Travel on an Amazing Helicopter Flight around Mitchell Falls - Western Australia

Have you ever wanted to take a helicopter flight but always talk yourself out of it? I do all the time. However, the Mitchell Falls helicopter tour was worth every cent!

Broome to Mitchell Falls along the Gibb River Road is BORING! Nearly 900km of nothingness including 700km of dirt road. You can't read anything because everything rattles. Talking is out of the question because the car was so loud (that could have been due to the exhaust leak!) You constantly feel like you need to use your bowels because there are so many vibrations. Even sleeping is difficult with every dried creek crossing thrusting you up in your seat. Staring at the monotonous scenery is all you have.

This morning we went for a walk to little Mertens Falls where we were supposed to be able to swim. The waterfall had dried up therefore we were very disappointed. Daddy continued walking for 4kms to Mitchell Falls and Mummy and I walked back 800m to the campground and waited for Daddy. 3.5 hours later Daddy came back. He was HOT!!! We needed to cool him down with water and a fan and Zooper Doopers. When Daddy cooled down we all went on a helicopter flight to see Mitchell Falls, Big Mertens Falls and Little Mertens Falls.

We were not allowed to swim in the bottom pools of Mitchell Falls because there were salt water crocodiles. We drove all the way to Kununurra and stayed at Fresh Water Apartments.Giving me hope that Mitchell Falls was still flowing, we arrived at King Edward river crossing 80km from Mitchell Falls. On the right of the river crossing, there is a little lovely picnic area with table, chairs and shade, and as it happens, a great place for the gas tank to sound like it was about to explode. As soon as I heard it I played the role of the fire warden and evacuated everyone from the car quick smart!!!

As we sat slowly eating our ham and cheese wraps for the 10th day in a row, hearing the car bubble and steam away, hoping someone, who isn't a serial killer would stop by this lovely picnic area one day soon if we needed a ride, I played with a Magpie. Yes, you read correctly, I played with a Magpie. He wasn't eating the pieces of wrap I was giving him, he was collecting them. He would take one bit, put it down, take the next bit and lay it on top of the other. He did this 4 or 5 times before he gathered all of them in his beak and flew to a nearby tree.

After a prolonged lunch, the gas tank stopped hissing and spluttering and we were ready to continue on our journey. By this stage, the driver's confidence was at its peak. After crossing hundreds of kilometers and hundreds of dried creek beds, we were certainly not prepared to hit a deep puddle! Coming to a very quick stop, we got out to survey the damage. Laughing uncontrollably, baby wipes fixed the windscreen but the ochre red (or car-poo as Princess kept telling us) remained everywhere else until we got back to Kununurra days later. There is a reason Aboriginals used Ochre in their rock art, it is permanent!

We finally reached our destination and I eagerly packed Princess and I's bathers, towels, and water to have a swim at Little Mertern's falls. I was however, very disappointed to arrive at a dried up fall with an unswimmable algae ridden pool. The 800m return walk did have some stunning scenery, however it was then I decided I wouldn't walk the extra 7 kilometers to Mitchell Falls which turned out to be a good choice.

Picture this, a big guy proudly left the Mitchell Falls campground around 10am to walk, solo (against all advice) 7km return over rugged terrain, in 40 degree heat.  He returned from his walk, fried, drenched in sweat, dehydrated, nearly vomiting and feet covered in blisters. Does this sound smart? Not really! So when I saw this and the effort to cool him down with a camp fan, Zooper Doopers on his neck and a cold shower, using up precious water, there was no way I was walking to and from the falls! Stuff that! I value my life!!!

Instead, I proudly walked the 100m to the helicopter shed and bought tickets for a scenic tour around Mitchell, Big Mertens and Little Mertens Falls!  Do I regret not doing the walk? Yes... and no.

Yes, I regret not doing the walk because I missed out on the scenery and the swim in the, apparently not so nice falls pool, but no, because I knew I had to drive shortly after from Mitchell Falls campground to Kununurra, along the Gibb River road for 500km and I wouldn't have made it home in time.

The gentleman lucky to be alive was kind enough to share his photos of his trek with me. The scenery is both beautiful and majestic, however I suggest to whoever plans to do it that you start walking at dawn, or arrange a one way helicopter transfer. Click the video below to see a slideshow of the stunning area!

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