# Kimberley Waterfalls Guide | Mitchell Falls, King George Falls & More Canonical: https://bookfromowner.com.au/guides/wa/north-west/the-kimberley/waterfalls/ Type: AttractionGuide Location: The Kimberley, Australia's North West, Western Australia Last updated: 2026-06-01 > A complete guide to the waterfalls in the Kimberley, WA -- Mitchell Falls (Punamii-Uunpuu), King George Falls, Horizontal Falls, Bell Gorge, Manning Falls, Emma Gorge and more. How to reach each one, when they flow, and what to expect. ## Quick Answer - Best for: 4WD adventurers, scenic flight passengers, photographers - Price range: Free to ~$400pp (scenic flights and guided tours) - Vibe: Remote, powerful, extraordinary - Distance: Scattered across the Kimberley -- Gibb corridor, Mitchell Plateau, Wyndham/Kununurra corridor ## Featured Properties - The Kimberley Grande Resort: 4/5 (399 reviews) Book direct: https://kimberleygrande.com.au/ The Kimberley Grande Resort — The Kimberley - Best Western Cambridge Hotel Kununurra: 4.4/5 (40 reviews) Book direct: https://www.bestwesternkununurra.com.au/ Best Western Cambridge Hotel Kununurra — The Kimberley - Hotel Kununurra: 3.9/5 (561 reviews) Book direct: http://www.hotelkununurra.com.au/ Hotel Kununurra — The Kimberley ## FAQ Q: What is the most famous waterfall in the Kimberley? A: Mitchell Falls (Punamii-Uunpuu) on the Mitchell Plateau are the most photographed and celebrated, a four-tiered cascade with Wandjina rock art at the base on Wunambal Gaambera country. They are accessible only by light aircraft, helicopter from Kununurra, or a multi-day wilderness walk. King George Falls (twin drops, approximately 80 metres, accessible by boat from Wyndham) are arguable rivals for the most dramatic. Bell Gorge is the most visited walk-access waterfall on the Gibb River Road. Q: When is the best time to see the Kimberley waterfalls? A: May and June are the best months for waterfall volume -- the Wet-season runoff is still flushing through the plateau country, and the Dry-season roads have just reopened. By July and August (peak tourist season) flow has reduced but all roads and tour operators are reliably open. By September and October flow is noticeably lower at the rainfall-fed falls, though Emma Gorge (spring-fed) and Horizontal Falls (tidal) are unaffected. The Wet season (November to April) has the highest flows but all access is closed. Q: Can you swim at the Kimberley waterfalls? A: At some -- Bell Gorge falls, Emma Gorge, and Galvans Gorge are signed safe for swimming in their main pool areas during the Dry season. Always check current safety signage at the site on arrival, as conditions change. Saltwater crocodiles inhabit most Kimberley waterways, and unsigned pools should be treated as unsafe. Freshwater crocs are present at some gorges (Galvans, Windjana) -- swim in the main pool body away from the rocky edges where they congregate. Q: How do you get to Mitchell Falls? A: Mitchell Falls are only accessible by light aircraft or helicopter from Kununurra (various operators run day tours from about $400 per person), or by a multi-day walking track from the Mitchell Plateau Road (accessed via a very rough 4WD road off the Kalumburu Road). The walking route is approximately 8-9 kilometres each way with a campsite at the falls; permits are required for the Wunambal Gaambera country. Most visitors take a scenic flight, which delivers both the aerial panoramic view and a ground landing option near the falls. Q: Is Horizontal Falls actually a waterfall? A: Not in the conventional sense. Horizontal Falls at Talbot Bay are a tidal surge -- the extreme Kimberley tidal range (up to 12 metres) drives large volumes of seawater twice daily through two narrow gaps in a coastal cliff range, creating a churning horizontal rush of water that appears to flow sideways. Boat charter or seaplane tours from Derby take visitors through the falls at the right tidal window. Unlike most Kimberley waterfalls, Horizontal Falls are available across most of the year as they are tidal, not rainfall-fed. Q: Are there Kimberley waterfalls accessible without a 4WD? A: Most are not, but a few are. Mitchell Falls and King George Falls are accessible by scenic flight or boat from Kununurra without a 4WD -- the flights are genuinely excellent and are how most people see the remote coastal falls. Horizontal Falls requires a boat charter from Derby. Emma Gorge at El Questro is accessible to well-equipped 4WDs on a rough-but-manageable road. If you're visiting the Kimberley without a 4WD, build scenic flights into your budget -- they cover the most spectacular falls and deliver the aerial view that is genuinely different from the ground experience. ## At a Glance - Most famous: Mitchell Falls (Punamii-Uunpuu) -- four-tiered, fly-in or hike, Mitchell Plateau - Most accessible: Bell Gorge falls and Manning Falls -- signed swimming areas near the Gibb - By boat or air only: King George Falls (twin drops, 80m) -- from Wyndham or Kununurra by boat or flight - Tidal, not rainfall-fed: Horizontal Falls (Talbot Bay) -- run year-round, driven by tidal differential - Season for flow: Early Dry (May-Jun) has best post-Wet volume; late Dry (Sep-Oct) the falls slow - Crocodiles: Saltwater crocs inhabit most Kimberley waterways -- follow swim safety signage; never assume safe - 4WD required: For the Gibb corridor falls; helicopter or boat for the remote coastal falls ## Featured - 1. Mitchell Falls (Punamii-Uunpuu) — The Kimberley's most famous - four-tiered - fly-in or multi-day hike - Why people love it: Four tiers of ancient sandstone, rock art galleries at the base, and the single most extraordinary aerial view in a region full of extraordinary aerial views. - Don't miss: A scenic flight that lands near the falls -- the combination of the aerial panoramic view and the walk to the plunge pool at the base is the definitive Kimberley experience. - Good to know: This is a remote, cultural site on Wunambal Gaambera country -- permits are required for extended stays. The multi-day hike is serious remote wilderness walking; do not attempt it without full preparation and self-sufficiency. Confirm flight and permit requirements before booking. - 2. King George Falls — Twin drops, 80m - boat or air from Wyndham - remote and spectacular - Why people love it: Approaching twin 80-metre falls through a narrow saltwater-croc gorge by boat is the most dramatically framed waterfall experience in Western Australia. - Don't miss: The gorge approach by boat -- 14 kilometres of narrowing saltwater gorge before the twin falls open up ahead. - Good to know: Saltwater crocodiles are present throughout the river -- do not enter the water at any point. Flow reduces significantly in the late Dry; check current conditions before booking for a September or October trip. - 3. Horizontal Falls (Talbot Bay) — Tidal, not rainfall - boat tour from Derby - the Kimberley's great geological oddity - Why people love it: A boat accelerating through a tidal surge in a cliff gap at 15km/h is a completely unique natural experience -- the Kimberley geology doing something that doesn't look possible. - Don't miss: The fast-boat passage through the narrow falls gap at the right tidal window -- the surge and roar of the water at close range. - Good to know: Not suitable for anyone with balance or inner-ear issues who can't manage a fast boat in rough water. Tours book out significantly in July-August; reserve at least a month ahead. Not a conventional waterfall -- manage expectations for those expecting a vertical cascade. - 4. Bell Gorge Falls — The Gibb's best waterfall swim - tiered - walk-access - Why people love it: A tiered waterfall into a cold, deep plunge pool at the end of a 3.5km walk -- the most rewarding walk-access waterfall on the Gibb. - Don't miss: The upper tiered plunge at first light before the heat and the tour groups arrive. - Good to know: Moderate walk on rough terrain -- not for the less-mobile; check croc safety signage on arrival; do not swim near the falls after rain. - 5. Manning Falls — Two-tier - upper falls the reward - half-day walk in serious heat - Why people love it: The wide upper Manning Falls in a plunge pool basin that almost nobody reaches -- a proper wilderness waterfall earned by a proper wilderness walk. - Don't miss: Standing at the base of the upper Manning Falls in a pool basin that most Gibb travellers never reach. - Good to know: The upper walk is hard, hot and remote -- not for the unfit or late starters. Always check lower-section swim safety signage on arrival. - 6. Emma Gorge Waterfall — Year-round - thermal spring - easy access - best near Kununurra - Why people love it: A warm spring-fed waterfall that runs year-round into a beautiful pool at the end of an easy 2km walk -- the most accessible great waterfall experience in the Kimberley. - Don't miss: An early-morning swim in the warm spring-fed pool below the running falls before the day visitors arrive from Kununurra. - Good to know: El Questro has an entry fee and peak-season gorge campsite books out -- plan ahead. Follow saltwater croc signage across the station (the gorge pool is safe but surrounding waterways are not). - 7. Galvans Gorge Falls — Short - good flow early Dry - pairs with Wandjina rock art - Why people love it: Wandjina art above a waterfall pool -- the richest single stop on the Gibb for the time it requires. - Don't miss: The Wandjina-painted overhang framing the waterfall and pool -- an art site and a swim in one. - Good to know: Freshwater crocs present at the pool margins -- swim in the main body; never touch the rock art. ## What travellers say - [positive] What a recent visitor said: - [positive] What a recent visitor said: - [positive] What a recent visitor said: