Purnululu National Park (Bungle Bungle) in the Kimberley's in Western Australia

About the Kimberley
• The Kimberley in Australia is one of the last true wilderness areas on Earth, with rustic unique outback landscapes and landmarks billions of years in the making. Covering app 423,000 square kilometres in north Western Australia and with a population of less than 40,000 people, it’s here you’ll encounter some of the most extraordinary outback adventuresand folks in Australia. Discover ancient gorge country with hikes and trekking a must in planning your Kimberley vacation to enormous cattle stations, pristine coastline and sandy beaches, to one of the oldest cultures on the planet and the world’s only horizontal waterfalls.

About Purnululu National Park (Bungle Bungle)

The Bungle Bungle Range is renowned for its striking sandstone domes, striped with orange and grey bands. Purnululu is the name given to the sandstone area by Aboriginal people and covers an area of almost 240,000 hectares. The Bungle Bungle has been a tourist destination since 1983 and was granted World Heritage status in 2003. Covering almost 240,000 hectares, the area has long been used by Indigenous people during the wet season, when plant and animal life was abundant. Yet the Bungle Bungle Range remained hidden from the outside world until 1983, surely making it one of the best kept secrets in history.

Access to Purnululu National Park (Bungle Bungle)

Access Purnululu is open from the 1 April until mid December depending on weather conditions. The park may also be temporarily closed due to fires or unseasonal rain. Access is restricted to 4wd access only and only single axle, off - road trailers with high clearance are permitted.

2wd vehicles are not permitted in the Park.

Visitors must register at the DEC Visitor Centre on arrival.

Geology
The Bungle Bungle Range Are an estimated 360 million years old.
Rise over 200 metres high.
Formed during the Devonian age.
Carved over 20 million years through erosional forces.
The grey banding is formed by cyanobacteria.
The orange banding is the result of oxidised iron compounds within the layers.

Stay overnight in the park and you'll discover the ultimate outback adventure. Hike into the Bungle Bungle Range to Cathedral Gorge, Echidna Chasm and other hidden gems. Take a four wheel drive safari. Camp out under the stars. Or immerse yourself in over 20,000 years of Indigenous culture

Facilities
There are two DEC campsites with basic amenities such as bush toilets, water and firewood.

Visitors are advised to boil water prior to drinking

Campsites are non-powered.

Tour companies operate within the park offering a range guided walks, 4wd transfers safari stays, accommodation and helicopter flights.

Scenic fixed wing flights are available from Kununurra and Warmun. Take in the full spectacle of these curious beehive domes on a scenic flight from Kununurra or Broome, or an open-door helicopter flight from within Purnululu itself.

All tours can be booked through the Kununurra Visitor Centre.
© source | courtesy of visitkununurra.com

The drive from Turkey Creek to the Bungle Bungle

Travelling times and distances from Purnululu National Park Visitor Centre

Airstrip and helipad - Distance: 18km Time: 30min
Bellburn - Distance: 15km Time: 25min
Echidna Chasm carpark - Distance: 20km Time: 35min
Kurrajong campground - Distance: 7km Time: 15min
Mini Palms carpark - Distance: 19km Time: 30min
Piccaninny Creek carpark - Distance: 27km Time: 45min
(Cathedral Gorge and beehive domes) Visitor centre to highway - Distance: 53km Time: 2–3hrs - we say allow 4-5 hours minimum depending on weather and road conditions.
Walardi campground - Distance: 12km Time: 20min
Walanginjdji lookout - Distance: 3km Time: 10min

Bellburn - Distance: 15km Time: 25min
* Bellburn is a commercial campground that must be booked in advance. Contact the Kununurra Visitor Centre on (08) 9168 1177

See map of the walks and park at © source | courtesy of kimberleywilderness.com.au

Bungle Bungle Caravan Park

About the Bungle Bungle Caravan Park
Bungle Bungle Caravan Park was established two years ago on Mabel Downs Station towards the turnoff to Purnululu National Park and the Bungle Bungle Range. We offer a secure and comfortable alternative to free camps allowing you to visit the wonders of the National Park safe in the knowledge that your caravan/motorhome and gear is safe and secure. Bungle Bungle Caravan Park is a true Kimberley bush experience with a great family atmosphere. The community camp fire each evening is a fantastic place to swap stories with your fellow travellers from all over Australia and the world and is enjoyed by all. Staying at the Bungle Bungle Caravan Park gives you the chance to see the Bungle Bungles in a way that has never been done before by starting your visit closer than ever before to the Bungles. This cuts down on the travel time to the Bungle Bungles giving you more time to enjoy the wonders the region has to offer. We have years of experience in running tours in the Broome and Kimberley Region. Let us guide you to an Outback experience you will remember forever.

Caravan and Motorhome at Bungle Bungle Caravan Park
Sites Bungle Bungle Caravan Park allows caravanners and Motorhomers to set up close to the Bungle Bungles and enjoy the wonders this region has to offer. We have ample un-powered site space available, and limited powered sites. Powered sites use 15 amp plugs however they are restricted to 10 amps output. Generally this means you can power a fridge and airconditioner, however, if you want to use a microwave or electric kettle you will need to turn the airconditioner off first. We generate our own power at enormous cost so our power is limited. Check-in 2pm – Check-out 10am Dinner and/or breakfast will be charged at a additional fee of $25 per person per meal on request. Dinner and breakfast are served at the boma. We can put together a tour package for you, including 4WD bus Bungles day tour, helicopter or fixed wing Bungles flights, and a 4WD Mabel Downs Station tour.

Bungle Bungle Camping Grounds at Bungle Bungle Caravan Park
Bungle Bungle Caravan Park allows campers to set up close to the Bungle Bungles and enjoy the wonders this region has to offer. We have ample camping space for you to get at one with nature. Check in 2pm and check out 10am the next morning. Dinner and/or breakfast will be charged at a additional fee of $25 per person per meal on request. Dinner and breakfast are served at the boma. We can put together a tour package for you, including 4WD bus Bungles day tour, helicopter or fixed wing Bungles flights, and a 4WD Mabel Downs Station tour.

Safari Tents at Bungle Bungle Caravan Park
Safari Tents Our unique custom made Safari Tents are available either as a standard tent without private facilities, or with full en-suite facilities. Check in 2pm – Check out 10am. Dinner and/or breakfast will be charged at an additional fee of $25 per person per meal on request. Dinner and breakfast are served at the boma. We can put together a tour package for you, including 4WD bus Bungles day tour, helicopter or fixed wing Bungles flights, and a 4WD Mabel Downs Station tour. © source | courtesy of bunglebunglecaravanpark.com.au

Mabel Downs Cattle Station - The nearest more populous place is the village of Warmun (Turkey Creek) which is 19km away with a population of around 320.

Bungle Bungle Wilderness Lodge (APT)

Self-Drive Wilderness Camp Accommodation? Our network of exclusive Wilderness Lodges are designed for you to enjoy a unique experience in some of the most remote regions of the Kimberley, without compromising your comfort. Our Wilderness Lodges feature permanent and sturdy tented cabins on a raised wooden floor with private ensuites. A range of Standard and Superior tented cabins feature twin or king beds, spacious ensuites with hot showers and flushing toilets, and a private front deck. Our Wilderness Lodges also feature low voltage night lighting and solar powered hot water throughout the camp. Bungle Bungle Wilderness Lodge

What's a (optional check at booking) standard meal at Bungle Bungle Wilderness Lodge?

When is the Kimberley at its best?
April through to October are the most pleasant months to travel through the remote Kimberley region.
In April/May and September/October the weather is fine and hot with mild nights (average maximum 33 degrees Celsius).
From June to August the days are fine and warm with cold nights (average maximum 29 degrees Celsius).

Are the Wilderness Lodges licensed to sell alcohol? Our Wilderness Lodges are licensed to sell alcohol with the exception of Hawk Dreaming Wilderness Lodge. They stock a range of alcoholic beverage for purchase, allowing you to enjoy a pre or post-dinner drink (to guests over 18 years-of-age).

Activities and things to do in Purnululu National Park (Bungle Bungle)

Purnululu National Park
To enter the Bungles requires a two to four hour, 52 kilometres, four wheel drive journey depending on road conditions, river crossing and seasonal conditions

Or take a flight in by helicopter from Bungle Bungle Caravan Park or small plane from Kununurra.

The Bungles are a hub of walks including Mini Palms, Echidna Chasm, Piccaninny Creek and Cathedral Gorge (including Beehives walk).

There are scenic gorges like Cathedral Gorge and Piccaninny Gorge; the latter is best taken as an overnight walk, 30 kilometres in total, with sleeping in the open. Echidna Chasm is an easier walk, about 2 kilometres, a narrow gorge with walls towering 100 metres and adorned with tall palms. Echidna Chasm is one of the most pristine and mysterious places of Western Australia.

Walking in the park
Walking tracks are the best way to explore the features of the Bungle Bungle Range. There are a variety of options from short strolls to an overnight hike. Trails are generally unmodified and rocky. Wear sturdy footwear.

Temperatures can get very HOT at times, reaching 50°C.

Carry plenty of water (up to four litres per person per day) and dress for the heat.

Walk in the early morning or late afternoon.

The following three walks are from Piccaninny Creek car park, a 27 km drive south of the visitor centre.

The Domes walk
This is an easy one-km loop walk winding around banded domes towering majestically around you. Allow 30 minutes.

Cathedral Gorge walk
This is a moderate three-four-km return walk with short steep slopes and narrow ledges. Allow one to two hours’ walking through striped domes, pebbles and potholes, towering cliffs and honeycomb rocks that lead to an amphitheatre. The moderate four kilometre return Cathedral Gorge walk trail is located in Cathedral Gorge, an astonishing geological formation with amazing acoustics, located within the ranges of Purnululu National Park or the Bungle Bungle Ranges. The Top Trail features unusual bee hive striped formations and deep gorges, making it one of the most fascinating geological landmarks and one of two World Heritage sites in Western Australia. From Piccaninny car park, the walk winds its way through the iconic bee hives, heading down between two walls of rock before opening up into Cathedral Gorge. Water pounding through here in the wet season has created a huge amphitheatre of red rock with a pool of water in the middle (bring a wide angle lens for your camera). The acoustics are so good that music has been played within the gorge. On the return journey to the car park be sure to take the alternative route through the beehives.

Piccaninny Gorge walk
This two to seven-day hike is into a remote and magnificent gorge, with a spur track leading to a lookout over domes and spinifex-covered grasslands. The first seven km are relatively easy. It then becomes moderately difficult because walkers will have to negotiate fallen boulders and loose rocks. Walkers must be prepared and take all the appropriate safety equipment. There is no reliable drinking water in the gorge.

Echidna Chasm walk
This is a moderate two-km walk with a challenging short climb near the end. Allow 45 minutes to an hour. Experience a spectacular 200 m chasm with varying colour hues. A short walk off the main trail takes you to a lookout with magnificent views of the Osmand Ranges.

Mini Palms walk
This is a moderately challenging five-km return walk with some steep slopes, including negotiating large fallen rocks. Allow two to three hours. It features soaring cliffs, livistona palms, two viewing platforms and an amphitheatre far below.

Walanginjdji Lookout
The lookout has panoramic 360 degree views of spinifex-covered ridges and the western escarpment of the Bungle Bungle Range. Colour variations are exceptional at sunset and sunrise.
© source | courtesy of kimberleywilderness.com.au

China Wall
The China Wall is a natural white stone wall which looks just like a miniature ‘Great Wall of China’. It is located just outside of the town of Halls Creek, and is a great stop off for a picnic lunch. Enjoy a swim in the shady stream below before exploring this interesting limestone formation, which features a vein of white quartz. The wall rises from the creek up over the hill, and you can see it in the distance as it winds its way over the rugged landscape for fifteen kilometres. It has a beautiful outlook and certainly makes an interesting photograph. Halls Creek is a seven hour drive from Broome. Old Halls Creek is a 15 minute drive from the new township. Camping is available at Old Halls Creek, and it is a popular overnight stop midway between Derby and Kununurra.

Old Halls Creek
Old Halls Creek is a picturesque deserted township where the ruins of several old mud brick buildings remain as testament to what was once a booming town, with a population of over 3,000 people. Check out the fascinating ruins of the old Post Office and wander through the old cemetery. Enjoy a picnic and a swim at Black Elvire River and soak up the tranquil surrounds. Try your hand at prospecting for gold in what was the site of Western Australia’s first main gold rush in 1885. Local prospectors still find gold there today. In 1955, the Halls Creek town site relocated 15 kilometres to the northwest, to less rugged terrain and adjacent to the then newly constructed Great Northern Highway. There is a small caravan park in the old township which offers basic accommodation. Halls Creek is a seven hour drive east of Broome or four hours from Kununurra. The drive from Halls Creek out to Old Halls Creek is an enjoyable journey with some lovely scenery along the way. There are a number of creek crossings where care should be taken.

Ord River
The mighty Ord River near Kununurra in the Kimberley region is one of Western Australia's most scenic and significant waterways. At various points along its length you can go cruising and canoeing between stunning gorges, see crocodiles and amazing birdlife, catch an elusive barramundi, go swimming and jet skiing. It's not surprising that the Aboriginal meaning for the word Kununurra is "big waters" or the "meeting of the waters". There are two man-made barriers which regulate the flow of water. The Diversion Dam, which is a short drive from Kununurra, allows water to be diverted to farms. Below the dam the river flows to the Cambridge Gulf. This is one of the best places to go barramundi fishing - but keep a watch out for saltwater crocodiles! Above the Diversion Dam Lake Kununurra is formed and is popular for all manner of water sports. The stretch of water between the Diversion Dam and the dam wall at Lake Argyle passes through Carlton Gorge with its magnificent cliffs and rock overhangs. Created by the Ord River dam, massive Lake Argyle is the biggest man made lake in Australia. There are boat, fishing and canoe tours of the Ord River available.
© source | courtesy of westernaustralia.com

Turkey Creek Roadhouse - from Kununurra or from Halls Creek

Turkey Creek Roadhouse service, food, fuel, accommodation, Warmun ... a friendly rest-stop between Kununurra and Halls Creek.

Warmun Roadhouse Caravan Park and Motel, +61 8 91687882 (warmunroadhouse@bigpond.com). Mostly shaded powered sites with a shower block and grassed areas around a swimming pool to make things comfortable. A secure caravan storage compound is available if you want to leave it behind while roughing it in Purnululu. Self contained donga style units with double and single beds are the epitome of basic, but it will have to do if you didn't bring your own accommodation. Sites start from $20-$28; Rooms start from $50-$135.