Trippin' round Oz: Bungle Bungles (Purnululu National Park)

This was a two night stop over but full of lots to see. We stayed at the Bungle Bungle Caravan Park that only just recently opened up. It was an extremely hot the day we arrived and the relief came later in the day in large cumulus clouds. They made a huge difference. Mind you the owners had not seen clouds like theses since April this year. Maybe it was a sign of rain. Lets hope not. We are hoping for a perfect day for tomorrow. That night we sat around the camp fire. We met some lovely people along the way and chatted to them. They even gave the kids chips and marshmallows to toast over the fire.

The bus journey into the Bungles took just over 2 hours. We had to go up and down many goat tracks and cross many rivers. It was a great trip and even better because Jordan and I got to travel in the front seat. Pete our guide was a funny man but was also very informative.

River crossing no. ?? I don't know they all look the same.

Behind this range is the Argyle Diamond Mine. Rare Pink
Diamonds for me please.

This is know as Mother and Baby Elephant

We visited the beehive domes firstly which are located on the southern end of the Bungles. Here we did a 7km walk via the Piccaninny Creek Lookout, the Cathedral and the Dome Walk. It was an extremely hot day and the kids found it very difficult. Kaleb ended up on my back more often than not. But the reward at each spot was just fabulous and well worth the carrying of children, the constant whinging and the crying. The lookout was really pretty. We could see the beehive domes clearly from here and they were very special. The next part of the walk took us back to the Catheral Gorge. It was a fantastic amphitheatre. Pete even bought along a tape of very ocker music and it resonated around the area beautifully. The last part was a little more difficult as the kids had really run out of steam at this point so Nigel and I needed to push them the whole way. Gosh we were glad to get back...the cold drinking water was devine...lunch was a task as none of us had the energy to eat.

Piccaninny Creek

Beehive Domes in rear

Piccaninny Creek. Just an amazing place.
The rocks have been carved out by the rushing waters in the wet.

The walk into the Cathedral Gorge

Aaahhh we've made it.

Looking from the back wall of the
Cathedral Gorge

All a little red from the exhausting walk

Kaleb getting a piggy back.

Austin getting a shoulder ride.

The next part of our journey was another drive around 1.5 hours long. This gave the kids and us plenty of time to rest and recoup as we still had the Echidna Chasm to walk. This walk did not take that long but the reward of this very breezy chasm was amazing. The temperature nearly dropped 5oC when we cross the shaded line. It was such an superb place. The sheer walls and the height it towers above you is just special. We look so little in these places. Nature really is amazing and she does some spectacular things around this country.

All tuckered out.

A little closed in

The end of the line

What a relief. This place was so cool and inviting
it was hard to leave.

The journey home was made more eventful due to the number of times we had to stop for the kids to go to the toilet. We nearly missed the sunset because we stopped so many times. Pretty funny really. The other travellers were terrific about it also which made it easier. Jordan even learned to squat. Something she has never been able to manage. On arriving back at camp we then had our bush tucker served to us. This just perfectly finished our day off.