Destination Profile - Kununurra, Western Australia
The town of Kununurra.lies 977km north-east of Broome and 3,300km from Perth via the North West Coastal and the Great Northern Highways.
Kununurra is situated in the East Kimberley just inside the Western Australia border and was originally built to service the Ord Dam and irrigation project. The thriving town now plays a major role in development and research, agriculture, tourism and diamond mining. Argyle Diamond Mine produces some of the world's most beautiful stones.
Coming from the Northern Territory, Kununurra is the gateway town to Western Australia, located 359 kilometres from Halls Creek and 825 kilometres from Darwin. The town lies on the shores of Lake Kununurra on the Ord River The waters of Lake Kununurra host a huge variety of tropical birdlife, fish and freshwater crocodiles. Below the dam, on the Ord River, it is not advisable to swim as the dangerous saltwater crocodiles are found there in significant numbers.
A major irrigation scheme which began with the visions of the early settlers to harness the mighty rivers of the north, became a reality in 1963 with the building of the Kununurra Diversion Dam and the settlement of the township. Seventy-two kilometres from Kununurra lies Lake Argyle, the largest artificial lake in the southern hemisphere holding nine times more water than Sydney Harbour. It was formed by damming the Ord River in the Carr-Boyd ranges as part of the Ord irrigation scheme; is now a popular recreation spot for swimming, boating, fishing and sailing.
The Argyle Diamond Mine produces over one third of the world's diamonds and includes the rare and beautiful Argyle pink diamonds. The mine is the biggest diamond producing mine, and one of the most technologically-advanced mines, in the world.
This destination is a part of the Flyaway Faraway Kimberley Style and Wet Season Spectacular Australian Adventures.
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