Horizontal Falls (from Derby)

We have had an awesome day/night out at Talbot Bay and the Horizontal Falls.   We were picked up from our caravan park at 2.15pm, a short drive to the Derby airport where we boarded one of 4 seaplanes, heading to Talbot Bay (14 seaters)

Leaving Derby, the mud flats and creeks were an amazing sight. 

The water colour was stunning.  This is such an untouched environment.  Only accessible by seaplane, helicopter or boat.  Not many boats get here either, because of the distance. 

Talbot Bay at the top of the picture, with the 2 gaps that are the Horizontal Falls in the bottom of the picture.

Our Floatel.  3 large houseboats, with multiple pontoons. 

The HF from above.

Splashdown!  A very smooth landing. 

Once off the plane, it was dump our gear in our rooms and straight into the boat, powered by 3 x 350hp outboards. 

The wide gap.  As the tide is on the way out, large volumes of water from the “lakes” behind is trying to get out the gap.  This creates the Horizontal Fall.  We zipped through several times, even holding in the one spot in the middle of the rush of water. However, the photos don’t do it justice.   The second gap is much smaller, so the rush of water is much greater. It was too high for the boat to go through today, but we did go through in the morning.

Our Floatel

Straight off the speedy boat and in for a dip with the Tawny nurse sharks.  Well, they were free range, and we were the ones in the cage. 

After a quick change (everything was to a tight schedule), back on to the boat for a more leisurely ride into Cyclone Creek.  This is a very protected waterway where the houseboats and pontoons are moored during the wet season. 

The high black mark is the highest tide level. The mid dark line is the Oyster level, or the lowest high tide mark. Twice a day, the water will reach this level at a minimum.

Sunrise, some people had already had the optional helicopter ride by now. Brekkie was at 6 am. 

Back on the speed boat by 6.40am for another look at the Falls. The wide gap had virtually no rush as the tide had equalised the level.

It also made it possible to go through the small gap.  Again, hard to show it’s beauty in a photo. 

Back on board the seaplane for a return home via the Buchaneer Archipelago. The wind had picked up during the night, si it was pretty bumpy for the incoming crowds. A little bumpy for us heading out too.

Stunning 

Derby jetty from above.  Tide is out!

A fantastic journey, now to Broome for some rest!