Horizontal Falls

Notes:

We were about to start on the Gibb River Road and were having a stay over in Kununurra basically to do a boat tour of the Ord River when we were asked - want to go on any other tours? We stated we were thinking about the Horizontal Falls and after some great salesmanship we were booked for a tour from Broome 3 weeks later and on the best tide of the month, which we assumed was very important. After an interesting drive down the Gibb River Road we arrived at Broome a day ahead of the tour and booked into a rather expensive Caravan Park, this was more convenient than staying free in the bush some distance from town.

Our tour was tweaked slightly from the stated itinery and consisted of low level scenic flight in a 14 seater luxury seaplane to the calm waters of Talbot Bay, where at the tour operator's luxury house boat, we had breakfast of eggs and bacon, toast and fruit. A briefing on the tour was held and told us about the days events. We strapped on our life vests and boarded the speed boat which would take us to the falls. Amazingly we rode rather than sat in our seats, the seats being between our legs. There was a pole hoop to hold on to when it got rough. It was a very powerful boat with 3 large outboard motors and we were soon motoring through the outer falls, where the gorge walls are around 24 metres wide and approaching the inner falls area. At the inner gorge entrance, around 10 metres wide, the water was flowing fast and furious with a fall of at least a metre high. According to the guide far to dangerous to attempt a passage thought the gorge entrance and it did look that way. We circled around a couple of time to feel the fury of the falls before heading back to the house boat. After a short time we were back in the speed boat and back to the inner falls where we seemingly easily mounted the small swell that was left of the falls and into the inner harbor. We did a circle of eight through the gorge a few times before again heading back to the house boat.

At the house boat we were entertained by the feeding of local Tawny Nurse Sharks which are blind and use suction to catch prey. The guide slowly handed out the small fish that the sharks like and it was intriguing to hear them feed. Following this we went onto the speedboats once more and took a half-hour tour of the nearby river system of Talbot Bay.

On returning we quickly boarded our seaplane for a flight over the thousand islands of the Buccaneer Archipelago. We landed on a dirt runway near Cape Leveque where our return 4x4 bus picked us up, but not before the flight team refueled the plane from a tank at the rear of the bus. Once done we boarded and went to the One Arm Point community to visit their aquaculture hatchery. The guide talked us through the how's and whys of the various fish that they grow for sale and interestingly which one taste the best. After the show we headed to the Cape Leveque restaurant where we had a delightful lunch. Then off for a quick visit to the famed red cliffs of Cape Leveque.

Turning for home we travelled down the bitumen road to visit the famous pearl shell church at Beagle Bay. After a leisurely afternoon tea we headed home and soon found why the brute of a bus was needed for the trip back; what a shocking road it was.

A long and interesting day.


Part 1: Seaplane flight to houseboat in Talbot Bay

Up before dawn to be picked up and taken to Broome airport	We were weighed and then seated according to some weight scheme	Taxiing out to the runway

Other passengers lining up ready to board	Up and away - Broome below	Mangroves near Broome

Broome saleyards	Irrigated crop circle	Remote housing area

Checking flight details the sneaky way	Another seaplane out the starboard side	Passing over into King Sound

Passing out of King Sound	Lone island in King Sound	Back over land - interesting ranges

Back over land - interesting ranges	Back over land - interesting ranges	Interesting ranges

Interesting ranges	Interesting ranges	Interesting ranges

Interesting ranges	Interesting ranges	Interesting ranges

Interesting ranges	Interesting ranges	Interesting ranges - Talbot Bay


Before landing at the houseboat, the seaplane did a circle of the Horizontal Falls

Horizontal Falls - Talbot bay	Horizontal Falls - Speedboat looking around	Horizontal Falls

Horizontal Falls	Horizontal Falls - both falls	Horizontal Falls

Horizontal Falls	Horizontal Falls	Horizontal Falls

Horizontal Falls	Horizontal Falls	Horizontal Falls

Horizontal Falls	Horizontal Falls	Talbot Bay - Houseboat

Talbot Bay - Houseboat	Our seaplane	Talbot Bay - Houseboat

Seaplane arriving	Getting our life vests on	The speedboat


Part 2: Horizontal Falls close up

Horizontal Falls - First falls	The gorge walls are around 24 metre apart	Heading through

Made it - turning round	to see it all again	Now the big 2nd falls

Gorge walls only 10 metres apart	Very strong and turbuent flows	The big 2nd falls

The second boat getting close	The second boat getting close	Notice the water level - quite a fall

The big 2nd falls	The big 2nd falls	The big 2nd falls

The big 2nd falls	The big 2nd falls	The big 2nd falls

Our Movie
html5 video test by EasyHtml5Video.com v3.5


The big 2nd falls	The big 2nd falls	The big 2nd falls - thundering water

Only 10 metres wide	Very turbulent waters	Very turbulent waters

Very turbulent waters	Very turbulent waters	Very turbulent waters

Back to the Houseboat	Through the 2nd falls	Helicopter rides available

Mischa getting off the boat	After a short tea break - back in the speedboat	Approaching the 1st falls

Through the 1st falls	The furious 2nd falls - not so furious now	Water still pouring through

Going fast through the 10 metre gap	Going fast through the 10 metre gap	2nd Falls - view

Our Movie
html5 video test by EasyHtml5Video.com v3.5


First Falls - view	2nd Falls - view	2nd Falls - view

2nd Falls - view	Going fast through the 10 metre gap back out	Going fast through the 10 metre gap back out

Our Movie
html5 video test by EasyHtml5Video.com v3.5


2nd Falls - view	Talbot Bay Houseboat	Time to look around the houseboat

Part 3: Shark Feeding Time

Tawny Nurse Sharks being called	Tawny Nurse Shark	Tawny Nurse Sharks

Tawny Nurse Sharks	Tawny Nurse Shark	Tawny Nurse Shark - mouth

Tawny Nurse Sharks	Tawny Nurse Sharks


Part 4: Talbot Bay Speedboat tour

Speeding away from the houseboat	Around the bend, another houseboat	Houseboat was being renovated

Speeding into the river system	River views	River views

Amazing place where trees grow	River views	River views

Lower level, normal tides, upper line, king tides	River views	River views

River views	River views	River views

River views	Conglomerate rock formations	River views

River views	River views	River views

River views	Speeding back out	The houseboat comes into view


Part 5: Seaplane flight to One Arm Point

Getting aboard again	A final circuit to see the Horizontal Falls	Talbot Bay - view

Horizontal Falls - view	Horizontal Falls - view	Horizontal Falls - view

Horizontal Falls - view	Flying on towads One Arm Point	Out the window view

Out the window view	Out the window view	Out the window view

Out the window view	Out the window view	Out the window view

Out the window view	Always nice to see the way ahead	Out the window view

Out the window view - tide rushing past	Out the window view	Out the window view - another horizontal fall

Out the window view	Out the window view	Out the window view

Out the window view	Out the window view	Out the window view

Out the window view	Out the window view	One Arm Point - our bus is coming fast

One Arm Point - Airstrip	One Arm Point - refuelling	One Arm Point - view

One Arm Point - view


Part 6: One Arm Point community aquaculture hatchery

Guide talking about the hatchery	Hatchery - view	Hatchery - view

Hatchery - view	Hatchery - view	Hatchery - view

Hatchery - view	Hatchery - view	Hatchery - view

Hatchery - view	Hatchery - view	Hatchery - view

Hatchery - view	Hatchery - view

Part 7: Cape Leveque

Lunch this way	I'm hungry - we all are	Lovely lunch

Cape Leveque - view	Cape Leveque - view	Cape Leveque - view of ligthouse

Cape Leveque - view	Cape Leveque - view	Cape Leveque - view

Cape Leveque - view	Cape Leveque - Our bus	Cape Leveque - ocean view

Cape Leveque - ocean view	Cape Leveque - lighthouse view	Cape Leveque - ocean view

Cape Leveque - ocean view	Cape Leveque - ocean view	Cape Leveque - ocean view

Cape Leveque - ocean view	Cape Leveque - ocean view	Cape Leveque - ocean view

Cape Leveque - ocean view	Cape Leveque - ocean view	Back on the Cape Leveque road

Burning off in progress	Burning off in progress	Burning off in progress

Burning off in progress


Part 8: Pearl shell church at Beagle Bay,

Pearl shell church	Pearl shell church - the tour group heads inside	Pearl shell church

Pearl shell church	Please don't ring - OK	Pearl shell church

Pearl shell church	Pearl shell church	Pearl shell church

Pearl shell church	Pearl shell church	Pearl shell church

Pearl shell church	Rough road back home