Purnululu National Park....the home of the Bungles Bungles!

Having put on a brave face and got Marty to accept that l would be ok with my crook back and gingivitis, we rolled out of Kimberleyland all set to start our tenting adventure over the next few weeks to the Bungle Bungles, Wolf Creek Crater and the Gibb River Road.

Loaded up on pain killers we made the 200km + trip out the road to Purnululu National Park (or Bungle Bungles for those that know it by its old name).  As soon as we turned off onto the dirt road to enter the National Park we were greeted with a heavily corrugated and windy track.  Marty pulled over and let the tyres down which made a bit of a difference, but by the end of the hour drive l got out of the car very stiff and unable to stand up straight for a while.  We went to book into our campground, which the girls at the info centre had kindly held a spot for us seeing we were a day behind schedule.  We had booked into the Walardi Campgrounds in the southerly end of the park for two nights at the standard park fees of $24 per night.

Trying it out in the backseat for a change...saves twisting
around to do school with a crook back!  Not much head room!

We enter the Purnululu NP!!!

Small water puddle to cross!

After our peanut butter sanga's, our signature travelling lunch, we headed to the northern end of the park to check out Echidna Chasm.  The walk was pretty good, on a dry river bed full of uneven big rocks, which was great for a chick with a shit back.  As the walk continued l loosened up and started to fell a bit better.  I was gobsmacked at how spectacular the landscape was with huge lush palm trees lining hte dry creek bed, sheltered by enormous red rock cliffs that formed the long narrow chasm.  So glad for the shade from the chasm as it was really starting to heat up.  We had been told that when we got to what looked like the end of the walk to look around the corner on our left and walk around the gigantic boulders, and there we would find the end of the chasm.  We felt like tiny ants, it was so magnificant.  We enjoyed taking a few funny pics of us pretending to hold the chasm apart, must have looked like idiots to everyone else, or maybe not becuase as soon as we got down from posing everyone else got up to do the same thing!! Such trend setters we are!

The extraordinary Purnululu NP...

And the walk starts to Echidna Chasm..

Amazing rock face!

Palms lining the dry creek...

Beauty at its best!

Bower Bird nest.....

Entrance to Echidna Chasm...we are the
size of ants!

Hold the walls apart everyone!!!!

Spectacular Beeson family shot!

See the small rocks lodged in the crack.

Long way up...

Looking out...

Spectacular.....

Panoramic view....

Afterwards we strolled out of the dry creek and headed back up to the path where we turned right, to Meg's disgust, and made the short trek to a lookout point over the desert country.  Meg wasn't in the mood for the short hill climb up to the lookout so we left her sitting in the shade of a small boulder while we continued on.  It was lovely looking out over the country without listening to the continuous whine of Meg for a change, but we must give her a little sympathy, it wasn't like it was a nice 25oC day to do a hike, it was bloody hot!  As we headed back down the track we saw Meg still sitting in the shade, enjoying every moment.  Must have given her rejuvenated energy as she ran down the bloody hill to get to the car!

Time for more friendship rock building....

Boo and Marty hand in hand....

Meg has had enough....refused to walk the rest!

Boo always ready to keep going....

Marty and l enjoying some quiet without Meg...lol

After the sitting down she was re-energised
to run down the small hill!

We then made our way back out and set off up to the Kungakalanayi lookout.  Marty and Boo sick of listening to Meg whinge, decided they would rather run up the bloody steep hill to get away from her.  Lucky for me l was carrying injuries so l was stuck listening to her!!  The view was a sight for sore eyes l can tell you, total 360o panoramic views of the surrounding ranges lining the park, totally amazing!

Bloody idiots running up the steep hill!

And down they go....

We had had a big day as we drove the 50km over more corrugated dirt road to our campsite to set up for the next few nights.  We arrived just before dark as we stopped off at yet another lookout which was equally amazing as the first one!  As the sunset, it became apparent that the nights further inland away from the coast, are going to be more colder than we were used to.  I cooked up a slightly spicier than usual chow mein to warm us up, then we were in bed tucked up in our sleeping beds around 7pm!  Such a shame as l would have loved to sit out under the dark skies and marvel at the bright stars, but as soon as l laid down on the mattress my back thanked me!! 

Camp for the next two nights...

Girls washing up for me....

The next morning we woke as soon as the sun rose and headed off to see the actual domes of the Bungle Bungles.  Even though l woke up feeling ok, after the short drive to the walk, it was apparent that every time l was going to travel in the car l would take a while to straighten up and walk without looking like l had a pole stuck up my ass!!! We started off heading on the walking track towards the Piccininny Lookout, but somehow missed the turnoff and ended up at the "Window".  The walk was great, the girls having a ball hiding in the huge eroded holes in the boulders.  The walk was again in a dried up creek bed, which had a sandy rocky ground.  We ended up walking up higher on the boulders as the soft sand was a little more hard yacka.  After the "window", which was a little disappointing after seeing "Natures Window" at Kalbarri NP, we turned around and got on track to the Piccininny Lookout.

Take a look Marty and don't get us lost!

The Bungle Bungles.....

Can you see the girls???

More holes to play in.....

We're just tiny people in this world...and you really feel it here!

Prehistoric land here!

Termite mound on the domes....

The "Window"

Marty striking a pose....

Looked like a wild bore!

Watch your step Boo, long drop down
those crevasses!

Look how small we are out here!

Love the beehives!

At least this walk kept them entertained..

Even the big kid!

Amazing how the rock formations differ...

We were so ecstatic when we arrived to see our great mates, 'The Hardfirms' sitting enjoying the view. There were huge screams of joy and hugs shared, after the excitement wavered and we swapped tales of our journeys, we got our family pics and headed back for lunch.  We decided to make a quick detour and go see Cathedral Gorge before meeting up with them back at the parking lot.  It was thankfully a short walk as Meg returned to her whinging state, wanting lunch because she was "starving".  After we climbed the ladders and got to the gorge she settled down as she noticed how louder her voice was inside the gorge, which led to her yelling "Koo-wee" the whole time we were there so she could hear her voice echo!!! 

The Dome views....

Kids more excited to see one another and eat!

Back together again at last.....

Riley, Boo, Jordyn and Meg....the awesome foursome!

We head off towards the Cathedral Gorge....

Meg decided to play up in the rocks...

Hard to capture this wondrous place!

Sisterly love....

Rolling in the sand....

..and now lets throw it!

Lets head back now...

Back at the parking lot, after lunch, we got a few family pics and group shots and farewelled our mates once again.  Only for a short time though as they were going to come back to our camp for a quick yarn before heading out.  We took off to do the last walk, thru "The Domes".  I was just blown away with these rock formations.  They are estimated to be over 360 million years old and rise over 200m high.  They have been carved over the last 20 million years with erosion and the colors of the domes are equally fascinating.  The grey banding is caused by cyanobacteria forming and the orange banding is the result of oxidised iron compounds within the layers.  The short 1km circuit walk was completed quickly due to the girls wanting to go back to camp to catch up with Riley and Jordyn.

Can you tell..."I'm not really in the mood anymore mum"!

Just taking it in!!!

Strike a pose!!! Obviously the heat has got to us!

Boys and their toys!

Start of the "Dome Walk"...

Bottom of one of the Domes...

When we got back to the carpark Marty was pulled up by a guy asking if the phone he found was ours.  It wasn't, but it was Tonya's!!! After driving 10 mins up towards Echidna Chasm to catch up with Tonya we decided to turn back and head to our camp thinking they would have probably gone that way.  We left a sign at the turn off in case they were following us.  We arrived at camp to find the HardFirms there, sitting not even knowing Tonia's phone was missing.  After a laugh, we had a final farewell for now, hoping that we would catch up with each other in the NT.  Feels like an end of an era, we had had so many good times on our trip up the WA coast with these guys and we love them dearly.  Its made our trip something so special and memorable, so glad we met up along the way and stuck together.  

Kids having their catch up while we are left standing!

The rest of the afternoon was spent catching up with school, which the girls were so not in the mood for, but we had to all fight thru it!!!  As sunset approached we headed up the road once more for a sunset viewing...Glorious changes in the sky.  As the sun set, l cant believe l am going to say this, but hte night turned colder than the night before.  Absolutely freezing!!

School work after such a huge day...the
life of the travelling kid!

Awesome sunset!

Our time in Purnululu, although difficult with the walks with my back pain, was absolutely fantastic.  So glad we made the trip out instead of flying over.  Marty and l had done this on a trip in the past and although amazing, it was great to see it from the ground level.  It gave the place a totally different perspective.  As we tackled the corrugated drive out, we stopped off at the info centre to get the girls their promised Zooper Doopers!  Bit early in the morning, but a promise is a promise!!!  Next stop, Wolf Creek where hopefully we wont have the pleasure on meeting up with Mick!!!! Lol.....

Bell Xxx