Silent Tours

Why Choose Silent Tours for Your Ord River Cruise?

our Difference

Small Group – Maximum 4 Guests
More space, fewer distractions and a more personal experience on the Ord River.

Quiet Electric Cruising
Explore selected creeks and lagoons under electric power, reducing motor noise so you can hear the natural sounds around you without disturbing the diverse wildlife.

Flexible Wildlife Experience
With only a few guests aboard, we can slow down, stop and spend more time with the wildlife and places we encounter.

Locally Owned & Personally Guided by a Resident of 18 years
Silent Tours is locally owned and operated in Kununurra, with every cruise personally guided by owner-operator Steve.

Your Guide is a Photographer

Your guide is a naturalist with a keen interest and knowledge of Kimberley fauna and Flora. He is also an avid photographer understanding what it takes to get the photo shot you want. Silent Tours allows the option to depart early before the light gets too harsh.

Steve will go to great lengths to help you get a great photo whether it be a scenic shot of the epic reflections behind Elephant Rock or a beautiful photo of an Azure Kingfisher.

Your guide will manoeuvre the boat to get the optimal angle and can drop the boat canopy to get uninterrupted sky views for flying birdlife or rock escarpment landscapes.

Departing Celebrity Tree Park Boat Ramp at 7am and 1pm

per person*

350

$330 per person
Approximately 5 hours
Minimum charge: 2 adult seats
Maximum: 4 guests

4 seat Charter*

1,250

Book 4 seats on our Kununurra cruise and receive a $150 discount* - This exclusive offer is available when you call for a direct booking only.

Morning departures
Usually around 7am, with earlier departures available by arrangement.

Afternoon departures
Usually around 1pm, with an optional sunset extension.

Sunset addon*

100

Enjoy up to an additional 45 minutes on the river during your Kununurra cruise, complete with a platter board and drinks while watching the changing colours of sunset. You also have the option to bring your own drinks to place in the chiller

*Contact us by phone, email or contact form below for direct prices

Ord River Wildlife Photography Cruise

No Ordinary River

The Ord River is an extraordinary place to slow down and connect to nature. For bird and wildlife watching, and a small boat offers photographers flexibility and opportunities that can be difficult to achieve on a larger cruise.

With a maximum of four guests, Silent Tours has the flexibility to slow down, stop and, where conditions allow, position the boat for better photographic opportunities. Rather than simply passing wildlife, we can spend time observing its behaviour and enjoying the surroundings.

In the creeks and lagoons we can switch to electric propulsion, allowing slow exploration with minimal motor noise or disturbance. Steve is also a keen photographer and understands that good wildlife photography often comes down to patience, position and light.

The boat's canopy can be lowered when conditions allow, providing unobstructed 360-degree views for photographing birds in flight and wildlife on either side of the boat.

First-light departures can also be arranged for photographers, providing softer morning light, cooler conditions and less heat distortion for long-lens photography.

Every cruise is a little different. Let us know what interests you—wildlife, birdwatching, photography, waterfall walks, scenery or simply a quiet afternoon on the river—and we'll tailor the experience where possible.

Maximum 4 Passengers
Ample space for photographers and camera gear

360° Views
Bimini canopy can be lowered when conditions allow

First-Light Departures
Softer light and reduced heat distortion

Quiet Electric Approach
Slow exploration of wildlife habitat

Discover the Best of Silent Tours

Perfect Boat for Exploring the Ord River in Comfort

Silent Tours operates a 5.3-metre Australian-made Quintrex bowrider — large enough for a comfortable ride while remaining small and manoeuvrable enough to explore creeks, lagoons and quieter waterways.

A modern Yamaha four-stroke provides main propulsion, while an electric auxiliary motor allows us to explore selected areas slowly and quietly.

Although the boat has capacity for more passengers, Silent Tours limits cruises to a maximum of four guests, providing more room and a genuinely small-group experience.

A full canopy provides shade from the Kimberley sun and can be lowered when conditions allow, providing 360-degree visibility for wildlife viewing and photography.

Quiet, Responsible Wildlife Experiences

Silent Tours aims to minimise disturbance while exploring the Ord River. Electric propulsion is used in suitable waterways to reduce motor noise, while low speed reduces bank erosion and allow guests to enhance their sensory experience with the river's natural sounds.

Wildlife is observed naturally. Silent Tours does not feed or entice animals for sightings or photographs.

Silent Tours is EcoStar accredited and operates under the relevant Parks and Wildlife requirements for its activities..

Frequently Asked Questions

Please reach us at relax@silenttours.com.au if you cannot find an answer to your question.

Are your tours like others?

In some ways yes, but in many more ways no. We can cruise in the same areas and see the same things as large tour operators but that's where it ends. We do not compete with other tours as we provide bespoke river experiences often for two passengers only. For a little extra you get to explore places that others do not and spend more time doing exactly what you want with flexible tour schedules.

Where to you depart from and what time?

Silent Tour Boat Cruises depart from Lily Lagoon at Celebrity Tree Boat ramp. There are a few accommodations that are within 2 minutes walk of the boat ramp.

Morning Tours start at 7am and return at Midday.

Afternoon tours start at 1pm and return around 5.30pm.

There is some flexibility with departure times - we can leave at day break for those wishing to see more bird and wildlife.

What sort of boat does Silent tours have?

We run a 5.3m Quintrex bowrider - big enough to be very comfortable and safe, small enough to get into the lagoons, creeks and drive in waterfalls. A new eco-efficient Yamaha 4 stroke 130HP motor powers the boat. A newly installed full cover shade gets you out of the sun and kept cool and the Avator electric auxiliary outboard provides super quiet cruising through the small waterways, reduces our impact on the environment, allows us to get closer to wildlife, and lets you to relax to the sounds of nature.

What do we need to bring?

A hat, sunglasses, long sleeved shirt for sun protection, refillable waterbottle, sand shoes that can get wet or sports sandals, day bag, swimwear & towel if you wish to swim and your preferred beverage to place in the esky. Please also bring any required medication, special foods, snacks, or other beverages you may prefer. A camera is optional but highly recommended

What do you provide?

We provide binoculars, insect repellent, a light snack served with bush tea and tuning of the senses if you wish to spot wildlife and get the most out of your experience.

do i need to be fit?

No, not for the boat cruises. However you do need to be able to step onto the boat from the jetty. We will help you get in and out. If you would like to explore waterways by foot up river, the more balance & agility you have the easier your exploration will be.

Where do you go?

Every Silent Tours cruise is a little different. Wildlife, weather, river conditions, the season and the interests of our guests help determine where we spend our time.

Departing from Celebrity Tree Park in Kununurra, possible locations include Lily Creek Lagoon, quieter sections of the Ord River, Emu Creek, Elephant Rock, Coolamon Creek and other waterways and gorges along the river.

Depending on conditions and the season, we may encounter freshwater crocodiles, birds of prey, waterbirds, wallabies and other East Kimberley wildlife. During the wet season, waterfalls can cascade from the surrounding escarpments directly towards the river.

The emphasis is on quality rather than distance travelled — slowing down where something magical is happening rather than racing from one landmark to another.

Ord River Eco Cruises Small Group Wildlife & Nature Tours

Explore the Ord with a maximum of four guests. Enjoy quiet electric cruising, wildlife watching, bird photography and flexible morning or afternoon departures.