Camden Sound

Each year, up to 25,000 humpback whales embark upon the greatest migration on the planet, cruising the west coast to calve and raise their young in the shallow waters of Camden Sound.

The 700,000 hectare Lalang-garram/Camden Sound Marine Park hosts the world’s biggest humpback population and if you arrive between July and October, you’ll be treated to incredible encounters with these gentle giants as they feed and breed. The marine park nurtures a host of marine species including dolphins and dugongs, and encompasses the phenomenal Montgomery Reef.

This is the first marine park to be jointly managed by the WA state government and its traditional owners, the Dambimangari, who named the park Lalang-garram meaning “the saltwater as a spiritual place as well as a place of natural abundance”.

The Dambimangari Rangers’ responsibilities encompass conducting ecological surveys, such as monitoring populations of Australian snubfin and humpback dolphins in the Prince Regent River (this river is home to the King Cascade). Beyond scientific monitoring, the rangers play a crucial role in preserving cultural heritage. They ensure that sacred sites are respected and that traditional ecological knowledge informs management decisions.

Camden Sound – Top 3 locations visited by cruise vessels

Among its many attractions, these three locations stand out as the most visited by vessels cruising the Kimberley coast:

1. Horizontal Falls (Garaanngaddim)
Located in Talbot Bay, the Horizontal Falls are a unique natural phenomenon where massive tidal movements of up to 10 metres create horizontal waterfalls as water rushes through two narrow gorges.

2. Yowjab (Montgomery Reef)
Yowjab, or Montgomery Reef, is the world’s largest inshore reef, covering approximately 300 square kilometres. During low tide, the reef dramatically emerges from the ocean, with cascading waterfalls and exposed lagoons revealing a rich array of marine life including turtles, manta rays, and reef sharks. If your cruise boat has a chopper, it’s worth jumping in and getting a bird’s eye view of this incredible reef system.

3. Maamboolbadda (King Cascade)
Situated along the Prince Regent River, Maamboolbadda, also known as King Cascade, is a spectacular waterfall where water cascades over terraced rock formations. There’s a gorgeous freshwater billabong located above the cascade – a great spot to cool off away from the salties in the Prince Regent’s river system below!