After leaving The Dampier Peninsula and heading East again, we knocked out a rather large drive day, first on yet another rough road and then back onto sealed again, with a sigh of relief. We made it as far as Fitzroy Crossing that evening. Fitzroy Crossing is one of many old gold mining towns in this region and has a high Indigenous population. It is also the gateway to Geikie Gorge, which we explored the following day. Geikie Gorge is similar to Windjana Gorge as it is also part of the same Ancient Devonian Reef System.
Halls Creek was our next destination. Yet another old mining town and now rich with Indigenous Australian Culture and art. The Yarliyil Art Centre consists of a gallery where you can also watch the artists creating their masterpieces. They are also famous for painting their street bins and numerous painted car bonnets are dotted around the town. We decided we would venture forth towards our ultimate destination of The Bungle Bungles and a free campsite was our accommodation that evening. It’s in these campsites you really get a sense of remoteness and the apart from the occasional road train passing in the distance they are usually dead quite in the night. If you are lucky you may hear a pack of howling dingos from afar.
Finally, after a few long drive days, we arrive at Purnululu National Park, home of The Bungle Bungles. First, we embark on The Echidna Chasm hike in the Northern end of the park, which leads you down into a narrow chasm with enormous high walls. The beauty of this hike, if you time it right, is the light shining in and hitting a wall which then lights up the chasm with a fiery orange light. There is only a window of about an hour when you can see this and luckily we timed it right, but on the return hike, the light had vanished. Our next hike that day was Mini Palms Gorge. Yet another stunning hike which we almost had all to ourselves. We have certainly noticed the crowds diminishing as it gets later into “the season”. It certainly is hot! Finally we arrive at our campsite in the Southern end of the park which will be home for the next two nights. What a beauty of a campsite this one was! Although we had to set up our bush shower as we realised we will be without shower facilities for the next 5 nights. It’s actually better than some of the paid showers we have had on this trip and the girls thought it was lots of fun (cheap thrills!). That evening we were lucky enough to spot two gorgeous Barking Owls and we also heard Tawny Frogmouths and a Morepork. What a vibrant night life there is here in Purnululu!
The following day we saw the Bungle Bungles themselves. These are huge dome shaped boulders which resemble beehives due to their striped rock patterns. There are multiple hikes you can do to view the Bungles Bungles. We chose to do The Picanniny Creek Lookout, Cathedral Gorge and the dome walk. The amazing scenery never ceases to amaze me and the awe inspiring Bungle Bungles really do need to be seen to be believed.
