PURNULULU NATIONAL PARK

FRIDAY 23.08.2013: 7.00am pick up and we were on the bus to The Bungle Bungle Range for a day tour (poodles were left in the air conditioned comfort of the motorhome). There is no way you would tackle this unless you had a serious 4 wheel drive, plus a great deal of experience on this type of road - an hour and a half of non-stop bone shattering corrugated dirt road. When first entering the bus we were somewhat concerned about the age and obvious fitness levels of the group, but this was not a problem. The options were laid out and you had the choice of the type, time frame and length of walks that you would like to undertake. 

LEAGUE OF NATIONS TOUR - ENGLISH, SPANISH,
SWISS, DUTCH AND AUSTRALIAN

CAN BE UP TO 27 RIVERS
TO CROSS ON THE WAY IN -
NO WET SEASON, ONLY 2

We headed off to "The Cathedral Gorge" on a thick sandy 2 km return trail that follows the Piccaninny Creek. Striped sandstone beehives, creek beds and potholes, looming cliffs, evidence of waterfalls that cascade down steep rock faces during the wet season and honeycomb weathering which open into a huge amphitheatre. The amphitheatre sits on a major northwest trending vertical joint line where undercutting of soft sandstone has taken place beneath a waterfall.





The "Domes Walk" is a 700 metre loop road which takes you past sandstone domes that rise majestically from the spinifex-covered sand plains. These rounded, sandstone towers are fragile giants, each encased in a thin, protective skin of orange bands of iron oxide and grey to black bands of cyanobacteria. A skin is deposited on the surface by water seeping through the sandstone. If the banded skin is damaged the sandstone is rapidly eroded away. 



The last walk of the day was the Echidna Chasm. This is a moderate two-kilometre return walk, with a challenging climb at the end. This is a spectacular long narrow chasm, with livistona palms waving from the 200 metre high ridges above. The rock face is a conglomerate; a type of rock made of pebbles and boulders embedded in a sandy matrix.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One minor detail with this walk - from beginning to end the pathway was made up of all sizes  of rounded loose rocks. We made it in without difficulty, through narrowed walls, up and down laddered stairways and over large rocks. Began the return trip and as always since Sybil's 'throw down' in Tasmania, she has been relegated to carrying the water bottle and Carole the camera. Some 50 metres to the end of the walk and down she goes. One of those moments when you hope the earth will just open on contact, but no. Two couples rushed to aid the fallen, with Carole (being so accustomed to this activity), on her "just sit up slowly". The concerned were sent on ahead as Sybil finally made it to her feet. The bonus - Sybil has learnt to fall face down in the dirt and keep her hat on, plus the metal water bottle was thrown so far and the indent so large that it has to be replaced. Outcome - one strained ankle and one very fat bruised knee and pride! The aim is to have a 'throw down' in every State in Australia - well on the way! 

The photo to the left was kindly taken at the start of the day by one of our fellow travellers. Look at those fresh faced, ready to tackle anything "Leyland Trekkers". The following is at the end of the day - we placed our 'banjos' on the ground for the photo shoot!

ELEPHANT ROCKS

Morning tea, lunch and dinner (back at the Bungle Bungle Caravan Park), were part of the day's tour. The Bungle Bungle Range was surreal, absolutely spectacular and any other superlative you can muster - loved it! Little disappointed in the Bungle Bungle Caravan Park customer service or lack there of - for $45.00 per night power and water outages without notice led to many unhappy campers. Also, no garbage bins which meant you had to collect all your garbage and take it with you.