Day Five - Emma Gorge to Kununurra via Bungles and Argyle

A great day of flying from Emma Gorge via the Bungle Bungles and Lake Argyle. The Bungles are very unique and impressive from the air. The photos don't quite do the uniqueness of the rock formation justice.

Emma Gorge Accomodation

El Questro Homestead

 

Bungle Bungles

Argyle Diamond Mine

Lake Argyle

Kununurra

For the Pilots

The Bungle Bungles are subject to special area procedures set out in ERSA. The special area contains information on CTAF frequencies, circuit procedures, entry points, heights etc. There is a lot of activity there so you need to have a good study of the procedures before you venture over the Bungles. The Kununurra entry in ERSA also sets out special tracking procedures to and from the Bungles for Kununurra. It is all explained quite well and we had no troubles, it is just a matter of a study for an hour to work out how it works and how you are going to execute.

 

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Day 4 - El Questro Wilderness Park

Today we went on a full day tour of the El Questro Wilderness Park. We started with a guided hike up Emma Gorge. After Karijini it was an easy hike. The waterfall and pool at the end of the hike was magnificent. The water was cool but not freezing as at Karijini.

 

 

Next stop was at the warm Zebedee Springs. These are amazing. The water runs out of the rocks at 28 - 32C and trickles through palm lined rock pools. The most amazing thing about the pools is that they are totally natural yet form about a dozen pools to relax in.

 

It was then back to El Questro Station Steakhouse for lunch. After lunch we went on to a boat cruise of the Chamberlin Gorge. Apparently 14 freshwater crocs and 1 salty live there but we did not get to see any. We did see some aboriginal rock paintings and the magnificent walls of the Chamberlin Gorge.

The tour then dropped us at Emma Gorge for our last night at El Questro. Accommodation at Emma Gorge is permanent safari tents with ensuites. The tents are very comfortable and our front deck overlooked an impressive range.

 

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Day Three - Karijini to El Questro/Emma Gorge

A flying day today. We departed Karijini for Emma Gorge at El Questro Wilderness Park via Sandfire Roadhouse and Fitzroy Crossing. Was a long day flying from 8.30am to 4.45pm.

Interesting facts learned for the day include Sandfire being named after sand that looks like it is on fire and in Fitzroy Crossing controlled burning includes burning your backyard and any cars in it.

At Emma Gorge we were transferred for the first night of our stay to the El Questro Station. Our very nice Bungalows overlooked the Pentecost River. We looked but could spot no Crocs.

Sandfire Roadhouse

El Questro Station - BBQ Night

For the Pilots

We stopped at Sandfire Roadhouse for fuel. Fuel is not available except by arranging for a drum of fuel to be dropped there by BP from Port Hedland. Be aware you are totally on your own so far as getting the fuel from drum to plane. Ken is very accommodating in lending gear (read forklift) but you will have to arrange it. Unless you have a pump I would recommend taking the slightly longer option of getting fuel at Karratha or Port Hedland. The additional cost of getting a drum delivered will offset any additional flying time.

Fitzroy Crossing is a good fuel stop if you arrange with the local charter operator. Details in AOPA Airfields Directory.

Emma Gorge and El Questro are excellent at providing a pickup if you arrange it ahead of time. There is a ground frequency to call ground staff also available in AOPA.

 

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Day Two - Karijini National Park

We had a fantastic day in the spectacular gorges of Karijini after very ordinary start. We eagerly waited for our 8.30am tour bus until about 9.00am when we thought something must be up. The Karijini Eco Retreat called our tour operator Lestok Tours and confirmed our booking had been lost. Lestok were very apologetic, refunded our money and offered to pay for a tour if we could get one somewhere else but said there was no way they could do the tour. We were in a right pickle as the other tour operator had already left for the day and if you have no car there is no way to get about the National Park. Fortunately Bec and Brad, the assistant managers at the Retreat really are the epitome of Pilbara hospitality and could not bear to see us stuck. They quickly had a packed lunch made up and offered to drive us to Knox Gorge and Weano and Hancock Gorge in their private vehicle. That involved two trips for Brad, one to Knox where he dropped us for 3 hours and then picked us up and dropped us to the dual gorge of Weano and Hancock. And we ended up having a fantastic day hiking the gorges. We suspected we ended up having a better day being left to our own devices rather than being stuck to a tour operator's timetables. The pictures below tell the story of how amazing the gorges are if you are willing to hike beyond the lookouts and get into the guts of the gorges. It might mean climbing a little and getting wet but it is well worth it.

The pictures below are of Knox Gorge.

The pictures below are Weano Gorge

The pictures below are of Hancock Gorge

Joffre Gorge

Philip the Karijini resident astrologer came highly recommended from all who had been on his evening celestial tour (and even those who hadn't) so we decided to see what the fuss was about. Apart from feeling we may have paid to get hypothermia it reinforced the enormity of our universe and our small part in it. The telescopes show up the rings of Saturn, craters of the moon, star clusters that appear to the naked eye to be a single star and had the zodiac symbols pointed out. The facts about number of stars, size of galaxies and celestial distances are mind blowing.

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Day One - Perth to Karijini

 

Our Kimberley Flying Adventure began with departure from Jandakot on 26 July 2012 at 8.30pm. First stop was Meekatharra for fuel. Lucky we took some snacks, there is no food of any kind at Meeka airport.

We landed at Karijini at about 3.00pm and had our first experience of Pilbara hospitality in our very friendly pickup driver Shano. We are staying at Karijini Eco Retreat, the only accommodation in the national park unless you are camping. The accommodation is permanent safari style tents. The national park involves a lot of red dirt and the nights are very cold but this is all very bearable with hot showers, complimentary coffee and hot water bottles available from reception. The restaurant produces fantastic steak and game meals from an outdoor kitchen.

For the Pilots

Call ahead to make sure you don't land with all of the regional airlines as getting anywhere near the fuel bowser will be a challenge. The bowser is 24 hour BP Carnet Card but if you call ahead you an arrange to pay by credit card.

The airstrip at Karijini is 200m from the Visitors Centre but 40km from the Eco Retreat so you will need to arrange transfers. The Eco Retreat can arrange that for you.

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Welcome to Kimberley Flying. A blog designed to let you join the adventures of our flying holiday through Western Australia's beautiful Kimberly Region. This trip was inspired by Shelley Ross's flying safari stories and our longing to see the magnificent top end of Western Australia. Departing from Jandakot Perth on Thursday 26th July for 11 days of adventure.