The Bungle Bungles
World Heritage listed geological formations, the Bungle Bungles are one of Australia’s must see locations of the outback. What are they? Large sandstone domes that you can take a variety of different hikes through Gorges and Chasms or even a couple of day hikes exploring deep into this National Park.
The Bungle Bungles (Purnululu National Park) is a one way in, one way out track that is divided into the Northern and Southern sections.
Map of Purnululu National Park, The Bungle Bungles. (Hema Maps)
Sadly, no free camping available but as far as camping goes, this one was affordable $15pp/n. It may have been one of the few spots in our trip around Australia we have paid for but one we were happy to.
Northern section of Bungle Bungles: Echidna Chasm
We decided we would head North first. First stop Echidna Chasm. A beautiful small hike where you get to walk and squeeze through the gaps in the glowing red/orange walls.
Being near midday, the walls glowed orange. Stunning!
But this real wow glow only lasted for a small window of time until the sun moved from overhead and the glow was gone.
Trying to climb as high as we could … never a normal “couple shot”
Southern Section of Bungle Bungles
After lunch we headed to the Southern Section, closer to camp and that way we could go to the lookout for sunset.
Wandering through the carpark we got talking to a couple in their 70s that had just returned from carrying their 20kg packs over a multi-day hike. The multi-day hike in the Bungle Bungles wasn’t one I had heard of but talking to this couple had us excited and almost tempted to leave for it right away. Sadly no overnight hiking gear with us, day hikes for us.
Instead, we set off for a short walk (3.5km return) to the lookout, in hope that we would see the domes glow the red/orange like in all of the pictures.
It was beautiful but no glow. Instead, we sat and listened to a young couple talking about their love lives, keeping us thoroughly entertained.
With the sun gone, we headed back in search of camp. Perks of paid camps: they are close to the hikes. Downside of paid camps: the close proximity and noise. There was a big party on tonight, drifting off to sleep to the sound of music, very drunk singing and laughing (was a happy sound to drift off to just noisy).
Whipsnake Gorge
Today’s plan was to wake early and hike till we hit the bend on the Piccaninny Gorge. Should be back for a late lunch. To hike the whole gorge would take us 3-4 days to see it all. Without the gear for it, we opted for the day hike, stopping at each of the sights on the way.
First stop Cathedral Gorge
A nice cool spot where the rocks have carved out a little amphitheatre with a waterhole in the middle. Admire, drink and carry on, headed in the direction of Whipsnake Gorge. The whole hike we excitedly chatted away about our newly born campaign “Send it for the Strays”. We cannot wait to get started on it.
At about the 7km mark we decided it was a lot of the same so we turned back and headed for Pumba and more interesting lunch than crackers and nuts.
On the way back we bumped into a couple we saw a few times on the hike who recommended a swimming hole just behind the sand and rocks. A spot they sat for a few hours while ___ painted the scene. Peeling our gear off we jumped in, so cold, so refreshing. Energizing us for the walk back.
Our minds alive with our up and coming project we were dying to get to the visitors centre to get some wifi and google a few things. After a feed and some serious googling, we decided to move on from the park and make our way to Wolfe Creek Crater.
As we drove out, we noticed heads turning and people smiling … you know what we thought, its coz Pumba looks sexy… no that was not why. As we drove up the track we were tailed by a car honking his horn, we pulled over. “your roof tent is up” … well that explains the looks. We jumped out, lucky, no damage (other than to our egos), we closed Pumba and took on the rough dirt tracks to Wolfe Creek.