Adventure cruises on the up and up

A leading national maritime organisation has reported a huge increase in ‘adventure cruises’ along the Kimberley coast over the last 12 months and is predicting further demand in this specialist service in 2016.

Australian Reef Pilots has provided professional services such as towage, marine surveys and tourism ventures in the Torres Strait and Great Barrier Reef for over 100 years, but has expanded its services to include the Kimberley.

ARP reported record demand for skippering services on vessels travelling between Broome and Darwin in 2015.

Pilot John Dunn skippering 10 cruises between April and September last year and said that the frequency and size of vessels used in 2016 was set to increase.

“In 2015 I piloted ships carrying up to 100 passengers, but we are now getting interest from vessels carrying up to 400 passengers,” Mr Dunn said.

“It’s not surprising – every ship cruising the Kimberley coast is full.

“The Kimberley is unspoilt, wild and spectacular. Cruising is the best way to see it all and demand will only grow as tourists realise what they’ve been missing.”

Broome Visitor Centre general manager Nick Linton, who helped coordinate the on-shore logistics of disembarking cruise ships passengers in Broome in 2015, concurred with Mr Dunn’s thoughts.

“This comes with no surprise; the BVC has seen exponential growth in demand for cruise ship trips across the Kimberley coast,” he said.

“In 2015 the centre increased tour booking for this market segment by 500 per cent compared to the previous year.

“The Kimberley coast is spectacular and now achieving worldwide acclaim.”

Last week Tourism minister Kim Hames said WA continued to lead Australia in cruise-sector growth.

He confirmed visiting ships to the State generated more than $275 million in 2014-15 - a $159 million increase on the previous year.