Bungle Bungle Range

Rising like a giant beehive from the dusty plains of Purnululu National Park, the Bungle Bungle Range is one of Australia's most surreal landscapes. These orange-and-black striped sandstone domes, formed over 350 million years, are a UNESCO World Heritage site that feels almost otherworldly. Accessible only by four-wheel drive or scenic flight, the range rewards visitors with breathtaking gorges, ancient Aboriginal rock art, and a profound sense of isolation.

Highlights & What to See

• Cathedral Gorge – A dramatic natural amphitheatre with towering walls that echo footsteps; best visited in the soft light of morning or late afternoon.
• The Domes Walk – A short, easy loop through the iconic striped domes; get up close to the unique banding created by cyanobacteria and iron oxide.
• Piccaninny Creek – A dry sandy creek bed that winds through the heart of the range, offering the best views of the beehive formations from ground level.
• Echidna Chasm – A narrow, 200-metre-deep chasm where sunlight filters down only at midday; a challenging but rewarding scramble.
• Scenic flights from Kununurra or Halls Creek – The only way to grasp the full scale of the Bungle Bungles; helicopter or light-plane tours reveal the hidden gorges and the vastness of the range.

Suggested Time to Spend

Most visitors spend one to two full days exploring the Bungle Bungle Range. If you’re self-driving, allow at least two days: one for the southern walks (Cathedral Gorge, Domes) and another for the northern chasms (Echidna, Mini Palms). Scenic flights can be done as a day trip from Kununurra, but staying overnight at the Bungle Bungle Savannah Camp or nearby lodges lets you experience the range at dawn and dusk when the colours are most vivid.

Nearby Areas Worth Combining

• Kununurra – Gateway to the Kimberley, with Lake Argyle, the Ord River, and the Argyle Diamond Mine; a 2.5-hour drive north.
• Wolfe Creek Meteorite Crater – One of the world’s best-preserved impact craters, about 3 hours south-west; combine with a trip to Halls Creek.
• Halls Creek – A small outback town with Aboriginal culture and the China Wall natural formation; a good refuelling stop.
• Purnululu National Park (Northern Section) – Home to the less-visited but equally stunning Mini Palms Gorge and Osmand Lookout.
• El Questro Wilderness Park – A luxury station stay with hot springs, gorges, and river adventures, about 3 hours north.

Please check official sources for current details.