We booked this trip last December to coincide with our wedding anniversary. When Richard and Marge (who are homeless at the moment) decided that they would like to join us we were pleased to have them along. We know them quite well and have travelled and camped with them before.
Unfortunately I cannot upload any video from here so it will be photos only until we can find somewhere with a decent internet connection.
First a bus trip to the airport and a 35 min flight in a 14 seater seaplane to Talbot Bay, almost due north.
Some pictures of the coastline of the Kimberley Region
The HF operation is run from a series of barges moored in Talbot Sound.
Once aboard the barge it is all action.
First a briefing; allocation of rooms, don lifejackets and board the fun boat, trip to Falls, return to base, swim with sharks (optional), back on the fun boat for a sightseeing trip into Cyclone Creek, back to base, nibbles, dinner, sleep, early morning call (0600), breakfast, out to the Falls again, back to base, flight back to Derby!
The fun boat can carry all the group staying on the overnight trip (there are day trips) and we head out for our first view of the Falls.
There are two Falls, the ‘wide gap’ (at 20 metres wide) and the ‘narrow gap’ (at 7 metres wide). They were formed a few thousand years ago when the McClarty Range underwent an upheaval.
The Falls are created because there are vast volumes of water trying to get through these gaps when the tide ebbs and flows. The water literally ‘piles up’ and creates the ‘waterfall effect’. In the first instance we are taken up close to the wide gap for photo opportunities, the swirling water is very impressive.
On the first trip we could through both gaps but on the morning trip the difference in water levels was too high and were unable to go through the narrow gap.
It is extremely exhilarating and we’re so disappointed that we can’t upload the videos. However, perhaps these pictures will give you a feel for the excitement.
In this picture we are stationary half way through the narrow gap with all four engines holding us against the current which is about 12.5 knots (about 25kph)
After that exhilarating trip we returned to base, for refreshments and a swim with sharks for those who needed more excitement. I don’t think they are a nasty variety of shark and in any case they’re almost tame, being fed by hand every day!
Then it was time for another boat trip, this time into Cyclone Creek, which has been used by many seafarers as a shelter from the cyclones that hit the WA coast during the wet season.
On our return, the sun was setting and the lights on the barge looked rather speccy on the water.
Back on board it was time for nibbles and dinner, a lovely piece of baramundi, with a bottle chardonnay.
After that Pat and I sat on the back deck for a while before retiring – its going to be an early start in the morning.
Its been an exciting day and we go out like lights but after a few hours there is movement overhead as the crew prepare for the day and and an early breakfast, which is at 0600. Bacon and eggs, etc.
After breakfast its time for our second lot of ‘fun runs’ through the Falls in the boat.
After the trip its a short wait for our aircraft to turn up and then we’re airborne again and heading back to Derby.
After taking off from Talbot Bay the pilots make a series of passes over the Horizontal Falls so that passengers on both sides of the aircraft can get some good shots of the Falls from the air.
Some shots of the West Kimberley from 1200′, including the Baramundi Farm.
Take-off…………. 
………and then we were back at the caravan park at 0900, the whole trip took a total of 17 hours!!!!!
We hope that you enjoy these pictures and we will promise to produce some video when we get a decent internet service.
Alloveroz 