Horizontal Falls
A major attraction in the Kimberley region is the Horizontal Falls
I first heard about the falls from the parents of a school friend of my daughter. They had been on a cruise along the Kimberley coast from Darwin and called in to see the ‘falls’ which are in Talbot Bay which is North West from Broome.
My Canberra mate who is current driving around WA in his over the top Campervan has also seen the ‘falls’ and told me that they are a “must see”.
What Are They?
I have been lazy and have quoted from the web site copied below.
The Horizontal Falls are one of the most amazing natural features of the Kimberley region. The tidal waterfalls located deep within Talbot Bay in the Buccaneer Archipelago are unlike any other waterfall, the water passes horizontally.
Although they are called waterfalls, this natural phenomenon actually consists of intense tidal currents hurtling through two narrow coastal gorges. Massive tidal movements create a waterfall effect as water banks up against one side of the narrow cliff passage, to be repeated again on the turning tide.
The twin gaps are part of the McLarty Ranges, which have two ridges running parallel approximately 300 metres apart. The first and most seaward gap is about 20 metres wide and the second, most spectacular, gap is about 10 metres wide.
It is possible to drive boats through the two gaps to the bay behind. The tides in this area have a 10 metre variation which occurs over six and a half hours from low tide to high tide and vice versa. The effect of the waterfalls is created by the tide building up in front of the gaps faster than it can flow through them and there can be a four metre high waterfall between the bays.
Seaplane
My Canberra mate told me that the best way to see the ‘falls’ is on the tour that uses a seaplane. The company offers two versions of the tour. One is where you fly in and out by seaplane. The other is where you fly in and are driven back to Broome. I took the former.
The light out was due to take off at 6.00 a.m. Unfortunately the Broome airport was covered in a thick fog. This was surreal give the temperature was over 30c.
It took over an hour and a half for the fog to clear.
I was lucky to be given the co-pilot’s seat for the flight. We flew along the coast passing over the Coulomb Point Nature Reserve. I was wearing the head phones and could listen in to what the pilot was saying and the other communications with the Broome Traffic Control. I was surprised how busy it was. Hardly a minute passed without some communications with a plane or helicopter. There are all sorts of aircraft flying in the area – big passenger planes, tourist and mining operators and lots of private planes.
As we approached King Sound, the pilot dropped to only 500 metres. The scenery was amazing. We cross over the small islands that are dotted off the coast of the mainland. The various shades of blue and green in water are really something to see.
After about an hour we made our descent into Talbot Bay.
The plane landed much faster than I expected.
Sharks
The plane pulled up at a large pontoon. We hopped off and we greeted by our guides for the ‘fall’s trip.
In the middle of the pontoon there is a gap with a cage divided into two. One side is open to the water in the bay. The other side is enclosed and can be entered into from the pontoon. The operators put fish into the open side to attract Lemon Sharks. The idea is to climb into the other side at look at the sharks through the cage.
Check out the Flickr Link. It is not as exciting as it sounds.
Through the Falls
After something to eat, we climbed into a speed boat and headed off to the falls.
As described above, the falls are a result of an imbalance in the water levels on either side of two ridges in the sea. There are two gaps through which the water rushes.
The speed boat makes to passes through the gaps.
No Fellini Using Go Pro
I bought a Gro Pro in San Francisco; however, I have only just got around to using it. How slack is that??
The boat was moving fast and I had difficulty see what mode (photo, multi shot, or video) the GoPro was on.
I later discovered that I have taken videos of myself looking very confused.
Great Flight Over the Falls
After the boat trip we returned to the seaplane and took off.
The pilot made two passes over the falls. The Flickr photos say it all.
Video of Landing
I managed to take a great video of the plane landing in Broome.
Flickr Link
Web Link
http://www.kimberley-australia.com/kimberley-attractions/horizontal-falls/
billrider2013 