Credit for image sourcing
Robert wrote the python script that allowed us to scrape the image urls from google photos, instead of copy/paste for 80 images. Nice work there.
Purnululu National Park
We started the trip by flying into Kununurra, about 3000 km from Perth and 300 km north of Purnululu National Park, on a little 20 seat plane. We rented a 4WD and drove along some very empty roads, about 1/3 of them dirt, to get to the lodge for East Kimberly Tours (EKT) deep inside Purnululu National Park.
A number of tour companies have lodges set up in the Bungle Bungle range. If you click the link below to google maps you should get a satellite image of the Bungle Bungle range, and the "Beehives", one of the main draws for the trip to Purnululu (Beehives).
The lodge was a series of small buildings with bunks, a small pool, and a large dining hall. We stayed at the lodge for 3 nights, as the base camp for exploration of the north and south sides of the Bungle Bungle.
On the drive into the East Kimberly Tours lodge, Purnululu National Park
We had to cross serveral stream beds like this one on the way to the EKT lodge, and in the wet season we would have needed a boat
The Beehives in the background
More Beehive sandstone formations
Beehive hike (1). It was the hot season, so enough water was a serious concern
Beehive hike (2)
Beehive hike (3)
Beehive hike (4)
Beehive hike (5) -- this may be more fun in the wet season when you can swim all over the place
Beehive hike (6)
Beehive hike (7) -- Picaninny Creek
Beehive hike (8) -- Panorama
Beehive hike (9)
Beehive hike (10) -- Cathedral Gorge
Beehive hike (11) -- some shade was afforded by the cliffs for parts of the hike
Beehive hike (12)
Beehive hike (13)
Beehive hike (14)
Beehive hike (15)
Beehive hike (16) -- these hikers appear to want to be back at the pool at the lodge
Sandstone hoodoos observed on the drive back to the EKT lodge
The East Kimberly Tours dining hall
EKT guide, cook, and handyman
We had very nice hearty meals at night at the lodge, and listened to some interesting stories, including the beginning of the EKT company, the building of the lodge, and the business. A lot of tour companies fly in/fly out to the Bungle Bungle. A group will fly in to to a small airstrip nearby, and EKT meets them with a bus, takes them for a tour of the Bungle Bungle, and provides lunch. Other individuals or groups fly in for multiple day tours, and some (like us) drive in for multiple day tours. We skipped the tour and instead used the lodge as a place to sleep and eat.
On the second day we went to Echidna Chasm, a slot canyon on the north side of the Bungle Bungle
Echidna Chasm (2)
Echidna Chasm (3)
Echidna Chasm (4)
Echidna Chasm (5) -- Katerina spider walk
Echidna Chasm (6)
Echidna Chasm (7)
Echidna Chasm (8)
Group photo at the Visitor Center for Purnululu National Park
Broome
Next we drove back to Kununurra and flew on a tiny plane to Broome. We stayed in a hotel walking distance to the beach, and went for a twilight walk along the beach to find a place to eat dinner.
On the drive back to Kununurra
Broome beach walk (1)
Broome beach walk (2)
Broome beach walk (3) -- these little crabs are crazy active
Broome beach walk (4) -- crab trails
Broome beach walk (5) -- more crab trails
Beautiful sunset on the boardwalk above the beach (1)
Beautiful sunset on the boardwalk above the beach (2)
Beautiful sunset on the boardwalk above the beach (3)
Dinner overlooking the beach
The Horizontal Falls
Very early the next day we met for the beginning of the Horizontal Falls Seaplane adventure. We started the day with a 40 minute seaplane ride east to Talbot bay. The close pass to the horries and the water landing are your first thrills of the day. Then you pull up to the floating palace in the middle of nowhere: a collection of rafts and house boats. In high season they have four float planes, three FAST boats, two 4wd buses, and helicopters. Pretty wicked cool.
We had a lovely breakfast (BACON!) in the shade and then we were off in the fast boat. Trip 300 HP outboards make this really really fast. Epic is what the kids called it. The run through the two tidal pinches (the horries proper) is fantastic, but you also get a lovely long tour of cyclone creek and the geologically outstanding upthrust king Leopold sandstone and conglomerates, and a meander among the mangroves.
Then back to the floating base of operations where the reason you want the full day option becomes obvious: the half day folks are back in the float plane for the flight back. The full day folks can have another coffee and then back on the fast boat for another few runs at the horries. Outstanding.
In the seaplane (1) -- Robert had the copilot seat
In the seaplane (2)
We started from Broome and proceeded counter clockwise along the green route
Talbot Bay
The Horries Proper -- the two tidal pinches you see right below. There is no tide action in this photo.
The floating base of operators for HFSA
They do some shark interaction on the floating platform
In the fast boat on the way through the Horries, the wider pinch
In the fast boat on the way through the Horries, the narrow pinch
Happy riders on the fast boat
The tour along cyclone creek, and the upthrust king Leopold sandstone (1)
The tour along cyclone creek, and the upthrust king Leopold sandstone (2)
The tour along cyclone creek, and the upthrust king Leopold sandstone (3)
The tour along cyclone creek, and the upthrust king Leopold sandstone (4) -- mangroves
The tour along cyclone creek, and the upthrust king Leopold sandstone (5) -- beautiful expressions of geology
Second pass through the Horries on the fast boat (1)
Second pass through the Horries on the fast boat (2) -- riders enjoying WOT
Next you get a seaplane run across the Buccaneer Archipelago to cape leveque where you swap modes of transport with another tour group that has come in by 4wd bus. A short tour of an indigenous run marine hatchery is followed by lunch (barramundi!) at an indigenous run resort.
Leaving the Horizontal Falls, a nice view of the Horries with tidal movement
Flying over Cape Leveque
Landed at Cape Leveque
A beach at Cape Leveque (1)
A beach at Cape Leveque (2)
The pearl shell church on Cape Leveque, with the interior decorated with local pearl shells (1)
The pearl shell church on Cape Leveque, with the interior decorated with local pearl shells (2)
Here is where our tour went off the plan a little. The air con in the bus had broken down, and instead of running us back sweltering the 2 hours to Broome, the company decided to send a plane to pick us up. Waiting at a nearby airstrip was a small plane from a different company. So HFSA chartered a different company to come pick us up. We were all pretty impressed.
On the bus with the broken air conditioning
The unscheduled sea plane for the quick ride back to Broome
Our full day tour with the Horizontal Falls Seaplane Adventure company (HFSA) was beyond outstanding. At first look the trip seems pricey, especially for a family of five, but I tell you truly, it is worth every cent.
Final day in Broome, a visit to the Willie Creek Pearl Farm
On the final day we had time for a quick morning trip to the pearl farm before the return flight to Perth. At the pearl farm we decided what the heck, and went up for a quick helicopter tour as our goodbye to Broome.
Out on the boat for the water part of the tour. Apparently there are a couple of very large salt water crocs (salties) in that bay, and visitors dont always show them proper respect.
Helicopter tour (1)
Helicopter tour (2)
Helicopter tour (3)
Helicopter tour (4)
We had a very enjoyable trip to the Kimberleys, and would only make a small change in planning to come at a better time of year when the interior was not so hot.
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