On March 4th 2008, Tanya Faux, Australia’s world champion whitewater kayaker, will lead a team into the Kimberley region to explore the uncharted water of the Moran and Mitchell Rivers.

The exquisite Kimberley Ranges in WA are one of five places in the world that are considered truly wild and it is a land thriving with indigenous spirit, rock art, pastoral and pearling heritage, and is home to some of Australia’s greatest waterfalls and whitewater.

History shows that no river flowing from the Kimberley into the Indian Ocean has ever been paddled.

(All photos on this page are from the King Edward River expedition. Right: Tanya on the walk in.)

 

 

Recently there has been much political interest in the Kimberley. Peter Garrett, Federal Minister for the Environment, released a statement for a ‘Big Picture Study of Australia’s Kimberley’. The Kimberley holds massive reserves of oil and liquefied natural gas, and is very vulnerable to increasing domestic and international pressure on it for industry development.

Tanya and her team will spend 24 days in the wild Kimberley exploring the environment and experiencing the historical and indigenous heritage elements of significance of the region, as well as promoting the ‘Save the Kimberley’ campaign via www.savethekimberley.com       Photo below: Caleb and Tanya

 

Tanya writes: ‘We hope to share the magical magnitude of the Kimberley with fellow Australians and the world; many people do not know this land exists in our back yard and we have a chance to save it!’

Meteorological data of the region has indicated the cyclone season to be most consistent during late February, until the beginning of April.

In an average year the North West of Australia will face 5 to 8 cyclones with an annual rain fall of over 1500mm or 5’.

Photo left: TF in action.

 

 

In 2006 the team embarked on the first descent of the King Edward River located in the Kimberley Ranges.

Whilst on the river, cyclone George formed and dumped 800mm of rain in 3 days. See here for more on that trip

Photo right: TF different action, making damper.

Trip Details – March 3rd to 28th 2008

Due to the inaccessibility of the Kimberleys the team will fly into Doogan station where they will begin the ‘Waterfall Dreaming’, with 24 days of supplies packed entirely into their kayaks.

Via the Woodhouse River, the team will paddle upstream 45km and then walk over a ridge into the Moran River.

Photo left: Original rock people.

 

 

 

The First Descents.

The Moran River, is a 100km uncharted stretch of river that flows from the highest peak in the Kimberley’s in a westerly direction towards the Indian Ocean. The river contains 3 major gorges and numerous waterfalls which will take the team up to ten days to complete.

On day 15, the team will expect to leave the Moran River and walk 15km over a range to the famous Mitchell River.

The Mitchell River is famous for its spectacular 3 tiered Mitchell River Waterfall. Unknown to many people, the Mitchell River Gorge walls contain unique rock art paintings which illustrate ancient sailing ships and canoe type crafts

The team will then paddle from 50km upstream of the Mitchell River Falls to the sea, unlocking the mystery and beauty of this river.

Photo above: Modern rock people thinking: “When’s this rain going to stop, it’s been 4 days?”