Flying High in Broome
One of the trips I really wanted to do whilst in Broome was to fly to the spectacular Horizontal Falls.
Thanks to Sadie and Andrew at Fly Broome, I was lucky enough to have the opportunity one Sunday in August.
It had been a while since I’d flown in a single engine aircraft but felt very confident with our pilot Eugene. It was a tad cramped inside but I sat in the front with Eugene and was quite comfortable – and extremely thankful that it wasn’t me having a flying lesson this time. [I had a couple of flying lessons a few years back but decided it was a) too expensive and b) the fear factor had well and truly kicked in by this stage, to continue.]
There were two single engine planes on this trip and apparently we had been sorted by weight to suit each aircraft!
The views from the air were spectacular as we flew up the Dampier Peninsula. Here is a view of Broome town as we flew out over Roebuck Bay. I’ve always loved the proximity of Broome’s shops and cafes to the airport and the way in which you can be sitting enjoying a coffee whilst a big jet roars overhead to land close by.
Whilst we were flying Eugene gave us a great commentary but I have to admit, I just loved the opportunity to look out of the window at the amazing sights below.
A Brief History
The pristine Buccaneer Archipelago consists of some 800 to 1,000 rocky islands with beautiful sandy white beaches.
Aboriginal people have lived in the Archipelago for thousands of years and their rock art can be found on many islands and the adjacent mainland. They used rafts of mangrove logs and canoes to travel between the islands. Aboriginal people today still visit their traditional sites and Communities are established in the area.
For more information on this fascinating history, see http://www.derbytourism.com.au/about-the-area/buccaneer-archipelago
When we approached the Horizontal Waterfalls, Eugene dipped the aircraft to give us all the best possible view. Located deep within Talbot Bay in the Buccaneer Archipelago, these Falls are the result of massive tidal movements which create a waterfall effect as water banks up against one side of the narrow cliff passage, to be repeated again on the turning tide.
Rich sources of iron ore were mined on Cockatoo and Koolan islands. Mining commenced in the 1950s with the first ship load of ore sailing to Newcastle, NSW on 24th July 1951. Mining ceased on Cockatoo Island in 1986, but resumed in the late 1990s and ceased on Koolan Island in 1992.
We landed on the runway at Kooljaman and enjoyed a refreshing swim at the beach before eating a delicious lunch of Barramundi and listening to some live music at Raugi’s Restaurant.
I’m so glad I had the chance to do this trip and I would highly recommend anyone who comes to Broome to do the same. Sadie and Andrew’s company details can be found at https://www.flybroome.com.au/
