If there’s one experience that sums up the scale of Australia, it’s got to be a helicopter pub crawl. Out in the red dirt of the East Kimberley region, things get bigger. Higher waterfalls, giant rock formations, wider lakes (looking at you, Lake Argyle), larger irrigation systems and of course, bigger distances.

Kicking off with Australia’s first helicopter pub tour, Cassandra Charlick has rounded up the must try food focused experiences when visiting Kununurra and its surrounds.

Yep, it’s as good as it sounds. A full day getting whisked about by a Helispirit chopper while sipping and supping around the region. Kick off with a gourmet picnic breakfast and a glass of prosecco at a private waterfall at El Questro, followed with some more flying, and lunch and a beer at Lake Argyle Resort with a dip in the iconic infinity pool.

Finish up with a behind the scenes distillery tour at The Hoochery, Western Australia’s oldest distillery. Set on the Dessert family farm, it’s as authentic an experience you can get – rum tasting set amongst the silos. Their recently released Pink Argyle Gin is something special too.

The Ord River irrigation area reaches out over 20,000 hectares and produces an astonishing amount of produce, thanks to the ingenious gravity fed irrigation system. Chia seeds and Sandalwood are two major crops, along with plenty of tropical fruit, chickpeas, and sugarcane. Oh, and then there is the river. Did someone say barramundi? You’ll find no shortage on the menus about town and it’s as local as you can get.

Kununurra is a country town so you can expect some pretty good pub grub, but there are also some surprises in store for those that want a “special occasion” meal. The Pumphouse on the banks of the Ord River is full of history, and a has one of the best views for a weekend brunch or a sunset drink, along with a great menu (and wine list) for a date night. Be sure to look out for “Luigi” the croc – he’s partial to the pizza crusts that slip off the deck. The Kununurra Hotel has a new chef serving up solid meals at the best venue for best people watching in town.

For a healthy breakky or lunch, you can’t go past the Wild Mango Café, but get in early as it’s a popular spot. Finally, be sure to pack a picnic and head out on the road – it’s hard to beat a sandwich after a dip in a waterhole, or with the Cockburn Range spread out behind you. You can even pack a breakfast bowl for sunrise, or beer and crackers for sunset at one of the viewpoints close to town. Kelly’s Knob is easy to climb for spectacular views, and the Ivanhoe Crossing is an iconic river crossing.

Once you’ve seen things from above, it’s time to get a few other perspectives. Get out on the water with an Ord River cruise with Triple J Tours, or head out for some 4WD action with Ian from HOT tours, and enjoy morning tea set out on the pebbles of the Ord River bank.

Just over the border into the Northern Territory sits Bullo River Station. Owned by the same family behind Voyager Estate winery, it’s not every day you can have a winery experience in the middle of a cattle station! The crew here take their food and wine pairing seriously, and there are exciting developments underway with the cattle production too.