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The Bungle Bungles, Purnululu national park

The Bungle Bungles are a hidden world of magnificent gorges, tropical pools, dramatic caves and Aboriginal rock art about 250km south of Kununurra, off the Great Northern Highway.

A scenic flight is still the best way to gain the best perspective of its massive size. In fact nearly twice as many people see the Bungles by air than those who visit by road. However, the venture in by 4WD is well worth the effort because you can't beat the close up look for photo opportunities.

The Bungle Bugles are located in the Purnululu National Park and were created at the same time as most of the rest of the Kimberley scenery was, around 350 million years ago.

Purnululu National Park which contains the Bungle Ranges was only discovered by the white population in the mid 1980's although some miners were there in the 1940's

The road into the Bungles is strictly, 4WD only.

Over that time span of 350 million years, rivers deposited sand and pebbles into the area, layer after layer of it, the sand was ground still finer until it formed the sandstone rocks that are visible now. Strong winds and heavy rains over many years have eroded the sandstone even more and now form the distinctive dome shapes that we can see today.

The Bungle Bungle gets it's tiger-stripes from black algae that permeates the more porous layers of the sandstone rock, and also a glossy orange build up of manganese and iron has stained the sandstone. Standing within these domes, you can't even begin to fathom the time it has taken for this process to occur. (You know, half a lifetime) A tour of these ranges in Purnululu National Park is an experience not to be missed.

Nowhere else in the world will you see ancient rock formations quite like this!

A short video with commentary and music showing you what you will see at the Bungles.


WesternAustralia.tv

Here, the gorges, gullies and caves are the products of this progression, tourists visit the Bungle Bungles in particular for the scenery. Especially Piccaninny Creek on the southern edge, which is a winding 12km gorge within the high walls of the domes. The Bungle Bungle range rises 200 to 300 metres above a woodland and grass-covered plain, and has steep cliffs on the western face. Elsewhere, particularly where Piccaninny Creek has formed Piccaninny Gorge, the range is cut by deep gullies and breaks up into intricate areas of ridges and domes, with outstanding orange and black or grey bands.

A nice place for lunch in the Bungles

A nice place for lunch in the Bungles

Thank you Garry, for allowing me to use your wonderful photo.

As you wander further through the range, a hidden world of gorges and pools is revealed, with fan palms just managing to cling to the walls and crevices in the rocks. Cathedral Gorge is a large cavern that will make anything else insignificant from that moment in time. The walking tracks at Echidna Chasm run for 1.5 to 3km in length and make for a fascinating stroll along a narrow gorge which is quite different to the opposite side. The name Bungle Bungle name seems to come, either from the corruption of an Aboriginal name for the area, or from a misspelling of one of the common Kimberley grasses found around here. (bundle bundle grass.)

Do you have A Great Story About Your Bungle Bungles Trip?

Have You Been To The Bungles?
Or have a friend who has? Do you have a good story about it? Some tips? A great photo? Come on, share it with us!
We'd love you too.

Enter the Title of Your Bungle, Bungles Story.

What Other Visitors Have Said

Click below to see contributions from other visitors to this page...

Purnululu Pational Park  starstarstarstarstar
Bungle Bungle National Park is also called the Purnululu National Park and is home to the peculiar rocky stripped mounds.

The rocky mounds (or Bungle ...

The naming of Bungle Bungle  starstarstarstar
My wife's father was working at bungle bungle out camp in the 1940s. I asked him where the name had come from. He told me that a previous occupant of the ...

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Contact Details:

Chris Ryan

Mail: 6 Dardanus Way Heathridge Perth.
Western Australia.6027
Phone: 61+0404737061

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