Halls Creek - Drive in or fly over?

There are two ways to encounter the Bungle Bungle: by four-wheel drive, or by air. For advanced four-wheel drivers the Bungle Range offers a perfect wilderness adventure and an unforgettable camping site. You'll find the turnoff to Purnululu National Park 250 kilometres - or around five hours - south of Kununurra, or 109 kilometres north of Halls Creek - around four hours drive.

Both camping spots there - Walardi or Kurrajong - have simple camping facilities. Most people camp there for a few days at least, so pack plenty of supplies! Take advantage of some the spectacular walks in the area. If you have a couple of days, go exploring in Picaninny Creek and Gorge, a spectacular walk not for the faint-hearted. Another wonderful walk is Echidna Chasm, on the northern side of the park.

The characteristics of the park fall neatly into two areas, north and south. The south, where the Bungle Bungle towers are, is best surveyed in the morning for full light-show effect. The north shows its best face in the afternoon.

The best time of year to visit the Bungle Bungle Range is well into the dry season, from April to October. Extreme weather makes access roads impassable outside of these times, and that's when it's time to take to the air. Some believe that flying offers the best Bungle Bungle experience regardless of the time of year. Scenic flights leave from Halls Creek or Kununurra, and gave an ideal view of this mystical landscape, sweeping effortlessly over the earthen towers of russet, black and moss-green.

Articles

A natural buzz

The orange-and-black striped mounds of rock that dominate the Bungle Bungle Range, in Purnululu National Park, are a striking geological phenomenon. They look like giant beehives, and shelter cooling gorges, crystal-clear pools and fan palms. more

Cultural significance

During the wet season, Aboriginal people found abundant food in the Bungle Bungle. The area is rich in Aboriginal art and there are many burial sites. Traditional owners are involved in the park's management.

Gold fever

Gold fever lingers at Halls Creek where prospectors still live. Visit the old mud-brick post office, or swim in nearby pools and gorges. China Wall - a long protruding quartz vein - is a local attraction. So, too, is Wolfe Creek meteorite crater.

Living museum

More than 130 bird species are found in Purnululu National Park, including rainbow bee-eaters and budgerigars. The nail-tail wallaby and euro live around the massif, while short-eared rock wallabies are thought to live on top.

Nature's creation

The Bungle Bungle's beehive-shaped towers come from sandstone and other material cemented together about 350 million years ago and eroded into unusual shapes over the past 20 million years. Rock layers, algal growth and minerals formed the stripes. more

Taking to the bush

The most visited site in Purnululu National Park is Cathedral Gorge, reached by a fairly easy walk. Some people prefer to take a couple of days to explore nearby Piccaninny Creek and Gorge, camping overnight. If you do this, tell a ranger beforehand.