Have a great trip. It is the best corner of Australia. Just don't forget to pack the
aeroguard as the flies during some times of the year there can really
be something else and will seek out every bit of moisture on your body.
Few things are as annoying as having your eye up to the viewfinder of the camera
and the little buggers try to get in at the corners of your mouth.
Oh, and watch out for that death adder that Lachlan MacDonald stumbled on
and got bitten by in the Bungle Bungles without realizing it until he started throwing up
a hundred km down the road.
If the chance permits to go in a copter over and through the Bungle Bungles, it is quite an experience.
They have crashed and people died, so it is not without peril but the scenery is phenomenal.
Pack your swimmers. There will be plenty of opportunities in the Kimberley where you can
take a welcome dip in the refreshing waters of a gorge.
If you stay or drop in at the Drysdale River Station on the way up to Mitchell Falls, wander
out to the big shed where you might be lucky to catch the jackaroos working on their buggies.
Have a portrait lens affixed as the there are plenty of National Geographic portrait moments in
that shed if people are working there. It can be a bit like out of Mad Max. It is such a different
Australia at places like that, it feels like being in a different country at times.
Lucky bugger! make sure while you are up that area your experience the tide gushing out through the small gap in the wall. I forgot whats its called but I hear its fantastic, and good for pics as well.
WOW!!
Have a great trip Mike.
Take plenty of spare cards and a spare camera bodies.
There will be tons of shutter activation out there..
Hope the weather is kind to your group.
Enjoy!! Stay safe..
Have a great trip. It is the best corner of Australia. Just don't forget to pack the
aeroguard as the flies during some times of the year there can really
be something else and will seek out every bit of moisture on your body.
Few things are as annoying as having your eye up to the viewfinder of the camera
and the little buggers try to get in at the corners of your mouth.
Oh, and watch out for that death adder that Lachlan MacDonald stumbled on
and got bitten by in the Bungle Bungles without realizing it until he started throwing up
a hundred km down the road.
If the chance permits to go in a copter over and through the Bungle Bungles, it is quite an experience.
They have crashed and people died, so it is not without peril but the scenery is phenomenal.
Pack your swimmers. There will be plenty of opportunities in the Kimberley where you can
take a welcome dip in the refreshing waters of a gorge.
If you stay or drop in at the Drysdale River Station on the way up to Mitchell Falls, wander
out to the big shed where you might be lucky to catch the jackaroos working on their buggies.
Have a portrait lens affixed as the there are plenty of National Geographic portrait moments in
that shed if people are working there. It can be a bit like out of Mad Max. It is such a different
Australia at places like that, it feels like being in a different country at times.
I love this post and will restate the contents much like Bill Bryson...It is a wonderful and beautiful land if the local flora and fauna don't kill you before you can enjoy it first...gosh I do miss Australia
Time to make lists and check them twice.
I bet you've got a grin from ear to ear at the moment. LOLOL
Sure have jjj I've been keeping a list running of things to take/pack, and I'm slowly checking them all off as I get my pile of things together
I still don't know if I'll get phone/wifi reception anywhere out there, or whether I'll have access to wash clothes while i'm out there! 2 weeks of clothes is a lot to take - hopefully I won't need to pack that much!
Quote:
Originally Posted by gary
Hi Mike,
Have a great trip. It is the best corner of Australia. Just don't forget to pack the
aeroguard as the flies during some times of the year there can really
be something else and will seek out every bit of moisture on your body.
Few things are as annoying as having your eye up to the viewfinder of the camera
and the little buggers try to get in at the corners of your mouth.
Oh, and watch out for that death adder that Lachlan MacDonald stumbled on
and got bitten by in the Bungle Bungles without realizing it until he started throwing up
a hundred km down the road.
If the chance permits to go in a copter over and through the Bungle Bungles, it is quite an experience.
They have crashed and people died, so it is not without peril but the scenery is phenomenal.
Pack your swimmers. There will be plenty of opportunities in the Kimberley where you can
take a welcome dip in the refreshing waters of a gorge.
If you stay or drop in at the Drysdale River Station on the way up to Mitchell Falls, wander
out to the big shed where you might be lucky to catch the jackaroos working on their buggies.
Have a portrait lens affixed as the there are plenty of National Geographic portrait moments in
that shed if people are working there. It can be a bit like out of Mad Max. It is such a different
Australia at places like that, it feels like being in a different country at times.
LOL Great post Gary, thanks for the warning about the snakes and the helicopters I believe they'll be running helicopter flights over the Bungle Bungles and Mitchell Falls. I was planning to do at least one of them but now I'm not so sure
I'm pretty sure we are stopping at Drysdale Station - so thanks for the tip!
Quote:
Originally Posted by steve000
Lucky bugger! make sure while you are up that area your experience the tide gushing out through the small gap in the wall. I forgot whats its called but I hear its fantastic, and good for pics as well.
Yeh I'm not sure if we're going there, I can't remember what it's called either. I'll have to check the itinerary again. Would love to go there!
Quote:
Originally Posted by peterl
WOW!!
Have a great trip Mike.
Take plenty of spare cards and a spare camera bodies.
There will be tons of shutter activation out there..
Hope the weather is kind to your group.
Enjoy!! Stay safe..
Peter
Thanks Peter!
I've been slowly building up my camera kit over the last 5 months making sure I've got enough of everything to take.
I've got 2 tripods, the 5D Mk II and the 40D, the 14mm Samyang, 17-40L, 24-105L and 200L.
I've been slowly stocking up on spare batteries, memory cards, rain protection stuff, filters, external HD etc.
I'm taking my daughters camping stool
Quote:
Originally Posted by h0ughy
batteries undies lenses, chargers, tshirt, tripod, memorycards, shorts, hat, phone apps, socks, laptop, solar charger, kiss wife goodbye, tickets
Got everything there except the solar charger. Would've been handy.
Quote:
Originally Posted by gregbradley
It sounds like a fantastic trip and you are super well prepared.
Greg.
Thanks Greg - I hope to come back with some photos I'd never ordinarily get a chance to capture.
Quote:
Originally Posted by xstream
Mike, above all else don't forget to enjoy, relax, and soak it all in!
Thanks John! It should be great fun. A friend at work said she's looking forward to hearing how I go beating off the evangelists
Quote:
Originally Posted by Matt Wastell
Have a great rip Mike - looking forward to hearing and seeing your experiences.
Thanks Matt
Quote:
Originally Posted by sheeny
I am very envious! Enjoy, Mike!
Al.
Thanks Al! I still can't believe I leave in 5 days!!
Thanks again all - I can't wait to give you all reports and post pics!
I hope I get some phone/wifi reception at various points!
The weather up there is glorious at the moment. Daily range is about 15-30, it's dry and clear with a steady wind 15-30km/h from the ESE. I feel like hopping on a plane.
Take a good broad-brimmed hat. If you are at all sun-sensitive wear long-sleeved cotton shirts (synthetics feel just awful up there and stink too). I'd consider having two set of clothes in use at any time - day and night. If you rinse the sweat out of the day set each night they will be dry in the morning. Eventually they will need a proper wash but it will put off smelling rotten for a few days. The alternative is to not wash so you get more space around you for the landscape shots .
One thing that just occurred to me looking at that forecast, there's going to be no clouds to make the sunrise or sunset shots any different!
It's all going to come down to the foreground rather than the sky. Will be more challenging to find the right spot I guess.
Got prices for the helicopter flight - $520 for a 48 minute flight over the Bungle Bungles.
Quote:
Depart Purnululu airstrip for the south west tip of the massif to view Y Gorge, Deep Gorge and ‘The Twins’. Continue on to the highest point of the Bungle Bungle and the spectacular Red Rock Gorges of the north-west. Your helicopter then flies towards the eastern side of the massif, to encounter incredible eroded sandstone formations and a maze of gorges. Fly along the southern face to the mouth of Piccaninny Gorge, follow Piccaninny Creek past Cathedral Gorge and the famous orange and black striped beehive shaped domes
Sounds great, and I guess would open up some different photographic opportunities (like these). It would be nice if they also set down in some locations to get some different shots.
Not cheap, but a once in a lifetime opportunity, probably worth doing.
If you where there over the full moon I would have said I can say hello I will be a little bit more interior near Tom Price for a Week of un adulterated astro photo festing!
Do be aware even though you are classed as being in the tropics and the temperatures don't seem low, when you go from 30 deg during the day to 15 deg at night you can get cold.... (I'm from darwin ) So make sure you have something at least to put on to keep a bit of warmth in!
Its great up that neck of the woods at this time of year though you will miss the wet season storms! they are something else to behold, think of sydney's worst weather and thats just your normal evening storm up there
Time to make lists and check them twice. 
I've been keeping a list running of things to take/pack, and I'm slowly checking them all off as I get my pile of things together 
.
for a 48 minute flight over the Bungle Bungles.
