Kununurra

Because of the time difference between NT and WA, and the fact Kununurra is only 35k over the border, we got to Kununurra before we left our overnight camp at Big Horse Creek in NT! Kununurra is a newish town, developed following the building of Lake Argyle and the Ord River irrigation scheme with a young population of around 7000. we stayed in a caravan park on the shores of Lake Kunnunurra and it was HOT. It is a nice town with all the supplies you need and very friendly locals. There are the usual blacks asleep or fighting in the street, but nowhere near as bad as some other towns.
We found an awesome restaurant, called the Pumphouse which is actually in the old pumphouse building on the Diversion Dam, complete with original pumps etc.

Our table at The Pumphouse

Gotta love a boab tree

Was looking forward to driving over here, but it has been closed for some time following  2010 flood damage.
We booked a scenic flight over lake Argyle and the Bungle Bungles. We were collected at 6.30am by our pilot and we were looking forward to the flight. OK, Jo was shitting herself. One look at the plane gave us confidence though, a 1977 Cessna 210, in much the same condition as a 1977 Datsun. Gulp.

So off we went along the runway with the old girl gradually building speed and all of a sudden the pilot is off the power and we are coasting. Just a small problem, he says, we will get in the other plane, it will take an hour or so to get ready. We had a quick chat and elected to take the flight next morning, due to the building heat.
So a 5.30 start next morning in a similar vintage Cessna, no problems this time and a very smooth and scenic flight ensued.

It really is hard to convey the scale and beauty of the Bungles and Lake Argyle with a photo, but they really are breathtaking.
Our plan from here was to take 3-4 weeks on the Gibb River Road through the Kimberleys, followed by a few days in Broome and a seaplane flight out to the horozontal falls and a blast in their 500bhp speed boat followed by a 3 course meal and night on their boat moored near the falls. When we tried to book we discovered they had finished for the season. aaagghh. So this coupled with the heat,( it's now over 40c during the day, and never below 30c at night,) made us rethink our plans and we are going to save the Kimberley for another trip and to do the region properly. So if anyones keen, we plan to depart April 2014, across the Nulabor, up the west coast, arriving in the North West just after te Wet.
So off we go south east accross the Tanami desert to Alice Springs.