East coast to West coast, Coolangatta to Coral Bay or however one chooses to call it, from one side of Australia to the other is a journey of some 4000kms. It represents approximately 10% of the total distance around the world and is at least fifteen hours flight time in the Bazflyer’s Comanche airplane.
The flight from Newman to Coral Bay occurred practically along the Tropic of Capricorn, the southernmost latitude where the Sun can be directly overhead. When the landing wheels alighted on the dirt Coral Bay airstrip it was the furtherest place West that ZK-BAZ had ever flown.
Coral Bay is a small settlement that lies protected from the Indian ocean by the Ningaloo Reef which is Australia's only fringing reef. This is where in contrast to other reefs the coral starts right at the water's edge. As a result the abundant habitat of fish and coral are very accessible. It’s also a place where one can to swim among giant Manta Rays....a prime reason for the Bazflyers visit. As a bonus we got to experience from close-quarters, a number of migratory Humpback whales with young calves that were making their way back to southern waters. https://youtu.be/0Um10GqmGpg
Flight route from Newman to Coral Bay on the West Coast of Australia. The northerly diversion from Newman was to look at Hickman Crater. https://www.australiangeographic.com.au/topics/science-environment/2015/06/hickman-crater-in-western-australia/
Landing Coral Bay
The beach at Coral Bay
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