Bungle Bungle Range

The Bungle Bungle Range, in the heart of Purnululu National Park, is one of Australia's most surreal landscapes — a 350-million-year-old sandstone labyrinth of striped beehive domes, deep chasms, and palm-filled gorges. The orange-and-black bands, caused by cyanobacteria and iron oxide, glow at sunrise and sunset. This remote World Heritage-listed wonder requires a flight or a 4WD adventure, but the payoff is an otherworldly experience that feels like walking on another planet.

Highlights & What to See

• Cathedral Gorge — A dramatic amphitheatre of soaring orange walls, best appreciated on the 3 km walk. The acoustics are incredible; you'll hear the silence.
• Piccaninny Creek — Follow the dry creek bed as it winds between the domes. The 3 km walk reveals the range's scale and the surprising waterholes that appear after rain.
• Domes Walk — A short, easy 700 m loop that brings you right up to the iconic beehive formations. Perfect for photography.
• Echidna Chasm — A narrow, 2 km slot canyon where palms cling to the cliffs. The light filters down like a cathedral, and you can touch both walls at once.
• Helicopter or scenic flight — To truly grasp the vastness and the geometry of the domes, a flight is essential. The aerial view reveals patterns you can't see from the ground.
• Purnululu National Park visitor centre — Learn about the geology, Aboriginal culture (the Gija and Jaru people are the traditional owners), and the 1983 discovery of the range by a documentary crew.

Suggested Time to Spend

Dedicate at least two full days to explore the range properly. The park is only accessible by 4WD (about 50 km of rough track from the Great Northern Highway) or by light aircraft from Kununurra or Halls Creek. Day trips are possible but rushed; overnight camping at the park's basic sites allows you to catch the golden light of dawn and dusk, when the domes are at their most photogenic. Pack all supplies — there's no fuel or food inside the park.

Nearby Areas Worth Combining

• Kununurra — The main gateway to the Kimberley, with Lake Argyle, the Ord River, and the Argyle Diamond Mine (now a tourist attraction).
• El Questro Wilderness Park — A sprawling station offering gorge walks, hot springs, and helicopter tours, about 3 hours' drive north.
• Wolfe Creek Crater National Park — A perfectly preserved meteorite crater, accessible via the Tanami Road from Halls Creek.
• Halls Creek — The nearest town for fuel and supplies, with the China Wall and Palm Springs nearby.
• Lake Argyle — Australia's largest artificial lake, famous for freshwater crocodiles, boat cruises, and sunset over the Carr Boyd Ranges.

Please check official sources for current details.