Neil, Sharon, Tanya and Terry had a fantastically unbelievable day as they went to the Horizontal falls.    What are the Horizontal Falls?    The falls are the result of a couple of valleys existing behind some very narrow openings in the hills.   When the ocean tide goes out, the water goes down in level quicker than it can escape through the narrow opening in the hills (imagine Port Phillip Bay with the Heads being only as wide as your driveway). This creates a difference between the water level in each of the valleys and the water level in the ocean, up to 3 metres difference in height.

It was an early start with pickup being 5.30 am.

Out to the airport to board a seaplane (yes a seaplane, Sharon is going to go on a little plane, on the water…..) Seems that the plane has wheels that drop down to allow it to land at the airport. We take off and have a very nice flight out towards the Buccaneer Archipelego (east of Cape Leveque and a stones throw from Bathurst Island)

Fantastic landing on the water right next to a houseboat and barge. Stepped off onto the barge and looked in the water to find it surrounded by sharks and other fish. It's OK we are told, they are just tawny sharks???????

Onto the fast boat, and a quick ride though the first opening.   On to the second, but the water difference was up to 3 metres in height and the driver of the boat was not prepared to go through at that height difference.

Back to the main houseboat and a quick hot and cold breakfast (bacon, eggs, rolls, cereal, fruit etc)   Time to get the bathers on and jump into the shark cage to get up close with the sharks, while Tanya and Sharon decided to try to feed them bread and give them a little pat while they were eating.

Back on the fast boat for a cruise up Cyclone Creek where a couple of the boys live on an old barge.   While we were there they decided to show us some tricks they had taught a couple of bat fish……check out the photo of Sharon and the fish.   

Back through the first opening in the hills (very fast) and on to the second more narrow opening where the water difference had dropped to a more manageable 2 metres, and through we went.

After all the fun, back on the plane for some low (500feet) flying on the way home, which was nice as they went via Cape Leveque and Djaradjin.

http://horizontalfallsadventures.com.au/index.htm


What a day.   


……In the meantime Joanna, Ann and Melanie were having a lovely relaxing morning back at the campsite. Joanna cooked yummy pancakes for breakfast. Then they spent the rest of the morning reading and relaxing.