Kununurra, Western Australia. A picturesque, modern town, situated directly in the middle of the most beautiful, mysterious and adventurous regions on the entire planet. Words simply cannot describe what this town and the surrounding area is like, although we'll attempt to do so. Just let your imagination wander into a land filled with tropical birds, waterfalls and plants, but contrasts into red desert in the blink of an eye. The town is an ideal base to explore the Kimberley and into the Northern Territory.
You'll find Kununurra friendly and welcoming. The locals are relaxed and pleased to show visitors the splendors of their home. In 2008, Kununurra welcomed the film-makers for Baz Luhrmann's epic film "Australia", starring Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman. The Australia movie was filmed using the stunning backdrops of the superb landscapes around Kununurra, to catch the very essence of the country. Click here to watch a trailer for the movie "Australia".
Kununurra is an inland town situated in the rugged Kimberley area of Australia's North West tourist region. Kununurra is surrounded by the spectacular scenery of the Ord River and Mirima National Park. Close to Lake Argyle and the state border with the Northern Territory.
Use the controls on the map (slide up), to zoom in for a detailed view.
Ord River and Lake Argyle
One of the most splendid river systems on the planet! The Ord River has been dammed to create Lake Argyle, an inland sea at 812 sq/km. The lake has attracted thousands of species of native Australian birds and wildlife and is surrounded by vividly coloured red cliffs up to 150m in height
Ivanhoe Crossing
Once part of the major route to Wyndham and now a favourite fishing spot for locals. The road crosses the Ord River but is flooded over. Water pours over the edge which creates the ideal environment for the Baramundi fish, growing up to a metre long and puts up fierce resistance
Mirima National Park
Commonly known as Hidden Valley and located directly adjacent to the town. Treks to the top of the many granite peaks will reveal a spectacular view of the lush landscape. The rocks are vividly coloured with red and black layers, a result of a billion years of natural mountain building
The Grotto
Located a few kilometres west of Kununurra is a small canyon named The Grotto. Many waterfalls run into this canyon which contains a safe and natural swimming hole at the bottom. Swim safely over to the thundering cascades for the most natural and clean shower you can imagine
With an arid-tropical climate, Kununurra's climate can be summed up as hot and humid. This changes drastically in Summer with the arrival of the wet season rains. It can be sun shining one minute then downpouring for the next hour! Lightning around the town will take your breath away. In Summer (December to February), the average maximum temperature is 40°C with an average minimum temperature of 26°C. In Winter (June to August), the average maximum temperature is 28°C with an average minimum temperature of 11°C.
Tropical Cyclones are a prevalent part of this region between December and April. It is essential that you understand the steps and the procedures in place for Tropical Cyclones when entering this beautiful part of the world. For information, visit: www.fesa.wa.gov.au
Kununurra, meaning "big water" in the local Aboriginal language, is a relatively new town, founded in 1958 as part of the Ord River Irrigation scheme, one of the largest undertaken in Australia's history. The scheme involved damming the Ord River and building a diversion dam 50km downstream so that the waters can be directed to irrigate about 75 000 hectares of land which was previously used for cattle grazing.
Then the movement of the water could be used to generate hydroelectricity for local consumption, and build towns to cater for the developing economy of the area. Work started in 1958 and by 1966 there were 31 farms on the Ord River plains. By 1972 the second stage was completed with the opening of the Lake Argyle Dam, over 100 sq/km in size.
If you plan to holiday in Western Australia, the West-Oz e-Newsletter is a must read. Packed full of local information, promotions, links and photographs. Each issue is presented in an attractive, easy to read manner and is delivered to your e-mail, once per month.
