Horizontal Falls tourism extended to 2028 as state tips $5 million into infrastructure
Thrill-seeking tourists looking to cycle the popular Horizontal Falls will be given a further two years before Indigenous stakeholders spearhead a move to a more diverse range of cultural activities at the spectacular Kimberley location.
Horizontal Waterfalls – or Garaan-ngaddim, meaning “to float over” – have deep cultural significance for Dambimangari indigenous title holders along the pristine coastline.
At a ceremony in Derby’s Kimberley town on Monday, tour operators, traditional tour owners and the WA government will unveil new regulations extending access to the popular tourist spot until the end of the 2028 season.
But any access after 2028 will depend on review and commitment to other ways of engaging with the falls.
Horizontal Waterfalls are formed as a result of sea water flowing through two narrow straits approximately 300 meters apart, through which boats pass.
In May 2022, a tourist boat carrying 27 passengers crashed into a rock wall through a 7.5-meter gap in Horizontal Falls, causing injuries to many tourists.
WA government in 2024 Announced that intermittent travel will be phased out by 2028.
New regulations emerged from the Garaan-ngaddim Horizontal Falls working group; where traditional owners and tourism industry representatives agreed a two-year access period over the range, strictly limited to selected licensees, while a second, narrower range would remain permanently closed.
The working group’s Indigenous chair, Rowena Mouda, said the Dambimangari Aboriginal Corporation looked forward to continuing to work with tourism operators during the upcoming 2026 dry season.
“Visitors should leave with excitement but also respect for the living culture and the presence of the spirits of creation,” he said.
“We’re saying there’s a bigger story. I think visitors are hungry for more information, they want to understand it.”
“This place is sacred to Dambimangari families; it is a gateway to where my great-grandparents lived before colonisation. That was just 100 years ago.
“We are aware that this is being promoted nationally and internationally as a thrill-seeking event. So we made a compromise to acknowledge that. But there is a better message.”
Leah Umbagai, the company’s vice president, said traditional owners wanted visitors to feel welcome and safe and to experience the country “the right way”.
He said the tidal movements of the falls were seen as the living presence of Woongudd, the spiritual serpent woman who shaped the valley, islands and reefs of the north Kimberley coast.
In recognition of traditional owners’ wishes, the WA government will on Monday announce $5 million to invest in on-site infrastructure to support new Dambimangari tourism experiences.
The Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attraction will conduct a feasibility study to inform the design and operating model.
Environment Minister Matthew Swinbourn said the Cook government was “proud to be paving the way to shift Garaan-ngaddim tourism towards a collaborative model that is respectful of the Dambimangari culture”.
“This is a positive outcome that supports their tourism aspirations, strengthens relationships with industry and recognizes the need for continuity as new cultural experiences and commercial partnerships develop,” he said.
Active involvement of indigenous rights holders is already underway to shape how visitors experience Horizontal Falls. The pilot programme, supported by Tourism WA, DBCA and tour operator Journey Beyond, saw Dambimangari guides trained to work with tourists.
Robyn Mungulu said being a tour guide allows her to work in rural areas.
“We teach and share our culture with young people and visitors, and we are constantly learning new things from Journey to the Beyond tour guides,” he said.
Training tour guides complement the existing Dambimangari ranger program, Mouda said.
“They both talk about the importance of the creatures in this sacred area,” he said.
“We will keep the primary falls open but we want people to consider tide times.
“The flows are always there, but some periods are safer to cross than others. The water carries people through it as they rush in search of excitement.
“Our preference would be for them to go there with a gentler flow and look around and see that this is much more than a flow of water.
The country may seem untouched but it has always been touched by us. “This is at the heart of our heritage.”
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Victoria Laurie is a senior reporter and features writer who has written for Good Weekend, The Australian, The Bulletin, The Monthly, HQ, Australian Geographic and The Weekend Australian Magazine.
