Purnululu NP South, WA

It was another 157km heading south on the Great Northern Highway to the turn off into Purnululu National Park, also known as the Bungle Bungles.

We dumped the toilet at the free rest stop and aired down the tyres.

before tackling the next 67km through the park to Walardi Camp ($27.50pn). It took us 2 hours as the road conditions offered corrugations, dips, crests, rock, bends and creek crossings, nearly on a par with the Mitchell Falls track! 

The World Heritage-listed Bungle Bungle Range has elevations as high as 578 m altitude and is famous for the sandstone domes, with their striping in alternating orange and grey bands. The park offers many walking trails to explore the fascinating landscape and gorges. 

The next morning we drove 17km to Picaninny Carpark.

We set off at 7:30 walking for 2.5 km following the mainly dried up creek to The Window.  The landscape along here is sensational with its various examples of the formations in the park. 

40mins later we had arrived at The Window, a natural sandstone structure. 

 

We then returned along the creek already feeling the heat from the sun on the rocky path with no shade. The next turnoff was towards the lookout which offered views the Dixon Range. 

There were plenty of termite mounds, there were lots on the rocky domes too.

We once again returned to the main trail following the creek to the turn off to the spectacular Cathedral Gorge. It was extra pleasant due to the tack being mostly in shade. Here we were towered by the beehive domes and honeycomb rocks. At the end was the iconic natural amphitheatre seen in many brochures. 

The final part of the walk was through The Domes and to a pretty pool. 

We then rattled back out stopping for a photo op at Elephant Rock.

 It was 32km to the Kurrajong camp on the northern end of the park. We settled in camp #66. As it’s too hot for walking so we will explore the walks at this end of the park tomorrow morning.