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Sunday 24/8/2014 We were picked up from our Park at 8.15am for our Horizontal Waterfalls trip, excited. We boarded our 14 seat turbo prop jet sea plane, at the Derby Airport and flew to the Waterfalls. I was a little nervous about the landing as it was going to be on water but it was probably better than a runway landing, very smooth. They have a couple of big house boat type vessels moored there, along with jetties for the planes and boats. We pulled into the jetty and got off the plane, after a cold drink and a piece of fruit it was shark feeding time. You could get in the cage and observe them underwater, or observe from above, it was comforting to know you were protected by the cage. The sharks were tawny nose species, around 2.5 mtrs long,there would have been 8 or so milling around while the guy was feeding them, and were very quick to snap up the bits of fish they were being feed. Down under neath them you could see a huge bull shark! Not sure what your chances would be if you fell in, there were no hand rails on the jetty and it moved with the water, so care had to be taken. The guy who was feeding them has a favourite, apparently quite an old shark, the shark let him hold onto his fin and those who wanted to, could touch the shark, he was really rough like sandpaper.
Once the fish feeding was over we boarded the 900hp fast boat and headed to the Horizontal Waterfalls, they are a natural phenomenon which are influenced by the fluctuating tides that vary on a daily basis. The first gap between the rock wall is around 20 meters with 40 meters underneath you, the second gap 7.5 meters and the same depth. The tides in this area are one of the biggest in the world, 10-11m on the full moon, otherwise 5-6m. The tide was coming in when we got to the falls and the water was pouring through, we went backwards and forwards through the 20m gap but the driver wouldn't go through the small gap, to dangerous as the water is a boiling unpredictable mess. Quite spectacular really, as the water level on the other side is much lower. After we left there we cruised up Cyclone Creek, wouldn't really call it a creek more like a bay, this is where boats seek shelter in a cyclone, fully protected. The whole set up moves into this area for the off season (5 months), they tie everything up to a category 5 cyclone buoy and then leave. Also very deep 40mtrs.
Back to the house boat for lunch, freshly caught barramundi on the BBQ, salad, fresh bread rolls, yum. Then after lunch we got back in the boat and cruised back to the falls, almost at the top of the tide, the water was @slack but still flowing through, we went through the smaller gap this time. We then came back into the middle bay and cruised up another creek amongst these amazing mangroves and looking out for a saltwater croc, but he wasn't out and about. We were down this creek for 15 mins, came back to the falls and the tide had turned, it was already staring to pour back through the other way. Would be great to see on a king tide.
Most of the staff were young, in there 20,s apart from one of the sea plane pilots who was an older man. They had the perfect job, told us the most asked question is "how do I get a job here".
Pete, Barry and Mark took a 10 min helicopter flight $300.00, like a robbie but a four seater, no doors!
Around one o'clock we were back in the seaplane for our return flight over the thousand island, Buccaneer Archipelago, back to Derby. A great trip and value for money @ $1340 for the two of us.
Back at camp mid afternoon, Des Mark Murray and I just sat about and had a few drinks, we were a bit jaded after our big trip. The other boys headed down to the jetty to try and catch some fish.
Went out for dinner last night to the the Wharf Cafe, it was very nice. I had Barramundi with prawns and scallops, Murray had the T-bone. Home and in bed just after 9.00.
- comments
Dennis Hunt I'm really enjoying your trip. You have gone to some fantastic places.Take care. M & D