Kuri Bay

Tucked away on Western Australia’s rugged northern coastline, Kuri Bay is one of the most remote and captivating destinations in the Kimberley. Surrounded by sandstone escarpments and lush tropical vegetation, this sheltered bay is the birthplace of Australia’s cultured-pearl industry and the location of Paspaley Pearls’ historic and working pearl farm. Here, Paspaley’s team cultivate some of the world’s most valuable South Sea pearls.

Paspaley is one of the last pearling companies in the world that still dives for wild pearl oyster shells. During harvest season, divers set off from the M.V Clare II to continue this tradition in the waters off the Kimberley Coast.

The Birthplace of Australia’s Modern Pearling Industry

Named after Tokuichi Kuribayashi, a Japanese pearling pioneer, Kuri Bay is encircled by red cliffs and calm turquoise waters. Its geographical seclusion has kept the area remarkably untouched. It’s an ideal anchorage point for cruise vessels and a breathtaking setting for wildlife spotting and photography.

In 1956, Kuri Bay became home to the Australia’s first South Sea pearl farm, founded by Kuribayashi and his Australian partners. This marked the beginning of Australia’s globally renowned cultured pearl industry. For decades, pearls grown in these waters have been prized for their exceptional size, lustre, and quality.

Visitors can learn about the region’s pearling legacy and see how the bay’s clean, nutrient-rich waters created the perfect environment for these natural treasures to flourish.

Beyond its pearling heritage, Kuri Bay is a sanctuary for marine and birdlife. Dugongs, sea turtles, and pods of dolphins can often be spotted in the sheltered bay. The surrounding escarpments are home to wallabies, ospreys, and seasonal bursts of wildflowers.