Why fly? There are a range of Kimberley tours on offer with one of the Kimberley’s key air services, and choosing the right one for you should be easy. If you do need a little persuading about why an aerial view of the region will be one you wont forget, we’ve jotted down a few things you can only really grasp from the air…

How the Ord Irrigation Scheme actually works

Where does the water come from? How large is a pumpkin crop? What does a paddock of mango trees actually look like? Do people really live on the banks of the Ord? These are just some questions you might have asked yourself ahead of your visit to Kununurra (if not, surely you’re wondering now!) It’s a clever scheme, which is now home to some very innovative farmers. Flying over the scheme while listening to your pilot’s commentary really is the best way to get your head around how it all works.  

How amazing Kununurra’s mosaic of farmland really is

Bright green paddocks of melons ripe for the picking, neatly rowed chia fields growing Australia’s latest ‘superfood’ and sprawling fields of Indian sandalwood… it really is a sight to behold. Farming is hugely important to the Kununurra community, and the Ord provides a significant portion of Western Australia’s agricultural output. Broad acre cropping is the norm in this part of world, and farm blocks average between 260 to 360ha, forming a beautiful mosaic of various fruit, vegetable and sandalwood crops and plantations.

The size of Lake Argyle – it’s huge!  

It’s impossible to truly grasp the scale of Lake Argyle without seeing it from the air. During your flight, there will be times where you gaze out the window and see only water and islands either side – but this is no ocean. This giant lake covers an enormous surface area but its not until seeing it from the air that you can really understand just what that really looks like (amazing).   

The importance of Kununurra’s Diversion Dam

One of the Kimberley’s most important pieces of infrastructure, the 20-radial gate, concrete Diversion Dam cuts an impressive shape across the mighty lower and upper Ord.  Sir Robert Menzies officially opened the dam with much fanfare in 1963. While engineers hold this magnificent piece of infrastructure close to their hearts, it’s equally remarkable for the average observer.

Why Purnululu is a world heritage-listed area

This sprawling collection of beehive-shaped, sandstone domes gained world heritage status in 2003 and was gazetted on the Australian National Heritage List in 2007.  A world heritage site is one recognised by the UNESCO World Committee for its cultural or physical significance. While how the domes formed is not understood, an flying over the park gives a stunning view and allows you to comprehend just how large a surface area these domes really cover.