Birds of Tokyo and King Stingray soak in the magic of the Kimberley ahead during the Ord Valley Muster

Celebrity musicians and singers in town for the Ord Valley Muster’s headline event the Kimberley Moon Experience also took the time to lap up the spectacular sights by visiting tourism hotspots by foot, car and air.

Birds of Tokyo frontman Ian Kenny heaped praise on the remote landscape and the relaxed lifestyle ahead of the band’s performance, saying he was thrilled the group were able to spend three full days in Kununurra.

The Perth-founded group arrived in town at 9.30am on Friday, May 19, and headed straight to El Questro Wilderness Park before completing the hour-long hike to the stunning Emma Gorge.

After arriving back in Kununurra, they climbed the town’s well-known hill called Kelly’s Knob to enjoy panoramic views of the town and across the Ord Valley’s beautiful farmland for sunset.

“We were absolutely knackered by the time we got back to town,” Kenny laughed.

“But it was well worth it.”

Ahead of performing at The Kimberley Moon Experience on Saturday, May 20, the group drove the hour back to El Questro early that morning to take a dip in the iconic Zebedee Springs.

After a sound check, Kenny and bassist Ian Berney then took to the skies for a two hour scenic flight over the World Heritage-listed Purnululu National Park with Aviair.

Departing from Kununurra, they flew over the vast expanse of Lake Argyle before tracking toward Purnululu National Park to view the ancient landscape from above.

It was Kenny’s third time visiting Kununurra, but his first time performing.

“My Dad has been coming up here for 25 years, for fishing, and just being a retired grey nomad,” he said.

“It is just unreal up here. I don’t know what it is, there is just something very different about the way things move up here, and even the people too.”

Kenny, who has a jam-packed touring schedule this year, said he enjoyed how “far removed” from the hustle and bustle he felt when visiting Kununurra.

“There is something up north where people are just so chilled… the East Kimberley has so much to offer,” he said.

“When you do spend time on the land, it makes you forget about all the rest of the crap… you feel far away from it.”

After nearly two decades of performing shows around the world, Kenny said he “almost preferred” playing regional shows for the uniqueness of them.

“We are playing a lot of shows in our own backyard at the moment, and it’s super cool,” he said.

Much-loved Arnhem Land band King Stingray was also in town for Kimberley Moon Experience, with three of the band’s members jumping at the opportunity to hop in a helicopter for a waterfall adventure with HeliSpirit.

Drummer Lewis Stiles, guitarist Roy Kellaway, bassist Campbell Messer took to the skies with Helispirit senior pilot Jy Goyne, flying over Lake Kununurra, Elephant Rock and Lake Argyle before landing at a remote waterfall.

It was the first time Kellaway and Messer had been in a helicopter, with both reportedly “blown away” by the experience.

Members of the group were also spotted cooling off at Molly Springs, a spring-fed waterfall and water hole just 34km west of Kununurra.

While Birds of Tokyo and King Sting Ray’s members didn’t have time to hit the Ord River to catch a barramundi this trip, Kenny said it was definitely on his bucket list for the next visit.

“We’ve been having too much fun… it’s been go, go, go,” he said.

“But that’s the plan next time.”

The Ord Valley Muster continues in Kununurra until May 27.