Bungle Bungles - Purnululu NP

Travelling around we visit old historic homesteads or telegraphs stations that are over 150 years old and are amazed at the structure of the sandstone buildings.

At the Bungle Bungles in the Kimberly region of Western Australia; the natural phenomena of sandstone domes are 350 million years old.

How can anyone comprehend that period of time!

What was in ancient times a flat river bed with sediment layers is today thousands of majestic domes like a city of tall buildings with orange and black stripes.

The orange layer is iron that has become rusty and the black is lichen algae, one of the most incredible wonders of the natural world we think!

Yet again our cameras go crazy as around the maze of these domes were some ponds of water that show a spectacular reflection photo. Wow!

If you can sing a tune then Cathedral Gorge is your stage for incredible acoustics, our best effort was Cooooeeee.

Choose both times of early morning and late afternoon with the rising and setting sun to visit as the intensity of colour is so vibrant.

Definitely pay the price for a scenic flight, because this is the ultimate breathtaking experience to see from above how many domes there are and how far they stretch beyond where you can walk or drive.

But wait there is more! At the northern end of the park is Echidna Chasm. Oh my goodness, rich red towering cliffs with tall livistonia palms lining a narrow walkway into the chasm.

Purnululu NP is a must do! However we have met folks who did not research or plan their visit and missed out on this must do!

So here are our handy hints: You will need to allow 2 whole days (at least) of site-seeing the northern and southern ends of the national park. If you have a 4WD and an off road caravan or camper trailer you will be fine to tackle the 52km track from the Great Northern Hwy to the Purnululu NP visitor centre. This will take 2 ½ to 3 hours to drive and then add another 7km to Kurrajong or 12km to Walardi campgrounds.

Options are: leave the caravan at the Bungle Bungles caravan park and drive in and stay at upmarket “glamping” accommodation at Bellburn Creek close by to the domes.

Or book a tour, travelling in a Mercedes Benz all terrain vehicle for a very long full day covering both northern & southern ends.

Our advice – Put it on your bucket list then Research, Plan and Book!