20th anniversary of Oz Flight '99 - a flight around Australia's coast

20 years ago today, on the 3rd July 1999, I set off on a life-changing flight around the coast of Australia (mainland and Tasmania).
I'm a private pilot, not commercial or instrument rated, and when I set off I had only 400 hours flying time. But at 46 it was time for me to follow my dream.
It was a real roller coaster of a flight, with just 5% sponsorship and no partner or manager to share the load.
However, the main lessons learnt were: if you wait for ideal conditions before you attempt anything, then you'll probably never do anything, and if you want to achieve something badly enough then just persevere until you reach your goal.
The pics attached highlight not only the book about the flight but also places in Western Australia which I intend to revisit.

 
 

I invite you to join me on my next adventure by following https://www.onwingsandwheels.com/p/about.html and www.facebook.com/onwingsandwheels

Australia's Coast from the Air Detour to the Argyle Diamond Mine, Western Australia

During the "Australia's Coast from the Air" flight, a detour was made to the Argyle Diamond Mine, Western Australia. This blog post adds to the first post of "Diamond Adventure".

The Argyle Diamond Mine, located in the East Kimberley area of Western Australia, near Kununurra, is the world's largest single producer of natural coloured diamonds and is famous for its rare pink diamonds.

A commercial joyflight was taken from Kununurra to the diamond mine airstrip and then a bus tour followed. The bus trip was hot and dusty but FIFOs (people who Fly In and Fly Out) enjoy the work and the big money from mining in the Outback. A great lifestyle for people who want to work away from home and save their money. Western Australia really is the "State of Adventure and Excitement" with loads of opportunities for people who want to work hard and reap the monetary rewards.

Argyle Diamond Mine, Kimberleys, Western Australia - Fran West

 The mine area is quite extensive with several buildings around the place (like those above and below).

Argyle Diamond Mine, Kimberleys, Western Australia - Fran West

However, the most impressive sight is that of the open pit mine (below) which is huge.

Argyle Diamond Mine, Kimberleys, Western Australia - Fran West

You can read more about the Argyle Diamond Mine and Rio Tinto's operations by clicking here.

As with any marathon flight or holiday, you need to take a break and let someone else do the flying (or driving) and just enjoy.

It was worth the effort of researching side trips for my flight and having time off every now and then.

By visiting the mine I learnt something special about my own country and I learnt more about diamonds. As far as I'm concerned diamonds aren't always a girl's best friend. Give me a beautiful blue Australian sapphire any day!

Flyabout Adventure Around Australia's Coast - Broome, Western Australia

Australia's coast from the air is quite fascinating because it varies so much. People tend to think of Australia as only having beautiful white sandy beaches stretching for kilometres.

However, some parts of the coast are loaded with colour. One such area is in Western Australia, near Broome. Really orange red sand and rock.

Cape Gantheaume, Broome, Western Australia

To appreciate the rugged beauty fully, there's no better way than from the air.

During my flight around Australia's coast I had the best seat in the house, flying over the sea and taking photos from the pilot's seat on the left hand side of the plane.

As you can see from the photo of Cape Gantheaume, the coast is even more spectacular framed by the brilliant blue of the sea.

Broome is located in the northwest of Western Australia not far from Derby and the Buccaneer Archipelago, the crinkly bits on the map of Australia.

It was quite a relief to land at Broome because my flight was over the ocean, the home of saltwater crocodiles from north Queensland to north of Broome. Thankfully I didn't have an engine failure and I was flying within gliding distance of the land.

The thought of crocodile infested waters was in the back of my mind during the flight. However, I didn't let it stop me even though it was one of my fears. I don't like flying over water either but to take photos from this unique perspective I had to do it.

To achieve your goals in life, sometimes you have to confront your fears. It's a matter of getting over it and getting on with it. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. I digress, so back to the coast of Broome.

Port of Broome, Western Australia

This Outback town is also famous for its pearls and as I was flying around the coast, several of the pearl farms were visible from the air.

As far as I'm concerned, Broome is the Pearl of Western Australia because it has a real mix of culture and natural beauty.

As you can see from this photo there's white sand interspersed amongst the orange red areas. Broome is famous too for its Cable Beach and spectacular sunsets.

Sun setting over colourful sand on a much quieter beach is quite something again.


Broome beach, Western Australia, at sunset

I guess you can take away two things from this post:

• go visit Broome (you won't be sorry) and

• confront your fears if you want to achieve your goals badly enough.

If you enjoyed this post please share it with others.

Australia's Coast Is Awesome As Jigsaw Puzzles

Australia's Coast jigsaw puzzles are great for viewing the coast from a different perspective. This time the photos for the jigsaws have been reproduced as dry brush stroke paintings, introducing a different element for enjoyment. All these aerial photos were taken during my flight around Australia's coast.

In this series of CDs there are 5 different photos which have been converted to jigsaws of 12, 24, 40, 104 and 260 pieces each, making a total of 25 jigsaw puzzles.

This range of puzzles can be used both by children with different skill levels and adults. Jigsaw puzzles are easy to do with the click of a mouse button and can be played over and over. Best of all, you can't lose any pieces.

Puzzles are not printable, they're designed to be used on a computer or laptop or even on a large screen via a data projector.

Internet access is not required.

Australia's Coast Jigsaw Puzzles CD

Australia (incl. P&H) $29.00 AUD Overseas (incl. P&H) $33.00 AUD

These photos are of Tasman Island, off the southeast coast of Tasmania, Point Nepean, on the Mornington Peninsula in Victoria, Cape Wiles, on South Australia's Eyre Peninsula, Disaster Bay (aptly named because of shipwrecks) in New South Wales, and the Useless Loop Salt Pans in the Shark Bay area of Western Australia.

If you would like to try a sample jigsaw to see how it works, email me at
fran@franwest.com.

Flyabout around Australia's Coast - Useless Loop Salt Pans, Western Australia

During my flight around Australia's coast, I flew past several salt pans. Some were located at Useless Loop, in the Shark Bay area of Western Australia, not far from Monkey Mia where the dolphins come to visit.

Each of the salt pans around the coast vary in colour - blues, greens, pink/purple. From the air they reveal a patchwork of colour and different shapes.

The solar salt operation is run by Shark Bay Salt and the town itself is closed to the public. The table salt from the ponds is reputed to be among the purest in the world.






Useless Loop was named by one of the French de Freycinet brothers on the Baudin sailing ship expedition.

Flying around Australia's coast became for me a real history lesson. Many of the names on the map originated with the early English, French and Dutch maritime explorers.

A different photo of Useless Loop appears in my DVD "Australia's Coast from the Air".


View Useless Loop salt pans, Western Australia in a larger map


Australia's Coast from the Air DVD.

Australia's Coast from the Air DVD

Australia (incl. P&H) $27.50 Overseas (incl. P&H) $31.00

Flyabout around Australia's Coast - Buccaneer Archipelago, Western Australia

The Buccaneer Archipelago, Western Australia, is one of the best stretches of coast around the Australian mainland.

As the name suggests, it's a sea of islands, with the most incredible shaped coastal landforms. It's situated northeast of Derby in the northern part of Western Australia, stretching from about Collier Bay to King Sound. This is outback Outback with the easiest access by water and air rather than by road.

William Dampier, the English buccaneer, visited the area on the "Cygnet" in 1688, but the archipelago was named after his buccaneering ways much later on. Phillip Parker King was charting the area in 1821 and named it in his honour.


This is one of Australia's remotest areas and I'm glad I had all the survival gear in the plane just in case something went wrong on my flight around Australia's coast.

If you want to see the area by plane, then take a scenic flight from Derby or Broome. You won't be sorry that you did. Spectacular with a capital "S"!

Red Sun on the Kangaroo Paw

A couple of my aerial photos of airstrips from my flight around Australia's coast are included in this book by Kevin Gomm.

Red Sun on the Kangaroo Paw is about Japanese air raids and submarine attacks on Western Australia during World War II.

For anyone wanting to purchase a copy(s) they can do so by correspondence to:

Helvetica Publishing
PO Box 2186
High Wycombe
Perth Western Australia
AUSTRALIA 6057
helveticapublishing@gmail.com
$40.00 incl. post & packaging.

Flyabout around Australia's Coast - Steep Point, Western Australia

On mainland Australia's coast there are four places which are the extremities of the continent. The most westerly point is, funnily enough, found in Western Australia.

It's this spot, Steep Point, found in the Shark Bay area.

Perhaps it's not quite as remarkable a feature as the other three places - Wilsons Promontory, Cape York and Cape Byron, nor as accessible.


However, this place certainly is steeped in history being in an area touched by the early Dutch navigators. It's near Dirk Hartog Island.

To see more of this World Heritage region I can recommend Shark Bay Air http://www.sharkbayair.com.au/.

Flyabout around Australia's Coast - Port Hedland

Port Hedland, Western Australia, was one of the places I landed at during my flyabout around Australia's coast.

I actually landed here twice (the airport is in the top left of the photo). The first time was on the leg from Broome and the second time after a detour inland to Newman and Karijini National Park with my friend, Ken Wansbrough.

When some people first see this photo they think that it's farm land with the various paddocks. However, it's salt pans. Some bright spark once commented about the different colours "So that's how they make celery salt and garlic salt as well as sea salt!"


Here's some more information about the salt http://www.dampiersalt.com.au/ENG/sales/1148_port_hedland.asp

Prison Boab Tree near Derby, Western Australia

On the way from Derby Airport into the town, the Aboriginal taxi driver was very obliging and stopped off at the Prison Tree.


It's actually a huge boab tree about 14 metres around with a hollow trunk that you can walk inside.

In the 1890s it was supposed to have been used as a temporary jail for prisoners.


It just goes to show that people in the Outback were very resourceful in the early days. In fact they still are.

Flyabout around Australia's coast - Derby

During my flight around Australia's coast, I landed at Derby in the northwest of Western Australia. It's located on King Sound and the last part of the flight from Mount Hart Station was across miles and miles of mud flats as you can see in the photo.

Derby is a major centre for the Kimberley area and is a jumping off spot for the spectacular gorges in the region, like Windjana and Geikie.

It's also one of a few places in the world that has high tides like the Bay of Fundy in Canada.

And by the way, the airport was miles from town.

Flyabout Adventure around Australia's Coast with Fran West

During my flyabout adventure around Australia's coast, I landed at Broome, in Western Australia. Coming in to land over the sea I could see huge manta rays swimming in the water beneath me. I thought that was pretty special and I've never forgotten it.

This video, however, tops what I saw in the pastel blue waters off Broome. My friend's brother is a documentary maker and one of the people he worked with filmed this - a manta ray ballet. Just beautiful. Enjoy.

Diamond Adventure in Australia's Outback with Fran West

Hands up those who knew that there were diamonds in Australia's Outback!
Not many, I bet.

On my flyabout around Australia's coast, I detoured inland to Kununurra.

I had a day off and went on a joyflight to the Bungles and the Argyle Diamond Mine in northern Western Australia.

The pilot, Kylie, was also the bus driver and tour guide in the mine area.

Security is very strict, naturally, and if you do your own flight into the airstrip you have to fill out all the security paperwork before leaving Kununurra.


It's well worth the trip though, with lunch at the cafeteria, the tour around the mine area and a visit to the diamond viewing room and natural history museum.

Flyabout Adventure to Theda Station with Fran West

As mentioned in one of my previous blog posts, I flew in to Theda Station on my way around Australia's coast.

I ordered a drum of avgas to be trucked in for me so the plane could be refuelled.

Before I left on my trip I checked that the fuel had arrived at Theda. Sometimes in the northwestern part of Western Australia the roads can be flooded and trucks can't get through with the fuel.

One of the things I remember about Theda was not only the flies and the wonderful hospitality but the fact that I had company when I had a shower.

The local frogs seemed to enjoy having a shower with guests - just as well it was poorly lit!

The photo shows the accommodation block which had the toilets and showers in the middle and the eating area on the right.

Fran West Flyabout to Theda Station, Western Australia

One of the things I remember about Theda Station was my flying shirt.

Theda Station is a cattle property (or ranch) in the northwest of Western Australia. Consequently there are a lot of cow pats around and also lots of flies relishing those tasty titbits.

Here in the Outback I had lots of practice doing the Aussie salute (brushing flies away from my face). The flies don't just head for the face either.

My white flying shirt had been converted to a black and white polka dot shirt.

I was almost totally covered in flies.

I just love the Aussie Outback!

Fran West Flyabout to Wolfe Creek Crater, Western Australia

This was another inland detour made during my flight around Australia's coast.

The flight departed Kununurra, near Lake Argyle, and headed down to Halls Creek. The day was fairly hazy with the smoke from bush fires.


Wolfe Creek Crater is the second largest meteorite crater in the world at over 800 metres wide and 50 metres deep. To the Aboriginal people, this big hole in the ground is where a legendary snake appeared out of the desert.