The Spillway

Birdwatchers will be thrilled at the large selection of water birds that inhabit The Spillway on the way to Lake Argyle. Walk along the shoreline looking out for the black-necked stork, glossy ibis as well as the magnificent wedge-tailed eagle and white-bellied sea-eagle. The Spillway was created as a safety valve for the overflow from the Lake Argyle and plays a significant role in the mammoth Ord River Irrigation Scheme. Walk trails through the bushland offer a chance to see a wide diversity of native flora and fauna. During the dry season, most of the water dries up giving you the opportunity to walk along the river bed. Lake Argyle is the largest man-made lake in Australia. During heavy rain, the dam often overflows into the Spillway which in turn flows via Spillway Creek back into the Ord River and on into Lake Kununurra. The water from this lake is used to irrigate farms in the region. The Spillway is a 40-minute drive south of Kununurra. Kununurra is serviced by direct 3-hour flights from Perth.