Bungle bungles

So we had all, minus the kids, loved the helicopter ride over the Bungles and now it was time to camp and walk amongst the beehive domes in Bungle Bungles National Park (Purnululu). 

Our camp set up side by side with Mum and Dad in the Bungle Bungles Caravan Park from the Helicopter. It was so great to see them on the road and share a part of our trip with them. They are also doing a similar trip but the other direction.

The drive into the National Park is 53km and depending on road conditions and corrugations, it can take up 2-3hours. The road was great and we were able to drive the very scenic road in about an hour.

A few creek crossings on the road into N.P.

Mum and Dad in their Slide-on Camper crossing a small creek.

The blue arrow is where we camped.

We found a shady spot at Walardi camping area  and the after a lazy lunch/set up, bit of bird watching, we walked The Domes and Cathedral Gorge walk. The walk is a good 20 min drive from Walardi camp ground. They are an easy flat walk, if you don't have a 4 and 6 yr old. It is very hot here in the Bungles so we started walking around 2.30-3pm but we were scrambling to get back on the drive back to Walardi Camp before dark. We can't be late for nibbles and arrived just on sunset around 5pm, if not later. The sun rises at about 5:15am- I know this because we keep the canvas open on the camper so I can look at the stars at night. The Bungles are truly spectacular and the scale and grandeur of the domes is awesome. A few cane toads hopping about too, actually 40 000 were removed from Walardi camping area in April/May.

The Bungles are as beautiful and perfect as we imagined.

Cathedral Gorge.

We spoke to some other campers who were camping at Kurrajong Camping area and they said the mozzies were really bad, although we had hardly any camping at Walardi.

The bird watching at Walardi is rewarding, as they seem to come to you. Just at lunch we saw Diamond Doves, red winged parrots, double bar finches, cuckoo shrikes and rainbow bee eaters. 

As we lay in bed you can again hear the dingoes howling.

Echidna chasm walk is another different walk to the Domes walk as we were walking in the dry creek bed of smooth pebbles, lined with Silver Gums and Fan Palms. It was beautiful and shady and climbing over large boulders through the narrow chasm was an easy challenge for the young and old (mature).

Echidna chasm

Osmand Lookout near Echidna Chasm

You can't easily view the Domes from either campsite but the sunset viewing area was a great place to capture the bungles and not in the heat of the day.

Mum and I at sunset viewing area.

Poppy or "Pop man".

It wasn't particularly busy despite being a long weekend for Western Australia which suited us. The Rangers would bring more wood for the firepits and it was great long burning timber too.

On our last day Michael and I were able to go on a couple more walks on our own whilst Mum and Dad entertained the girls back at camp, which was good for everyone.

Just in case..we carry a snake n spider kit.