Horizontal Falls had been on our bucket list for years, so when we found ourselves in Derby during our travels through the Kimberley in June 2026, we finally decided it was time to do it.
We didn’t just want to fly over the Falls, though. If we were going to spend that sort of money, we wanted the whole experience, so we booked the 18-hour Horizontal Falls overnight tour from Derby.
And yes, it is expensive. We paid $1,395 each, so I went into it wondering whether an overnight tour could possibly justify nearly $2,800 for the two of us.
By the time we landed back in Derby the following morning, I had my answer.
Absolutely.
We had no regrets about spending the money, and after seeing everything involved in running this experience in such a remote part of the Kimberley, the price actually made a lot more sense.
So if you’re looking at the Horizontal Falls overnight tour and wondering what you actually get for your money, here’s what our experience was really like.
What Are the Horizontal Falls?
The Horizontal Falls are in Talbot Bay within the Lalang-garram/Horizontal Falls Marine Park in the Buccaneer Archipelago, north of Derby in Western Australia’s Kimberley region.
Rather than water dropping vertically over a cliff, the effect is created by the Kimberley’s huge tidal movements forcing seawater through two narrow gaps in the McLarty Range. The difference in water levels creates powerful currents, rapids and whirlpools through the gaps, giving the appearance of a waterfall running horizontally.
How dramatic the Falls are depends on the tides, which is something worth understanding before choosing your tour date.
Horizontal Falls Seaplane Adventures currently takes its boats through the wider of the two gaps, known as the Wide Gap. The Narrow Gap can be viewed from a safe distance but is no longer traversed.
Why We Chose the Horizontal Falls Overnight Tour From Derby
There are several different ways to experience Horizontal Falls, but we chose the 18-hour overnight tour departing from Derby. If you want to fly from Boome you can check out the various tours here.
I also put a bit of thought into the date.
I checked the tide information on the Horizontal Falls website before we booked because I wanted us to be there when there was plenty of water movement through the Falls. I also deliberately chose a night with a full moon.
If you’re going to spend this much money on an experience, I think it’s worth taking a little time to choose your date rather than simply booking the first one available.
We booked directly through the Horizontal Falls Seaplane Adventures website and paid $1,395 each for our June 2026 tour.
One thing I discovered while looking at the different options is that their pricing can change. If you already know you want to do the overnight experience, I’d price and book that from the outset rather than assuming you can book a shorter tour and cheaply upgrade later. When I looked at changing between experiences, the difference was disproportionately higher than simply booking the overnight tour in the first place.
Prices and tour arrangements can change, so always check the current details before booking.
Our Horizontal Falls Overnight Experience
Our trip started with a bus pickup in Derby, followed by the drive out to Derby Airport.
Before we boarded the seaplane, we had a short briefing about the aircraft and the flight. Then came a very important question from the pilot.
Did anyone want to sit in the co-pilot’s seat?
My hand shot up with a very quick “Me!” before I’d really even thought about it.
And that was that. I had scored the best seat in the house.
How to Get the Co-Pilot’s Seat
If you’d like to sit beside the pilot, my tip is very simple: don’t be shy. When the pilot asks for a volunteer, get your hand up quickly!
They kept us in the same seats for both flights, so I sat beside the pilot on the way to Talbot Bay and again for the flight back to Derby the following morning.
And if you’ve already watched our YouTube video, you might remember that before we took off I promised I’d tell you exactly how I managed to score the co-pilot’s seat. I then promptly forgot to tell you.
So there you go. Mystery finally solved.
Flying From Derby to Horizontal Falls
The flight from Derby to Talbot Bay takes around 40 minutes, and this was also our first experience landing on water in a seaplane.
That alone made the arrival pretty memorable.
The scenery on the flight out was interesting, but I wouldn’t say it was the highlight of the experience for us. The flight home the next morning was a completely different story, but I’ll get to that later.
Once we’d landed at Talbot Bay, it was time to settle in and see where we’d be spending the night.
Staying Overnight at Talbot Bay
We stayed in the Talbot Bay room on the Barra Shack aboard the Kimberley Getaway.
Our room was small, but realistically we weren’t there to spend time sitting in a bedroom. We really only needed somewhere to sleep.
There were toilet and shower facilities available, and once we’d been shown where everything was and dropped off our things, it was time to get on with the experience we’d actually come for.
First up, sharks.
(Sort Of) Swimming With the Sharks
There was an opportunity to get into the marine viewing enclosure and swim while sharks and fish moved around on the other side of a clear Perspex barrier.
You certainly aren’t just jumping into Talbot Bay with them!
You could see them incredibly well through the Perspex, but you didn’t actually need to get into the water to see them either. I stayed up on the jetty and could clearly see and film the sharks from above as they moved through the water.
Then it was time for the boat. And these aren’t exactly your average little runabout.
Cyclone Creek Was One of the Surprises
Before heading to the Falls, we took the powerboat out through Talbot Bay and into Cyclone Creek. I hadn’t really expected this part of the experience to have such an impact on me.
Once we were inside the creek, surrounded by the Kimberley landscape and away from everything else, it was incredibly peaceful. At times we simply sat there taking it all in.
The Horizontal Falls might have been the reason we’d booked the trip, but Cyclone Creek was a reminder that there was much more to the experience than racing a boat through a gap in the rocks.
Then it was time for the reason we’d really come.
Going Through Horizontal Falls
Seeing the Falls from a boat gives you a completely different understanding of just how much water is moving through those gaps.
We travelled through the Wide Gap several times, back and forth with the changing water.
At one point our skipper held the boat at the top of the Falls against the flow, allowing us to feel the sheer force of the water and just how much power was required from the boat to hold us there.
That was probably the moment when I really understood the scale of what was happening.
We also got a good look at the Narrow Gap.
And I have to say, when I saw it, I was quite happy we weren’t going through there! From where I was sitting, it looked as though there would have been barely half a metre between the boat and the rock on either side.
After all the noise and power of going through the Wide Gap, one of my favourite moments was actually much quieter.
On the other side of the Falls, the skipper turned off the engines and we all just sat. No roaring outboards. No rushing around. We listened to the sounds around us while a narrative about the area played. It was such a contrast to what we’d just experienced only minutes earlier.
Watch Our Full Horizontal Falls Overnight Experience
It’s hard to explain just how much water is moving through the gap, or what it feels like when the skipper holds the boat against that flow (my expression below tells the story!)
This is one part of the experience that’s much easier to show than describe, so you can watch our full Horizontal Falls overnight experience below.
The Falls might be the reason everyone books the trip, but they weren’t the whole experience. Staying overnight meant we also got to slow down and experience Talbot Bay once the day’s activities were over.
Dinner and a Night on the Houseboat
After our afternoon on the boats, we returned to the floating pontoons and it was time for drinks and dinner.
I’ll admit, we were expecting the drinks to be expensive. You’re in an extremely remote location where everything has to be brought in, so we’d prepared ourselves for remote-tourist-attraction prices.
We were pleasantly surprised. The prices were much more like what we’d expect to pay at a normal pub.
Dinner was buffet style and included freshly cooked barramundi, which was delicious.
We’d deliberately chosen a date with a full moon, so after dinner we could simply enjoy being out there for the night rather than having to fly straight back to Derby after seeing the Falls.
Our room wasn’t luxurious, but that wasn’t why we were there. For us, the value was in having more time at Talbot Bay and getting another experience at the Falls the following morning.
Sunrise Didn’t Quite Go to Plan
We got up early the next morning hoping for a beautiful Kimberley sunrise. Probably the first time we’d up that ealy in years and set an alarm!
Mother Nature apparently hadn’t received the itinerary. It didn’t really turn it on for us that morning, but that’s travel. Sometimes you get the spectacular sunrise and sometimes you just get…morning.
Fortunately, breakfast made up for it. There was both a continental breakfast and a full cooked breakfast before it was time to head back out on the water.
Horizontal Falls: Round Two
After breakfast we climbed back into the boats and headed out to the Falls again.
That meant our overnight tour gave us two separate boat experiences and several passes through the Wide Gap rather than one quick look before flying home.
The tides are constantly changing, so the Falls don’t simply look and behave exactly the same every time you approach them.
After our morning on the water, we returned to the floating pontoons and jetties, collected our things and prepared for the flight back to Derby.
And this time the flight itself became one of the highlights.
The Flight Back to Derby Was Spectacular
Remember how I said the flight out was interesting but didn’t completely blow us away?
The return flight did.
Not only did we see the falls from the air, we flew back via the Buccaneer Archipelago, and the scenery was spectacular.
From my co-pilot’s seat I had an incredible view as we flew across the islands and waterways, over a barramundi farm and eventually back towards Derby.
It was a brilliant way to finish the experience and probably made that enthusiastic “Me!” at the airport the previous afternoon an even better decision.
Is the Horizontal Falls Overnight Tour Worth the Money?
For us, absolutely.
We paid $1,395 each for our 18-hour overnight experience in June 2026. That’s a lot of money for one night away, and before we went I did wonder whether the experience could justify the price.
By the time we flew back into Derby the next morning, I understood it a lot better.
When you’re actually there, you can see the infrastructure required to make the whole thing happen. There are seaplanes, powerful boats, floating accommodation and pontoons, staff, food and all the logistics involved in running an operation in a very remote part of the Kimberley during a relatively short tourism season.
We didn’t come away thinking we’d paid nearly $2,800 just to ride through Horizontal Falls a few times. We’d had an 18-hour experience.
There were the seaplane flights, our first water landing, the boat trips, Cyclone Creek, the Falls themselves, the marine enclosure, dinner, breakfast, the overnight stay and that spectacular flight back to see the falls from the air and across the Buccaneer Archipelago.
We had absolutely no regrets.
Would We Do Horizontal Falls Again?
Sign me up.
But next time I’d like to try the luxury overnight experience.
The current luxury tour spends 24 hours at Horizontal Falls rather than 18 and uses the smaller Jetwave Pearl, with a maximum of 20 guests. It also includes additional experiences such as fishing and upgraded meals.
We’ve spoken to people who have done the luxury overnight experience and loved it, so if we went back, that’s the one I’d be looking at next.
Our Tips Before Booking a Horizontal Falls Overnight Tour
If you’re considering the overnight experience, there are a few things I’d do before hitting the book button.
First, check the tides. The amount of water moving through Horizontal Falls changes with the tidal cycle, so your experience can differ depending on the date and time you’re there. The operator publishes tide information to help with choosing tour dates.
I’d also book as far ahead as you reasonably can once you know which experience you want. Prices can change, and based on what we saw when we booked, I wouldn’t assume you can start with a cheaper tour and later upgrade to the overnight for just the difference between the two.
Pack lightly too. Current overnight guests are limited to one small backpack of no more than 5kg per person. You’ll need things such as a change of clothes, sun protection, swimwear, essential toiletries, medication and closed-toe shoes. Check the operator’s current packing requirements before you leave because these can change.
If you’re travelling with your caravan, organise where you’re leaving your van and your other luggage before the tour. The operator doesn’t provide luggage storage in Derby for overnight guests and currently recommends arranging secure caravan parking through Kimberley Entrance Caravan Park (where we stayed before and after our trip).
And finally, don’t book the standard overnight expecting luxury accommodation.
Our room on the Barra Shack was small, but we were barely in it. We were there to experience Talbot Bay and Horizontal Falls, not spend 18 hours in a hotel room.
If the accommodation itself is an important part of the experience for you, that’s when I’d be looking more closely at the luxury overnight option.
Can You Still Go Through Horizontal Falls?
Yes, but the current experience only traverses the Wide Gap.
Horizontal Falls Seaplane Adventures states that it does not take guests through the Narrow Gap, out of respect for Traditional Owner cultural beliefs. Guests can still see the Narrow Gap from a safe distance.
The WA Government has confirmed that the operator can continue traversing the Wide Gap through the end of the 2028 tourism season while new Traditional Owner-led tourism experiences are developed.
Because arrangements around Horizontal Falls are changing, check the current rules and tour format before booking rather than relying on older videos or articles.
Horizontal Falls Overnight Tour FAQs
How long is the Horizontal Falls overnight tour from Derby?
The standard overnight experience from Derby is currently an 18-hour tour. When we did it in June 2026, we left Derby in the afternoon, stayed overnight at Talbot Bay and returned the following morning.
Where do you sleep on the Horizontal Falls overnight tour?
We stayed in the Talbot Bay room on the Barra Shack aboard the Kimberley Getaway. Our room was small and really only somewhere to sleep between the afternoon and morning activities. Accommodation can vary depending on the tour you book, so check the current room and vessel information before booking.
Do you go through both Horizontal Falls?
No. On our tour we travelled through the Wide Gap several times but did not traverse the Narrow Gap. That’s also the current arrangement for Horizontal Falls Seaplane Adventures.
Can you swim at Horizontal Falls?
We had the opportunity to swim in a marine viewing enclosure at Talbot Bay, separated from the sharks and fish by a clear Perspex barrier. That is very different from swimming freely at the Falls themselves. Always follow the instructions of the operator and crew.
What should you take on the overnight tour?
At the time of updating this article, the operator allows a small backpack of up to 5kg per person for overnight tours and recommends sun protection, a camera, change of clothes, closed-toe shoes, swimwear, a towel, essential toiletries and any required medication.
Is the Horizontal Falls overnight tour worth it?
It was for us. We paid $1,395 each and came away feeling we’d received much more than a boat ride through Horizontal Falls. The flights, overnight stay, meals, Cyclone Creek, marine experience and two separate boat trips made it feel like a complete experience rather than a quick sightseeing tour.
Our Horizontal Falls Verdict
Horizontal Falls had been sitting on our bucket list for years, and after hearing so much about it, there was always the possibility that the reality wouldn’t live up to the expectation.
It did.
Interestingly, some of my favourite memories weren’t necessarily the obvious ones. Holding the boat against the power of the Falls was incredible, but so was sitting quietly with the engines switched off. Cyclone Creek was beautiful. Dinner and drinks on the pontoon were relaxed, and the return flight over the Buccaneer Archipelago was far better than I’d expected.
Even our failed attempt at a spectacular sunrise has become part of the memory.
Would I spend $1,395 to do it again?
Yes.
I’d just be saving a little more next time and booking the luxury overnight.
And after flying back into Derby, our Kimberley adventure was really only getting started. We returned to Derby before heading off on our next adventure: the Gibb River Road.
That will be Episode 2.
Have questions about Horizontal Falls? Ask below in the comments or join our planning a lap of Australia Facebook Group and ask in there
With years of experience travelling Australia in a caravan, I’m passionate about helping others embark on their own unforgettable adventures. From off-grid camping tips to expert advice on planning the ultimate big lap of Australia, I share stories, practical hacks, and inspiration to make your journey stress-free and exciting. Whether you’re a seasoned traveller or just starting out, join me as I explore the beauty of Australia, one road at a time!
