26 Aug 2023

Peering Through the Mangroves of Porosus Creek & Flying over Mitchell Falls

It was an early start in the Kimberley this morning with some of us booked in to experience the grandeur of Mitchell Falls by helicopter. The 40 kilometre one-way flight starts with a short Zodiac ride to nearby Naturalists Island to a beautiful sandy beach where guests boarded the helicopters which set off up Hunter River, with spectacular views of the huge mangrove system, then up over flat plateau country. Twenty minutes later our pilot flew around the falls so we could view them from both sides before landing nearby leaving us with an hour to explore before our return flight.

For those not flying there was a Zodiac cruise up Porosus Creek to enjoy. Initially little breezy to start, once we were tucked up into the mangrove channel we were sheltered and saw many crocodiles basking on the mud banks. Also at home on the mud were Flame-backed Fiddler Crabs and Mudskippers rolling around and leaping in the air, with several Herons, Kingfishers and Mangrove Robins among the birds observed.

In the afternoon those on the Mitchell Falls trip went exploring along Porosus Creek with several crocodiles and birds, including a rare Chestnut Rail, were observed, while the rest of us enjoyed a further exploration of the Hunter River before everyone returned back to Heritage Adventurer for our nightly recap, dinner, and drinks at the bar to round off the day.

Image (c) by: T.Todd