 |
| Our babies on their first flight!!! |
 |
| Spillway Creek coming from Lake Argyle towards Kununurra |
 |
| The many "islands" created because Lake Argyle is in flood |
 |
| This is Lake Argyle Resort to the right of the dam wall - in the middle of nowhere! |
 |
| This is Pannikin Bay lookout (the white bit right in the middle of the photo) where we had sunset - the Hansen family alone in the middle of nowhere - just amazing. |
 |
| the Bungle Bungles from the air |
 |
| the Bungle Bungles from the air |
 |
| The Argyle Diamond Mine |
 |
| Some of the 76,000 hectares under crop at Kununurra, supported by the damming of the Ord River. |
 |
| Beside our little plane! |
DAY 41 – KUNUNURRA Friday, 12th August
Up early this morning for our very exciting flight over the Bungle Bungles, courtesy of winning the first prize at the Parish Dinner – what luck!!!!
Beth had been on a light plane before but the others had not, so it was going to be quite an experience. It was just the Hansen family and one other passenger on the 8 seater plane, and a very young (and Beth thought quite handsome) pilot!!
The faces on the little ones when we took off were just so special! They could not believe it when the plane got off the ground. We flew over Kununurra and then along Spillway Creek up to Lake Argyle. From the air you really get a great idea of the size of this lake. It is classed as an inland sea so any vessel on the water must be classed as ocean going. Especially, this year, when it has been in flood it is absolutely huge. Capacity is actually at 180% - work that one out mathematicians! It appears to have so many islands dotted around the Lake but in fact many are just part of the mainland but the water level is so high that the low lying land has been inundated with water.
We flew further over Lissadell Station and Texas Downs Station which are both huge. The flight was a little turbulent over the land but once over the water it was very calm. Ben was the first to call for the vomit bag, which he held close to his mouth for much of the trip. But poor Beth and Tess were the ones to USE it!! They felt better after that. Poor Mummy was the one who had to hold it for the rest of the flight. Only “iron guts” David and Bridget were the ones to successfully negotiate small aircraft travel!!
Purnululu National Park (the Bungle Bungles) is extraordinary and you get such a great view from the plane of the tiger striped beehive domes. The pilot was great, giving us some great flyovers of the gorges – lots of wing-dipping which the kids loved. On the way back we flew over the Argyle Diamond Mine which was very extensive. I had no idea! Apparently they supply about one-quarter of the world’s diamonds, including the Pink Argyle Diamond. They are so concerned about security that when they fly the diamonds out of the mine, which has its own airstrip, they often conduct “dummy flights” as well so no one knows on which plane the diamonds are travelling!!!
The kids all had a ball, despite the air sickness!! And the pilot was very complimentary, saying how polite our children were – always nice to hear.
Mummy needed to recover from her queasiness when we got back so had a lazy lunch before heading off around Kununurra to see the Zebra Rock Gallery. I just love the Zebra Rock and would dearly love to buy all the ladies in my life some beautiful pieces, but it is just so expensive. We saw some lovely pieces, even wine racks!! Just stunning. Also saw some lovely Aboriginal art galleries. I really had no idea of the extent of different Aboriginal styles of painting throughout Australia, from the traditional acrylic on canvas dot style paintings of Central Australia to the traditional rock art style of the Top End and Arnhem Land, to the ochre paintings of the Kimberley. Have not managed to find the exact painting that we want for our home yet (except for the stunning ones I found at the Mindil Beach Markets for $2000!) but am hoping that Reggie Sultan may be able to paint one for us.
No comments:
Post a Comment