Home to the striking black and orange banded domes of the Bungle Bungle Range, this vast and remote National Park was listed as a World Heritage Site in July 2003. The Bungle Bungles are large cone karst sandstone structures that stand 250 meters above the semi-arid surrounding landscape. The area has had great cultural significance to the Gija traditional owners for tens of thousands of years.
Purnululu National Park is in the vast East Kimberley, 100 kilometres from the town of Halls Creek and 250 kilometres south of Kununurra. The exceptional natural beauty of the area is still relatively inaccessible, only suitable to 4WD vehicles and off-road trailers. To access the park, you will need to allow three hours to follow the 53 kilometre Spring Creek track safely.
The park is open between April and November with the track only usable in the dry season, so plan to check the road and weather conditions before travelling. If travelling by air is more your style, scenic flights with Aviair and Kimberley Air Tours offer a range of exceptional tours departing Kununurra.
The Bungle Bungles - Image by Tourism WA
To truly appreciate the grandeur of the towers we highly suggest navigating the intricate maze on one of the designated walking trails under a canopy of majestic fan palms on foot with a local guide, as well as getting a birds-eye-view on an amazing chartered flight with Helispirit or Kimberley Air Tours. Visit the stunning natural wonder of the Cathedral Gorge on a 2-kilometre Grade 4 bushwalk. The walk trails through the impressive beehives, towards two walls of rock before turning into Cathedral Gorge.
Take the time to learn about the area’s significant Aboriginal heritage with a local Aboriginal guide on a Bungle Bungle Guided Tour. Your guide will lead you along Piccaninny Creek and explain the importance of native flora and fauna as well as the Indigenous six seasons. If you’re wanting a longer stretch of time to appreciate all Purnululu National Park has to offer, you can join one of the incredible APT Kimberley Wilderness tours and stay in the exclusive Bungle Bungles Wilderness Resort.
It is important to note that the weather in the Kimberley can reach extremely high temperatures. Always have enough water on you and only attempt hikes and trails in the early morning or late afternoon. Please always take care to be respectful of the land you are visiting and not to climb on any of the rock formations
Region: North West
Nearest town: Halls Creek, 100km
Established: 1987
Area: 2397km2
Highlights: The Bungle Bungles, Echidna Chasm, Cathedral Gorge
Experiences: 4WD, Camping, Walking and Hiking Trails