In the Shadow of the Bungle Bungle Range

There’s a profound joy in feeling small before nature’s grandeur, and the Kimberley's Bungle Bungle Range offers this life-affirming experience in its purest form.

There’s a certain magic that comes with encountering the sublime – a humbling reminder of something far greater than us. These moments often unfold in nature, where boundless power and beauty stir a deep sense of awe. Whether it’s an electric thunderstorm or a mountaintop shrouded in mist, these rare occurrences are when we discover the joys of our own insignificance. The Kimberley is a master in the sublime, and few landscapes rival the monumental grandeur of the Bungle Bungle Range.

Instantly recognisable, the Bungle Bungle Range’s striped sandstone domes cover approximately 450 square kilometres in a beehive-like formation, with some of the domes reaching up to 250 metres tall. At this magnitude and with a geological history that dates back 350 million years, it’s astounding the range remained hidden from the wider world for so long.

While the Traditional Custodians of Purnululu National Park, the Karjaganujaru people, have lived in the area for over 20,000 years, it wasn’t until 1983 when a pilot tipped off a documentary crew about the strange, rippling land formation he’d spotted. Shortly after that, the rest of the world became aware of the wonder that is the Bungle Bungle Range.

Beyond the range’s colossal domes, the magical landscapes of Purnululu National Park continue. Follow walking trails past sheer rock walls to the vast gorge system of Piccaninny Creek. Step foot in the striking natural amphitheatre of Cathedral Gorge via a two-kilometre stroll among tiger-striped domes. Squeeze between 200-metre-high walls, that are merely a metre wide in places, to Echidna Chasm, where you’ll discover prehistoric Livistona palms and gorge walls painted in vibrant hues of ochre, red and orange.

Purnululu National Park is an endless showcase of nature at its most majestic. If there’s one way to view the range in all its glory, it’s by helicopter. This optional experience offers a rare bird’s-eye perspective over Piccaninny Gorge, Cathedral Gorge and the undulating mountain range. If you prefer to keep your feet on the ground, sip a flute of sparkling wine and sit back to witness the striated domes transform during golden hour into a fiery riot of colour.

APT’s exclusive Bungle Bungle Wilderness Lodge is located a stone’s throw from the spectacular region. Offering a splash of luxury in the Outback, stay in comfortable tented cabins with private ensuites and private decks, and indulge in three-course dinners each evening, expertly prepared with native herbs and spices.

Feeling small can be a wonderful thing, especially in the face of nature’s most magnificent landscapes. To experience the wonders of Purnululu National Park, as well as the luxury of APT’s luxury Wilderness Lodges at Bell Gorge and the Bungle Bungle Range, and the recently renovated Mitchell Falls Wilderness Lodge, join APT on an epic 4WD Land Journey.

Words by Felicia Arhontissas

Bungle Bungle Photo Credit Tourism WA