Wednesday, July 21, 2010

The Bungles



















Days 9-11

Just short of Kununurra is a quarantine inspection point as you are not allowed to take fruit and vegetables, plants, soils and some nuts into Western Australia. After eating half a dozen apples on the drive in we gave up and handed the last three over to the inspectors along with a squashed tomato and a handful of lettuce and several apple cores.

We stocked up at Kununurra with both petrol and food then headed off towards the Bungles in Purnululu National Park.

The Bungles are something you really have to see for yourself some time. As you can see from the photos there are some great gorges to walk through. We started with the Mini Palms Walk which was 5km return and ended with several flights of stairs leading to a viewing platform. Most of the walk was easy going through dry rocky creek beds or sandy paths but the further into the Gorge you go, you start climbing around, between and over boulders. Great fun.

We skipped the Echidna Chasm walk in the afternoon to spend some time back at camp with our feet up enjoying the sunshine. Also had a lovely shower in the re-tardis (Em’s pop up change/shower tent). No one was really hungry that night so we just had sausages for tea.

The next morning we headed out a bit earlier so we weren’t walking through the heat so much, although it was certainly cooler than the day before. As we drove towards the other side of the National Park much of the landscape actually reminded us of the Flinders Ranges with the exception of the massive termite mounds and bee-hive shaped domes.

After a quick stop at the airfield to book our helicopter flights for the afternoon we headed to Piccaninny Creek Carpark for the walk to Cathedral Gorge, which is about 3km return. The family photo I’ve included was taken inside Cathedral Gorge (thanks Matty).

After lunch back at camp we headed back to the airfield and took a 30min helicopter flight over the Bungles. Joshie, Simon and I were in one cute little helicopter with no doors, and Chris, EJ & Sylvia were in the other. WOW – words can’t describe the feeling and the view. Sometimes it was like we were just floating over the ranges then a gust of wind would shake the copter and remind you how high up we were and open everything was. I’m glad it was a 30min flight as it took me a while to feel at ease with the wind blowing us around. Joshie loved it…..”I can see my house from here!!!!”

Back at camp – pasta and blog sauce for tea – then lots of packing ready for an early morning start. Back to Kununurra to top up food/petrol then off to El Questro.

No comments:

Post a Comment