Scenic Flight from Kununurra

Monday 18^th July

The highlight for today has undoubtedly been our Scenic Flight over Lake Argyle, the Bungle Bungle Ranges, and the Argyle Diamond Mine, before returning to Kununurra Aerodrome.

After take-off we flew over part of the Ord Irrigation Scheme, where the crisp green ordered lines of the irrigated crops contrasted greatly with the surrounding dry brown of the untouched scrubland.

Then after flying over the Ord River diversion dam which feeds the irrigation scheme,

we followed Lake Kununurra up into the Lower Ord River.  On the way we flew over the spillway that we had seen on our car trip up to Lake Argyle.

Then it was over Lake Argyle itself, which we followed south for its entire length of 72 km. 

It is the largest man-made lake in Australia, and under normal conditions contains 23 times the volume of water in Sydney Harbour, and can hold up to 63 times that of Sydney Harbour under flood conditions.

South of the lake we flew over Lissadell Cattle Station. 

Lissadell covers 184,000 hectares and runs 8000 head of cattle. That’s 0.04 head of cattle per hectare, or 1 head for every 23 acres. That means at that stocking rate, on our old farm of 120 acres we would have only been able to carry 5 cows, instead of the 90 to 100 that we had.

Then we flew over the neighbouring station of Texas Downs of a similar size only it was so isolated it was completely cut off from road access for about 6 months of the year during the wet.

Then it was on to the Bungle Bungle Ranges which form the southern border of Texas Downs Station.  Words can’t describe the Bungle Bungles, so we’ll let the photos do the talking, after all a picture is worth a thousand words.

On the return journey we flew over the Argyle Diamond Mine, which is the largest diamond mine in the world, and produces between 20 and 25%  of the worlds diamonds.  

We then returned to Kununurra along the western shore of Lake Argyle.

Needless to say lots of video and photos were taken.  It was great to see this part of Aussie from the air and it gave us a different perspective of the land we have been driving through. 

I have a sneaking suspicion this won’t be our last scenic flight before our trip is finished.  An expensive day, but well worth it.