To Broome and Back!: Day 58. The Bungle Bungle National Park. 08/07/2015

On the bus at 7.00 a.m. sharp for one of the most bone shaking, brain banging 180km trips we have ever been on. The Bungle Bungle (Purnululu) National Park is a World Heritage Area and the entrance was 53 kms in from our departure point, and as we travelled through Mabel Downs Station we went through umpteen river crossings and two that were flooded and around a thousand bends. A further 27 kms we arrived at the start of the Echidna Chasm trail. The kilometre walk followed a very rocky creek bed up into narrow cliffs that were of many colours and textures. At different sections of the walk we were surrounded on either side by very beautiful, tall and majestic Lilistonian Palms that were reaching up to the sunlight overhead. At one stage we were scrambling through a very narrow passage to reach a small staircase to take us up a level where the passage opened up to reveal a chamber that trapped the sun. It was a very lovely walk and not too difficult.

We then were driven to an area called The Bloodwoods where our driver David set up a very nice picnic lunch that saw us filling huge wraps with fresh salads and cold meat. At the completion of lunch we boarded the four wheeled bus again to drive to the area where we would walk (and climb) into the Cathedral Gorge.

As we entered the area we could see the huge domes or beehive formations of the Bungle Bungles. They were fascinating shapes and colours and well worth the effort of going into the park. This walk was quite different from the Echidna Chasm but every bit as lovely. Of course we were not prepared for what we we discover at the end of the walk in. We were absolutely blown away by the huge amphitheatre we entered. Words can not adequately describe its beauty, nor photos do it justice. We stayed there a little while and tried to imagine what it would look in the wet season when water would be cascading down the enormous cliffs into the pool below. We imagined how wonderful it would be to have a concert there. The sound effects would be amazing.

We returned to the bus tired and thirsty even though we had taken plenty of water with us. The return journey back to the park was just as arduous with more bone shaking and brain banging but Wendy managed to have a little sleep much to everyones amazement! A bonus was to witness the cattle mustering that happened right before our eyes. A helicopter was rounding up thousands of cattle that would be shipped by semi trailer to Darwin for export.

On our return we freshened up for the evening meal that was supplied in the marquee at the caravan park. A typical outback meal with lovely pea and ham soup followed by a wonderful beef stew with rice. We sat around the campfire for a short while but “bed called” as we were very tired. A truly memorable day even though we were in the bus for 5 hours.

Our second night only so far that we have relied on our own power and water etc. but it was not hot
so we were very comfortable.