We did not even hear about Purnunulu National Park before we arrived in Australia - and we have to thank the Australian immigration officer who mentioned that we probably do the bungle bungles ride - and we had no idea what this guy was talking about. Therefore, we put some effort in finding out what he meant and realized that the bungle bungles are a special landmark in the Purnunulu.
So we had to go there.
Anyways, the park was more or less on the way to Darwin. That was what we thought. What seemed to be a short ride into the park, evolved as a never ending journey across a bumpy unsealed road. We were happy to have a 4WD - otherwise we could not have entered the park.
It took us 1.5 hours to make some kilometres park. We were more than happy when we arrived at the park entrance - once we were in the park, street conditions got better and it was a more enjoyable journey to the relevant spots.
The park is divided into two main parts - one main attraction is the bungle bungles - the second main spot is called Echidna Chasm.
We went to Echidna Chasm first as the rangers recommended this place to visit in the late afternoon as the scenery is most beautiful in the moment the mountains get kissed by the setting sun. And it was true - the colours of the mountains during sunset were just stunning.
Before the sun set, we went for a walk through the chasm. It is an amazing walk through a gorge with steep-sided walls. Some sections of the riverbed you walk along are quite narrow - and it is unbelievable which power has created that scenery. What serves now as a track through the gorge has evolved over years by the pure power of water and eruptions. It is a spectacular setting. And the wild palms growing out of the stones do the necessary to provide a perfect spot for your photography.
We went to Echidna Chasm first as the rangers recommended this place to visit in the late afternoon as the scenery is most beautiful in the moment the mountains get kissed by the setting sun. And it was true - the colours of the mountains during sunset were just stunning.
Before the sun set, we went for a walk through the chasm. It is an amazing walk through a gorge with steep-sided walls. Some sections of the riverbed you walk along are quite narrow - and it is unbelievable which power has created that scenery. What serves now as a track through the gorge has evolved over years by the pure power of water and eruptions. It is a spectacular setting. And the wild palms growing out of the stones do the necessary to provide a perfect spot for your photography.
Having spent the night at one of the campsites in the park - again with clear view on the milky-way above us - we sent the second day in the park at the Bungle Bungles at the southern part of Purnululu.
The Bungles are a formation of unusual orange-grey rocks. The colour is caused by differences in the layers of sandstone. Bacteria and different minerals are the reason for the difference in colors and create the fascinating banding on the rocks. An amazing scenery.
There are some walking trails available, which make their way through the domes. We did two of them, including the walk to the so called Cathedral Gorge. The path leads you to a natural amphitheatre of red rock.
It is not only the scenery, which is breath taking. Thinking about the fact that these landscape was created over millions of years by the power of the elements is mind blowing. These thoughts
made us also feel very small in this environment. We were happy to have seen a place like this.
The way to the Purnululu National Park was probably the most uncomfortable ride on our journey - but it was definitely worth taking the bumpy road to see the world heritage listed Bungle Bungle Range.
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