Guide to Purnululu National Park
The orange and black striped domes of the Bungle Bungle Range in Purnululu National Park are as beautiful as they are bizarre – an unmissable icon of Western Australia’s Kimberley region.
The World Heritage-listed Bungle Bungle Range in Purnululu National Park is one of the most famous symbols of the Kimberley. From the air, giant rocky domes rise abruptly from dusty savannah plains, appearing like beehives, striped with cyanobacteria. Ancient palm trees seem incongruous, and isolated waterholes persist into a searing dry season. This is perhaps Australia’s most striking and surreal landscape.
Top things to do in Purnululu National Park
Take a thrilling helicopter ride
Seeing the Bungles from an open-sided helicopter is both thrilling and unforgettable. Helispirit and AviAir let you fly over riverbeds and gaze down at the mesmerising beehive-like peaks. It will take your breath away.
Stroll through domes at Cathedral Gorge
If you can only manage one hike at Purnululu, make it this one. You'll snake through the surreal maze of orange and black domes and end the walk in the circular Cathedral Gorge, an incredible amphitheatre with a calm pool of water.
Visit Purnululu by 4WD
Discover Purnululu on a 4WD tour with Kimberley Spirit or as part of a larger Kimberley tour with APT. Day trips are offered from nearby Bungle Bungle Caravan Park, and the tours make for a stress-free Kimberley trip.
See the sun illuminate Echidna Chasm
At the northern end of the park, Echidna Chasm is a geological marvel. Hike the stony, ancient river bed as the width of the towering chasm narrows to barely one metre (3.2 feet). At midday, the walls glow as the sun passes overhead.
Stay in an eco lodge or try glamping
Aside from camping, Purnululu has two places to stay. Both offer ensuite accommodation and meals. Bungle Bungle Savannah Eco Lodge has rustic outback cabins, while the APT Bungle Bungle Wilderness Lodge has canvas glamping tents.
Join a two-day fly and walk tour
If you don’t have a lot of time, this guided, two-day tour covers Purnululu’s highlights. Fly in from Kununurra before meeting your guide and hiking both Cathedral Gorge’s famous domes and Echidna Chasm. It’s an experience you won’t forget.
Take an Indigenous cultural tour
The Gija and Jaru peoples have lived in the Purnululu area for millennia. Join a local guide on a one or two-night tour to Purnululu to gain an Indigenous perspective on the park. You'll wander slowly, appreciate deeply and fall asleep to the sounds of nature.
Explore lesser-known hikes
If you have more time, explore the tracks less travelled. For shorter hikes, try the Mini Palms or Homestead Valley trails. Experienced, self-sufficient hikers can try the overnight Piccaninny Gorge Trek, which can also be taken as a heli-hike.
