Outback Australia
27th May – Bungle Bungle
Simply stunning, like something from another planet. The actual striped beehive structures that comprise the Bungles are just amazing and there are far more of them than I would have believed. It's a world heritage area and in our opinion fully meets the criteria: "Superlative natural phenomena or areas of exceptional beauty and aesthetic importance".We have to drive some 30km to the southern end of the park to do the walks there, and need to call in at the Visitor Centre to pay for another night in the park. We are also able to book a helicopter ride for the afternoon at 3:30.
Photos just don't do the place justice. Briget says in her guide book: “You learn pretty soon that the beauty of the Bungle Bungle Range is not easily captured in photos. Standard lenses are nowhere near wide enough to capture the magnificent views. And once you get out of the car and start walking between the domes you will be too close, the valleys too steep and narrow and dark..” This, like the rest of the book, is right on the button.
The Sunset Lookout, Cathedral Gorge and the Domes Walk all get our attention, in all probably three hours walking. We would have love to have done more of the Piccaninny Creek Walk but we have had enough by this point. In case I haven't mentioned it the place is pretty warm during the day so we return to the car for a picnic lunch.There is a bit of time in hand before the helicopter ride so we take the opportunity to go to the southern Walardi camping ground and stake our claim by leaving our tables and chairs there.
Yes, the flight is all we had hoped. The operator, Slingair Heliwork, have removed the doors from their R44's to give better ventilation and improved visibility for their passengers. It also unfortunately terrifies Mary who has to look the other way each time it banks.
Tommy, our pilot, keeps up a running commentary as he shows us a few of the sights, with a few rate one turns so we can see right down into the chasms. The height of the plateau is some 200 metres above the plain below so as you can imagine there are some pretty deep gorges.
There is a 'push to talk' button on each intercom and since Mary cannot remove either hand from the rail in front of her there is not a peep from her for the full half hour trip. I am not sure that there has ever been that much silence.
The flight is expensive but we thought very well worthwhile. I would do it at the end of the trip as we have done rather than doing it first so you can relate to what you have see rather than seeing the whole picture first.
In summary Purnululu needs to be on your 'Bucket List'. You can do a day trip in by flying but you won't have either the time or probably the stamina to see anything like what's available and there is a huge amount more that is simply closed to the visitor and can only be seen from the air.