Heli Flight over Bungle Bungles

We all must be super excited this morning as we quickly pack up camp and head down to the Aerodrome for a 7.00am scenic Heli flight over The Bungle Bungles. Heli Spirit is the company and we are greeted by Toby who takes us through a safety briefing. The helicopters have no doors on them so that’s a good start and Toby details the emergency evacuation plan if the Heli runs into strife, basically exit the Heli from the holes in the side of the cockpit where the doors used to be and run forwards not backwards otherwise you may impersonate a headless chook. All good.

We need to do a pre fight, whoops sorry, I meant flight weigh in to ensure we achieve optimal weight distribution in the helicopters. As a 4 seater, Jen gets the cockpit seat and I balance everything out on the right hand side behind Tom, our pilot with a seat spare. The Lloyde’s have their own Heli and after a pre flight check, we have lift off.

It’s an 18 minute flight taking in the Bungle Bungles and every moment is exhilarating. The morning sun is perfect as we have both light and shade on the beehives which dramatise the effect.

Passing over Piccaninny Gorge, we look down to see a 300m deep gorge gouged out of the sandstone and snaking through the landscape.. The gorge is accessible only by an overnight hike from Piccaninny creek.

The Heli flight follows the creek and we fly over Whip Snake Gorge and Cathedral Gorge for a spectacular aerial view. Tom, our pilot points out a large rock formation which looks like an amphitheatre or stadium, named The MCG by the locals. The pitch looks a bit bobbly for footy though...

Back on terra firma, the Heli flight was a great way to put the Bungle Bungles into context. It’s vast and spectacular and to think this place was only discovered in 1983. Wow!Read more