Bungle Bungle Adventurer, Kununurra

Bungle Bungle Adventurer Review

We were recently up in Kununurra and based on recommendations, the Bungle Bungles or Purnululu National Park was a place you have to visit. We had decided that the best way for us to see it was to go on a flight over them. A few months before we were due to go we booked over the phone with Aviar. We decided that a sunrise flight would be the way to go and we weren’t disappointed.

We had booked the 6am flight and were picked up from our accommodation in Kununurra at 5.15am. Taken to the terminal which was nicely air-conditioned. We met the pilot and then were given a briefing on where we were going and what we were going to see. Due to covid-19 restrictions, we were required to wear masks at all times in the bus, terminal and aeroplane. There were 4 of us on the flight and also the pilot, who gave us a commentary the whole way, through personal headsets. Takeoff and landing as well as the entire flight were without any issues, I actually prefer to fly, take off and land in the smaller planes.

The sun was just about to come up as we took off and flew over the Ord River seeing the Diversion Dam and the farming areas. We flew right over the Argyle Dam which is huge, WA’s largest and Australia’s 2^nd largest fresh-water man-made reservoir by volume and is part of the Ord River Irrigation Scheme. Submerged in the lake is the famous remains of the Durack Homestead. The pioneering Durack family home became known as one of the social gathering places of the East Kimberley. The construction of the Ord River Dam was completed in 1971. At this time a decision was made to remove the homestead before Lake Argyle began to fill in order to preserve this building. The homestead was dismantled stone by stone with every stone coded in such a way so as to be able to be rebuilt with every stone back in its original position. The homestead now lives on as a museum dedicated to the pioneering spirit of the Durack family.

We then flew onto the Bungle Bungle Range. 300 metres above the grass-covered plains that surround them, the orange and black sandstone domes known as the Bungle Bungle are one of the world’s most fascinating geological landmarks. The world heritage listed Bungle Bungle Range is located within Purnululu National Park. Purnululu, which means ‘sandstone’, has long been inhabited by local Aboriginal people, but did not become widely known to the rest of the world until the mid-1980s. They are an amazing sight and you feel like you are on another planet and they go on forever. We landed in Purnululu National Park to pick up 2 more passengers and then we took off to fly back to Kununurra.

On the way back we flew over the Argyle Diamond Mine, famous for its pink diamonds. In November 2020 mining ceased at Argyle, after 37 years of operations and producing more than 865 million carats of rough diamonds. Rio Tinto is committed to respectfully closing and rehabilitating the mine, and returning the land to its traditional custodians. We flew around the mine and had a bird’s eye view of the whole mine. Pity I couldn’t pick up some leftover diamonds.

Flying back again over Lake Argyle and the Ord River it was amazing to see the vastness and beauty of our country. We really do not appreciate it until we have seen it.

We took the flight with Aviar and it cost $425 per person and you have an option of 6am, 9am or 2.30pm, I highly recommend the sunrise one. The skies were blue, the scenery amazing, the weather was perfect and the information provided by the pilot was excellent.

www.aviar.com.au

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About Shari Norrish

I am a newish member to the over 55’s turning 55 last year.

I have 3 adult children and 1 beautiful 3-year-old granddaughter. I have worked in the Allied Health industry for the past 20+ years and are still working as a Practice Manager for a Podiatry practice.
My partner and I love to travel; whether it’s locally, nationally or internationally, our next trip is to China in August this year. We also love to get out and about and discover Perth and surroundings, especially discovering new places around town.
Food and wine is a passion of mine and always up for a cheeky wine or two.