The Kimberley

Discover The Kimberley with Mark Coles Smith

ABC, Screen Australia and Screen NSW are thrilled to announce three-part documentary series The Kimberley is coming in 2025. Featuring Mark Coles Smith (Mystery Road: Origin), this landmark natural history series showcases the unbelievable landscape in the North-Western corner of Australia and captures a year in the lives of the unique wildlife that call the region home.

From Wild Pacific Media (Australia’s Wild Odyssey, Documentary Emmy Award-winning Puff: Wonders of the Reef), this series follows the Aboriginal custodians and passionate experts working to save the incredible biodiversity of The Kimberley.

The Kimberley stretches over 400,000 square kilometres and contains sprawling savannahs, towering gorges, rivers, tropical coastlines and desert. The rugged geology of the region has provided a last refuge for countless mammals, reptiles and birds: from the world’s smallest marsupial to the world’s largest (and fiercest) reptile, and The Kimberley brings it to screens like never before.

Director and producer Nick Robinson says, “Of all the places I’ve been in the world, the Kimberley stands out as the wildest and most beautiful. It’s been an enormous privilege to witness the incredible work being done by the Traditional Owners who welcomed us on to their Country, and the ecologists contributing to vital conservation work on the ground. There are wonderful universal values in the message that the Kimberley people have to share about the natural world, I hope that’s what will really stand out about this series.”

ABC Head of Documentary and Specialist, Susie Jones says, “The Kimberley promises viewers an extraordinary journey through this incredible region, guided and narrated by Nyikina man Mark Coles Smith. With this series, ABC continues its legacy of bringing world class Australian Natural History to audiences here and around the world. A visually spectacular journey through the tumultuous seasons, this series invites Australians to celebrate our unique wildlife and the people who dedicate their lives to protecting it.”

Screen Australia Head of Documentary Richard Huddleston says, “The alchemy provided by this leading natural history producer, the prodigious talent that is Nyikina man, Mark Coles Smith, the majestic Kimberley landscape and all that live in it is a magical result. It will captivate audiences and help further Australia’s reputation as a world leader in natural history documentary.”

Head of Screen NSW, Kyas Hepworth says, “Wild Pacific Media have made waves around the world with their work, highlighting the breadth of talent NSW has in the documentary sector and Screen NSW is thrilled to support the Emmy-award winning team on what promises to be another breathtaking project exploring this vast wonderland in The Kimberley. With a proven track record of creating award-winning projects that are seen by audiences all over the world, I can’t wait to dive into their next series when it premieres on ABC in 2025.”

Production credit: Commissioned by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. The Kimberley is a Wild Pacific Media production for the ABC. Major production investment from Screen Australia in association with the ABC. Financed with support from Screen NSW. The series has been produced in association with international broadcasters Love Nature and Arte France. Blue Ant Studios will manage international sales. Post, digital and visual effects supported by Screen NSW. Directed by Nick Robinson. Narrated by Mark Coles Smith. Written and produced by Nick Robinson, Peta Ayers and Mark Coles Smith. Executive Producers Electra Manikakis and Nick Robinson. Director of Photography Jack Riley. Editors Bobbi Hansel, Caspar Mazzotti and Jack Riley. ABC Commissioning Editor Stephen Oliver. ABC Head of Documentary and Specialist Susie Jones.

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Natural history docuseries The Kimberley is coming to the ABC this year. Narrated by Mark Coles Smith, this docuseries captures never-before-seen animal sequences and explores the lives of the unique wildlife that call The Kimberley home. 🌄 pic.twitter.com/ZnUEpGX7qH

— ScreenAustralia (@ScreenAustralia) January 7, 2025

Flagship natural history series The Kimberley, presented by Mark Coles Smith, is coming to Tuesdays showcasing sprawling savannas, towering gorges, rivers, coastlines, desert and wildlife.

“I’ve seen two episodes of that so far, and it is visually stunning, layered with storytelling,” she maintains. “The Wild Pacific team have done an extraordinary job and they are just such great producers for us to work within that natural history space. We’re thrilled with the results….the plan is that we’ll be doing a series like the Kimberley every year on a Tuesday night.”

Mark Coles Smith explores the breathtaking wonders of The Kimberley in May

Get ready to embark on an incredible journey with award-winning actor Mark Coles Smith (Mystery Road: Origin) as he explores one of Australia’s most remote and majestic landscapes during The Kimberley, premiering on Tuesday 13 May at 8pm on ABC TV and ABC iview.

In the remote North-Western corner of Australia lies a magnificent landscape that defies time. The Kimberley spans over 400,000 square kilometres – three times the size of England – and contains sprawling savannas, towering gorges, rivers, tropical coastlines and desert. The region’s rugged terrain provides a last refuge for countless rare mammals, reptiles and birds, including the world’s smallest marsupial, and the largest and fiercest reptile.

Guided by Mark, a Nyikina man from the lower Martuwarra (Fitzroy River) area, this three-part series is an adventure into a place like nowhere else on Earth. Following the six distinct seasons on the Nyikina calendar – Lalin, Jirrbal, Willakarra, Koolawa, Barrakana and Willbooroo – we track the quest of the Traditional Owners and passionate ecologists working to protect the region’s incredible biodiversity.

With daring camerawork and cutting-edge cinematography techniques, this landmark natural history series captures never-before-seen animal sequences as we share a year in the lives of the unique wildlife that calls The Kimberley home.

Always free and Always entertaining, discover more enlightening and inspiring documentaries on ABC iview now.

Production Credits: Commissioned by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. The Kimberley is a Wild Pacific Media production for the ABC. Major production investment from Screen Australia in association with the ABC. Financed with support from Screen NSW. The series has been produced in association with international broadcasters Love Nature and Arte France. Blue Ant Studios will manage international sales. Post, digital and visual effects supported by Screen NSW. Directed by Nick Robinson. Narrated by Mark Coles Smith. Written and produced by Nick Robinson, Peta Ayers and Mark Coles Smith. Executive Producers Electra Manikakis and Nick Robinson. Director of Photography Jack Riley. Editors Bobbi Hansel, Caspar Mazzotti and Jack Riley. ABC Commissioning Editor Stephen Oliver. ABC Head of Documentary and Specialist Susie Jones.

EPISODE 1

TUESDAY 13 MAY 8. 00PM

Embark on an incredible journey with award-winning actor Mark Coles Smith as he explores one of Australia’s most remote and majestic landscapes .

Award-winning actor, Mark Coles Smith, a Nyikina man from the lower Martuwarra (Fitzroy River) area, welcomes us to The Kimberley, a vast Australian wilderness that’s home to iconic species and rare creatures found nowhere else on Earth.

Following the six distinct seasons on the Nyikina calendar – Lalin, Jirrbal, Willakarra, Koolawa, Barrakana and Willbooroo – this three-part series tracks the quest of the Traditional Owners and ecologists working to protect The Kimberley’s incredible biodiversity.

EPISODE 2

TUESDAY 20 MAY 8.00 PM

The Wilakarra (the rainy season) brings a welcome deluge that returns life to Country and revives the mighty Martuwarra/Fitzroy River, where Mark Coles Smith launches a rafting expedition to explore its remote reaches.

At the end of Lalin, the Kimberley’s intense hot dry season, parched wallabies face peril to reach water while frill-necked lizards battle for mates. As the heat and humidity peaks, Wilakarra (the rainy season), brings a welcome deluge that returns life to Country and revives the mighty Martuwarra/Fitzroy River, where Mark Coles Smith launches a rafting expedition to explore its remote reaches.

As Wilakarra ends, frill-necked lizard hatchlings emerge, joining the host of new life born in the floods.