform and a shark show with local Tawny Nurse Sharks round out the morning.

How to choose a Horizontal Falls tour

Start with time. The Broome half-day tours and the Cygnet Bay and Derby trips each take about half a day, while the Dampier Peninsula tour fills the whole day.

Next, check where you are staying. Tours that leave from Broome include pick-up from your accommodation, the Derby tour includes coach transfers, and the Cygnet Bay tour meets at the pearl farm, so you need your own way up the Dampier Peninsula.

Meals differ too. The morning tour serves breakfast, the afternoon and Derby tours serve a barramundi lunch, the full-day tour includes breakfast and lunch, and the Cygnet Bay tour includes morning tea and lunch.

When Horizontal Falls tours run, and what to pack

Tours operate seasonally from March to November, and the exact start and end dates change from year to year. The Horizontal Falls are a tidal phenomenon, so the amount of water moving through the narrow gap changes daily, and for safety reasons passage through the gap is not guaranteed on every day.

Pack swimwear, a towel and a change of clothes. The Cygnet Bay and Derby tours ask for closed-toe footwear and a small backpack of no more than 2kg.

More to do around Broome

Broome flying experiences add helicopter flights along the coast, and whale watching from Broome fills a day on the water in season. See things to do in Broome for pearl farms and cruises near town.

Frequently asked questions

What are the Horizontal Falls?

The Horizontal Falls are a tidal phenomenon in Talbot Bay in the Kimberley, where tidal water surges between narrow red gorges. Horizontal Falls tours reach them by seaplane and ride a fast boat through the gap.

How do you get to the Horizontal Falls from Broome?

Horizontal Falls tours from Broome fly by seaplane from Broome, land in Talbot Bay and continue by fast boat through the falls. Tours that start at Cygnet Bay or Derby use a seaplane from those departure points.

How long is a Horizontal Falls tour from Broome?

The half-day Horizontal Falls tours from Broome are 6-hour trips, and the full-day Dampier Peninsula tour is a 10.5-hour day. The tours from Cygnet Bay and Derby are 5.5-hour trips.

What time do Horizontal Falls tours leave Broome?

The morning half-day tour picks up from 5am and departs at 6am. The afternoon tour departs at about 11.30am and returns at about 5.15pm, and the full-day tour leaves at about 5.30am and returns at about 4pm.

When do Horizontal Falls tours run?

Horizontal Falls tours operate seasonally from March to November each year. Exact season start and end dates are subject to change, so check the tour page before you plan around a date.

Are meals included on Horizontal Falls tours?

Yes. The morning tour includes a cooked breakfast, the afternoon tour includes a barramundi BBQ lunch, and the full-day tour includes breakfast and lunch. The Cygnet Bay tour includes morning tea and lunch, and the Derby tour includes a gourmet barramundi lunch.

Do I need to give my weight to book a Horizontal Falls seaplane tour?

Yes. Horizontal Falls seaplane tours ask every guest to declare an accurate weight when booking, and guests are weighed at the airport and may be refused boarding if they are over the declared weight. Aircraft seats have a maximum passenger weight, which is listed on each tour page.

Is the Horizontal Falls flow the same every day?

No. The falls are driven by tides that vary daily, so passage through the narrow gap is not guaranteed on every day.

Choose a Horizontal Falls tour from Broome, Cygnet Bay or Derby, check the departure time and book it online.