The Kimberley

[Delta kilo]

G'day all, planning a trip from YBAF to Broome in July. Aside from El Questro / Bungle Bungles / Horizontal Waterfalls, what are the "must see" up that way?
(also thinking of Truscott to Broome coastal)
TIA. DK.

[tipsy2]

With regard to Truscott, make sure about access to both the airfield and the surrounding area, accomodation/food, any local transport and avgas availability before you make any concrete plans.

Read up on the history of where you eventually go, it makes the travels far more interesting.

You will enjoy that corner of Oz.

Tipsy

[kaz3g]

Sacred Heart Church at Beagle Bay is well worth the time.

Catholic Diocese of Broome (http://www.broomediocese.org/beaglebay.html)

If you are travelling through much of WA have a look at Mt Augustus (biggest rock in the world) which is in the middle of what used to be my cattle station.

Head back from there to Giles or Warburton then Alice, Lake Eyre, Wilpena and wherever.

Kaz

[On Track]

Wolf Creek Crater is worth an orbit or two.

Also highly recommend a cruise on Lake Argyle.

[Pharcarnell]

Make sure you do your homework on Truscott before just "Dropping in". The landing fees are a bit exxy, presumably to stop this. It is an active oil rig chopper transfer base.
I believe avgas is available but only by the drum and you need to have arranged it before hand.
I qualify this with, it may be out of date info. Still best to check.

[The Green Goblin]

When did you own mount Augustus station kaz3g?

I've spent many a day chilling out at the station on day wastes. Topping up with fuel, or borrowing a 'buggy' to go for a look around.

[mcgrath50]

Bungles a must. It gets busy overhead during the season. Give the guys at Slingair or Shoal a ring to see what times everyone is heading in to meet the ground tour buses (it's the same for all companies) and avoid that. Otherwise just use your radio and don't be afraid to ask :ok:

Try Kalumbaru instead of Truscott. Not sure about the arrangements their but tourists who drive in stay at the mission and they operate the airport so speak to them. Geike Gorge and Windjana Gorge are nice little diversions off the Broome-Halls Creek/Bungles Track.

Cape Leveque is well worth a stop in and either Cygnet Bay Pearl Farm (there is an airport, not sure if private flights can land there) or Willie Creek Pearl Farm (no airport, drive ~30 mins from Broome).

When inbound to Broome from the North (ring the tower before departure if possible) request "coastal to gantheume point then the port, then either join base for 28 or right downwind 10" gives a nice little scenic flight around Broome. The tower can give you more info on how to conduct it.

[josephfeatherweight]

PPRuNe at its best! I hope to do a trip like this one day - I'm jealous!

[yr right]

don't forget Derby, see if you can get down to the port and just watch the tide. even better if your there when it turns on the incoming, great experience truly Gods own country.

[yr right]

plus don't forget port hedland. its an amazing place as well.

[Flying Ted]

I did a similar trip from YTYA year before last. Its fantastic.

I just over flew Truscott due to landing fees but the Mitchell Plateau is near by and well worth a 2 night stay to allow a walk into the falls. Good accommodation is available at the APT lodge.

I'd second Cape Leveque. I much prefer it's undeveloped charm over Broome.

I'd also recommend Windjara Gorge not far from Derby. However, to really enjoy this you will need camping gear as there is only a camp ground.

And Kings Canyon Station is good place stop over once you over fly the rock.

You will have a ball!

[Global Aviator]

Far Away bay whilst not cheap is an awesome little spot!

[bw2004]

Prior to the lap around the Bungles, a phone call to the guys at Slingair was very useful for local traffic tips.

As for places to drop in, it's also worth considering Drysdale River Station (for a Kimberley Beef burger!)

El Questro is excellent (+/- Emma Gorge).

Done the trip around that area a couple of times and had a fantastic time.

[Delta kilo]

The suggestions have been very helpful. Thanks.
Truscott - gone. Cape Leveque / B.Bay / Derby / Wolf Ck / Argyle - added.
We did look previously at Far Away Bay (& it looks fantastic) as a stop before Truscott, Global, but the almost $5K per 3days per person.... well, it was a little beyond us.
Great info. DK.

[kaz3g]

My place was the adjoining Cobra Station and my homestead was originally the Bangamall Pub.

Two-thirds of Mt Augustus was in the Cobra lease and I was the person who first lobbied WA Govt to declare it a National Park back in the late 1970's. Now the whole station and a couple of others have been resumed and are currently reserved CL.

Don Hammerquist and his two brothers had just purchased Mt Augustus Station and Don helped me with my first muster. Sadly, the government guys have apparently closed all the artificial waters which would have killed a great number of wildlife - birds, mammals and reptiles.

It was pretty wild there back then, but I loved it and miss it still.

Kaz

[The Green Goblin]

No worries Kaz.

I enjoyed my time out there. Beautiful part of the world.

[Car RAMROD]

In Broome.. The Roey on a Thursday night!

Port Hedland, haha yeah awesome spot. The Pier. That'll open your eyes a little!

In all honesty, find some stations, give them a call and see if you can drop in for a night for a visit. Ask if they'd like anything brought in at the same time. Get a real local experience!

[redsnail]

Yup, definitely call the local stations. Very friendly and their ALAs are usually pretty good. As for the rest of the suggestions? They have me diving for my logbook. Good times.
Cape Leveque is a beautiful spot. :ok:

[outnabout]

If you're going to the Bungle Bungles, please read up on the fly friendly procedures in ERSA. Please note, before you land at the Bungle Bungles ( a private strip - permission in writing is required), you must speak to the chief pilot at one of the Kununurra mobs to get a briefing.


Choose to land without permission? There goes your insurance in case of incident or accident. Choose to blunder around the scenic flight route without reading up properly before hand? Risk the ire of the local boys n girls who are trying to provide a professional service to the paying punter.


Other excellent spots to visit in the Kimberley - Berkeley River Lodge, Faraway Bay, Kimberley Coastal Camp, Cape Leveque, Mornington Wilderness Sanctuary, El Questro, Katherine Gorge. Not sure if Mt Hart Station is still operating as accommodation. Some are on the upper end of the market, yes, but do it once, and do it right.

[gassed budgie]

During July/August, the Kimberly is one of the best spots in the country to go flying.

http://imageshack.com/a/img540/9993/Z8203X.jpg

http://imageshack.com/a/img540/8026/UEQvVv.jpg

http://imageshack.com/a/img538/1907/0FNIY6.jpg

http://imageshack.com/a/img673/5258/EFR1Eh.jpg

http://imageshack.com/a/img908/8928/9axQuF.jpg

http://imageshack.com/a/img901/7942/9OHZTz.jpg

http://imageshack.com/a/img910/73/JTNsln.jpg

http://imageshack.com/a/img540/9079/v0IVWg.jpg

http://imageshack.com/a/img673/7823/0G7ZfB.jpg

If you can get a group of mates or family together to help pay the way, it's well worth the effort. Everyone should at least do one Kimberly trip during their flying career.

[Flying Ted]

When I sought permission to fly into the Bungles airstrip I was told it was only available to people who had accommodation booked and only after obtaining a briefing from the CP of one of the local operators.

We stayed with East Kimberly tours for both accommodation and a ground tour of Bungles. They picked us up and dropped as off at the airstrip. Over flying the Bungles is one thing. Walking in to some of chasms is another experience all together.

We found that if you do the research, seek permission and local advice everyone is more than happy to help you out.

Also, did anyone mention that carrying a sat phone is good idea? Really helps in cancelling SAR times and a comfort should anything go wrong.

[le Pingouin]

GB, nice explosion in that second pic!

[gerry111]

GB,
Lots of our lovely country that only some of us very fortunate people get to see. No 4x4's nor Grey Nomads ever get to see some of this beauty!
Great photos. Thank you.

[sms777]

Great photos gb. :ok:
What type of missile did you shoot on that second pic? Looks like a direct hit on that goanna....:E
Back on subject.....If you get a chance, drop into Kalumburu just north of Windham. Small catholic outpost with the an airstrip good enough to land a Kingair on.The local church has a well kept secret. You did not hear it from me. They have a piano in perfect condition donated by....you will never guess....Adolf Hitler himself. He has his own signature on it to prove it. How it got there, you will have to ask the local priest yourself.
Good luck!

[Hobo]

The Kimberley was one of the best bits on Mrs H's and my 25,000k+ drive round the edge and up the middle of the big island. Agree with Bungle Bungles and Wolfe creek crater - both unmissable. Also China Wall (http://www.heartofthekimberley.com.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=55:china-wall&catid=3&Itemid=75) 5 minutes drive South of Halls Creek.

http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc245/hobo31/BB5.jpg (http://s214.photobucket.com/user/hobo31/media/BB5.jpg.html)

http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc245/hobo31/crater4.jpg (http://s214.photobucket.com/user/hobo31/media/crater4.jpg.html)

http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc245/hobo31/Chinawallhallscreek.jpg (http://s214.photobucket.com/user/hobo31/media/Chinawallhallscreek.jpg.html)

[gassed budgie]

What type of missile did you shoot on that second pic? Looks like a direct hit on that goanna....
Back on subject.....If you get a chance, drop into Kalumburu just north of Windham

Didn't know the story about the piano 777. If I did, we would have traipsed into town to check it out. Next time for that one.

If you've got a bit of time and it's not to hot, walk across to the other side of the strip, jump the fence and follow the track that runs alongside the water treatment ponds and just beyond that in the scrub you'll find some old abandoned airframes....

http://imageshack.com/a/img631/3800/2A5tiW.jpg

....no I didn't mean the 210, parked here on the apron at YKAL. I forget why we dropped into Kalumburu, but we were on our way around to Cygnet bay which is another great place to stay if it already hasn't been mentioned.

http://imageshack.com/a/img537/5875/1gGfzJ.jpg

http://imageshack.com/a/img909/7066/ubPFZo.jpg

http://imageshack.com/a/img537/7876/fuWiJY.jpg

http://imageshack.com/a/img901/4603/sDSUnY.jpg

http://imageshack.com/a/img661/8648/absppy.jpg

http://imageshack.com/a/img912/5443/BdZPGp.jpg

http://imageshack.com/a/img673/7986/Dneio1.jpg

http://imageshack.com/a/img673/1620/Hm5S2A.jpg

They look like Lockheed Hudson's. I can't remember the story as to why they finished up at Kalumburu, but I'm sure someone on here will.

As for the explosion on the side of the hill Le P, we were running up the channel that links the top part of Suspicious Bay with the southern bit (or is it Secure Bay?). If you look closely you can see the incoming rounds in the top righthand quarter of the photo. Evidently they're warning shots from the guys just up the road at the Horizontal falls to stop fools blundering into the CTAF unannounced.

Whoever that was in the Caravan that whizzed by under my righthand wingtip, sorry about that!

[Dora-9]

I spent a memorable year flying the RFDS Queen Air out of Derby in the late 1960's, so Grassed Budgie's photos were truly evocative. Thank you for a trip down memory lane, GB.

Yours too Hobo - Wolf Creek Meteorite Crater was misplaced by some 25 nm on the then current WAC chart. Fortunately I was warned about this before I blasted off for my first trip to Balgo with half the RFDS Committee on board! On the downside, no-one thought to tell me that the entire mission had been re-located from where it shown on the chart, so you can imagine my sense of impending doom when I arrived overhead what was clearly an abandoned mission.

I found the photos of the Kalumburu wrecks rather sad - in the 60's there was MUCH more there! The Hudson was virtually complete then (although missing instruments and fittings). This was A16-244 from 2 Squadron which ground-looped on 4.11.1943 and was subsequently written off. The fuselage standing against the tree was an NEIAF B-25C Mitchell N5-161 - again it was much more complete and the name "Missisippi Dreaming" was clearly visible painted on the nose. This entire area was littered with live ammunition! Also on the field were the hulks of two Beaufighters, just the fuselage and wing centre-section, minus engines, nose, outer wings and tail group. One was A19-148, a 31 Squadron Mk.IXc, which crashed landed there on 22.1.1944. The other's identity has proved rather more elusive, some claim it as A19-44 but I'm very dubious about this.

Subsequently the wrecks have been looted/scrapped/parts removed for restorations. I believe the Hudson nose is now on the AWM's Hudson, while a great deal of the identified Beaufort went to Duxford for their project.

sms37 - are you sure it's a piano? I'm relying on my memory of nearly 50 years ago (gulp), but I was told it was a powerful radio donated by the Nazi Government as a reward for the mission's part in locating/saving the lost German airmen Bertram and Klausman in 1932 - remember the "Flight into Hell" mini-series on TV?

The irony here was the RAAF extensively used the airfield (then known as Drysdale River Mission strip) as an advanced landing ground until Truscott came into use. They also used the radio, which the Japanese used to locate the base and subsequently bomb and strafe it on 27.9.1943.

I used to spend many hours there, the mission people were very proud in their part of the war, there were collected piles of shrapnel and bullet holes/spang marks visible on the buildings...

[Stanwell]

Great pix, GB & Hobo.


Dora-9,
Thanks for that informative post.
Slight thread drift here...

Re the replacement nose for the AWM's Hudson (A16-105), I was led to believe that Malcolm Long sourced that from New Zealand during his restoration.
The replacement was found to be desirable because Adastra had so extensively modified the original nose for survey work.

It will be interesting to see if we can track A16-244's nose on its travels from the Kimberley to NZ and thence back to OZ.
So... another little mystery to be solved.
.

[mcgrath50]

Where in the mission is the piano and the radio?

[sms777]

They are in a little storage building in either the school or church ground.
It's been a long time since I flew there in my Queenair. I was not aware of the radio but I am sure it is the piano that has the Nazi insignia and Hitler's signature underneath.

[Delta kilo]

Great trip. Thanks for all the advice.
I'll attempt to upload some pics.
Cheers. DK.