Cruising the Kimberley coast in comfort

James Shrimpton AAP

The 120-tonne coastal cruiser Kimberley Quest II is not much bigger than one of 18 lifeboats aboard the world’s largest passenger ship, the 252,282-tonne Allure of the Seas.

But we’d bet that the 25-metre-long KQ2’s 18 passengers (maximum) sailing the Kimberley coast of Western Australia would have at least as good a time – in a different way – as the 6,300 or so aboard her 360m-long “big sister” plying the western Caribbean.

No crowded lounges, restaurants and swimming pools here, no stage shows, no casinos, no bingo and no long queues to go ashore – no making new friends the first day out then never seeing them again.

KQ2’s voyages between Broome and Wyndham include expeditions by custom-built tenders and on bush tracks into the Kimberley Coast wilderness, a colourful and historic area of craggy rocks, waterfalls, exotic birds and animal life – and ancient rock art.

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