What a magnificent start of the day in The Kimberley. Anchored at Collier Bay, we watched the sunrise surrounded by pink and orange sandstone cliffs that plunged into the calm blue and green seas. This beautiful region is the country of the Worora, one of the main representative aboriginal tribes of The Kimberley. Here, we had the opportunity to sight the mysterious and intriguing Wandjina rock art. Wandjinas are the mystic ancestors of the Worrora and the closely related Ngarinyin and Wunambal tribes. These powerful beings are considered to be the creators of human descendants, the land and laws, during the primeval period that Worora call Lalai. Painted on sandstone surfaces, usually facing west, figures are displayed as large haloed heads with no mouths. The art is found on cave walls and ceilings and ochers in various colours of reds, browns, yellows, whites, and blacks can be used as pigments. The Wandjinas are intrinsically linked to the mythological life, social organization and seasonal movements of Indigenous Kimberley people.
Boarding our Zodiacs, we headed to Raft Point, or Umbre, and were welcomed by the traditional owners of the land. Robin, the senior female elder representative of her tribe, performed an ocher ceremony, a special way to be introduced and experience this amazing culture and unique sacred place. As we trekked to the art gallery, we were greeted by the iconic symbol of The Kimberley, the Boab tree (Adansonia gregorii), related to the Madagascan and African Adansonia species known as Baobabs. Though not exceptionally high (up to 15 m), they can reach a massive girth of up to 20 meters. Standing tall as sentinels along the path, some of the specimens are considered to be over 1500 years old.
After a well-deserved rest, it was time to visit the spectacular Montgomery Reef in our modern rafts, the Zodiacs, where we explored the cascading flowing channels, sighting many green turtles and eastern reef egrets. The importance of this unique ecosystem was evident, as it represents the largest inshore reef system in Australia. The vast area (400km2) of shallow, sheltered, sunlit, lagoon and pools of the reef platform supports a great diversity, and is home to a vast plethora of marine life including dugong, reef sharks, rays, birds, and an extremely large population of turtles who feed on the sea grass beds. On our way back we were surprised by refreshments and drinks on a low tide exposed sandbar, adding that extra special taste to our adventures. We are always delighted to be surprised by the zodiac umbrella team! This is The Kimberley, a place of cultural magnificence that will touch your spirit, and each day is a rite of passage that will take you into a new special adventure.
