Purnululu National Park - World Heritage Area

This is the starting point for a number of walks into and around the famous "Bee Hive" domes of the Purnululu National Park. The landscape, geology and cultural heritage of the park have seen it given World Heritage status. From here you can walk the domes walk, Cathedral Gorge or longer walks into the range. There are toilets and shaded picnic areas at the carpark. Make sure you are well prepared for any of the walks and carry plenty of water. If you are doing all day walks this means you should allow between 5-8 litres per person per day.

The Domes Walk really begins at Picininny carpark but turns off here and does a loop around close to the beehive domes and through the spinifex. It is a one km circuit but allow an hour to make the most of it.
There are toilets and shaded picnic areas at Picaninny carpark

It is a three kilometre walk into Cathedral Gorge from Picaninny car-park. Allow up to two hours. The grade is moderate and there are some short steep sections with ladders to negotiate. On the walk in you really get to appreciate the striped sandstone beehive shaped domes, see creek beds, looming cliffs and evidence of the waterfalls that cascade down the steep rock faces during the wet season. The walk ends at a huge amphitheater where you are dwarfed by the sheer rock walls.

From here you can lookout over the spinifex plains from the range. Its a short walk up Picaninny Creek and a well marked turn to the right.

The Gorge has no marked track and no defined end point so hikers must rely on their own navigational skills to complete the walk. The track can be divided into two sections - a seven kilometre walk in relatively open terrain along the Piccaninny Creek to the entry to Piccaninny Gorge(the Elbow) and the walk within the Gorge system itself, a total of more than 30km.
The track is generally easy up until the gorge entrance. It then becomes moderately difficult in the gorge itself, with hikers having to negotiate around fallen boulders, loose rocks and along creek beds.
The walk to the entrance of the gorge and return will take a full day. To explore the entire gorge system, hikers need to camp for at least one night. There are several "fingers" to the main gorge and those with plenty of time can find lots to explore.
Very Important
If you want to do this walk you must register at the park visitor centre before heading out
Carry out all rubbish including toilet paper
Bury human waste at least 150mm deep and 30m from water
Flash flooding may occur in the gorge between December and April
Swimming and washing in stagnant pools is not recommended for health reasons
Wear supportive footwear,adequate clothing, a hat and sunscreen
Avoid putting detergents, soap or food into waterholes
Helicopters regularly fly over the gorge. Do not wave to them as this indicates and emergency.
You Will Need....
Water - allow 5 -8 litres per person per day
Adequate food
Fuel stove for cooking. Fires are not permitted.
Warm clothing and sleeping gear - temperatures can go below 0 degrees at night.
First aid kit.
EPIRB
Map and GPS

One of the best ways to experience the scale and majesty of the Bungle Bungle Range is to take a flight over the Massif. What better way to do this than taking a light plane or helicopter flight over this amazing 360 million year old rock formation.

Many visitors also arrive by plane, taking the short flight from Kununura for a day trip or staying several days with a tour company.

Helicopter or Plane - Which is Best For you?
A helicopter gives you a close up thrill the doors off and wind in your hair while a fixed wing aircraft gives you a wider view of the vast expanse rather than the close up smaller aspect of the chopper - both are great for photography.

There are a range of options from to choose from - plan before you go or inquire at the airstrip. In the main tourist season (April to December) it can be very busy with planes and choppers coming and going.

There are two public campgrounds in the park. Kurrajong in the north and this one, Walardi in the South. Both offer similar facilities with toilets, bore water and firewood and are equally suited to vehicle based camping with tents or camper trailers. There are also special areas for those with generators or for larger groups. While untreated bore water is available at the campgrounds there are no showers and it is recommended that you boil all water before drinking.

Fires can only be lit in designated fireplaces in campgrounds. Firewood is limited so please use it sparingly and please do not collect wood from the park as it plays an important ecological role in this arid landscape. Remember to extinguish all fires before you leave your campground. Fire bans are in place between 1 April and 15 May and between 15 September and 31 December. There may be extended fire bans in extreme conditions.

We recommend cooking on a potable gas stove however you can cook on the wood BBQs and fire rings provided.
Please follow the leave no trace principles while in Purnululu National Park.
Keep your camp litter free
Share wood fire rings and BBQs with other campers
Take all your rubbish with you - there is no rubbish collection or disposal in the park
Respect other campers and keep the noise down between 9pm and 7am
Keep you speed to 10 km/h in camping areas to help keep the dust down
For more leave no trace hints go to
WWW.LNT.org.au/kimberely

Bellburn Campground is a commercial campground with higher level facilities than the public campgrounds. Here you can hire a "safari" style tent, many with their own en-suite including shower. There is also a meals area for guests staying at this campground only. Contact Kimberley Wilderness Adventures (ph +61 8 9192 7022) or East Kimberley Tours (Ph +61 8 9168 2213) or contact your travel agent. If you have booked to stay at Bellburn, please call into the Park Visitor Centre to pay park entry fees and to collect a park map to help you find your way around.

The Visitor Centre for the park provides information about the park and activities available. There is also a shop where you can purchase cool drinks (non-alcoholic)and souvenirs.The visitor centre does not supply any food - you will need to bring all supplies with you. The closest place to purchase supplies is Warmun (Turkey Creek) which is more than three hours away so be prepared - stock up on the essentials.

At the Visitor Centre you can fill out your registration, pay your entry fees and have access to information about the park. There is 24 hour self registration available if you arrive outside the centre opening hours of 8am-12noon and from 1pm-4pm daily from early April until mid October. You can check with the DEC office in Kununurra for opening dates, times and fee information by calling 61 8 9168 4200.

Fees - a once only park entrance fee applies to all vehicles. An additional camping fee applies for overnight stays. Again, contact DEC for current prices.

Located 2.5km from the visitor centre Walanginjdji lookout gives you panoramic 360 degree views of spinifex covered ridges flowing to the majestic cliffs of the western escarpment of the Bungle Bungle Massif and the 500 million year old limestone ridge. At sunset these blaze in brilliant reds and yellows against a backdrop of purple hues from the evening sky.

From the carpark it is an easy 500m return walk to the lookout - about 5 or ten minutes to the top. This is a great place to go for pre-dinner drinks. There are several seats located at the top of the lookout area and a picnic table in the carpark.

There are two public campgrounds in the park. Walardi in the South and this one, Kurrajong in the north. Both offer similar facilities with toilets, bore water and firewood and are equally suited to vehicle based camping with tents or camper trailers. There are also special areas for those with generators or for larger groups. While untreated bore water is available at the campgrounds there are no showers and it is recommended that you boil all water before drinking.

Fires can only be lit in designated fireplaces in campgrounds. Firewood is limited so please use it sparingly and please do not collect wood from the park as it plays an important ecological role in this arid landscape. Remember to extinguish all fires before you leave your campground. Fire bans are in place between 1 April and 15 May and between 15 September and 31 December. There may be extended fire bans in extreme conditions.

We recommend cooking on a potable gas stove however you can cook on the wood BBQs and fire rings provided.
Please follow the leave no trace principles while in Purnululu National Park.
Keep your camp litter free
Share wood fire rings and BBQs with other campers
Take all your rubbish with you - there is no rubbish collection or disposal in the park
Respect other campers and keep the noise down between 9pm and 7am
Keep you speed to 10 km/h in camping areas to help keep the dust down
For more leave no trace hints go to
WWW.LNT.org.au/kimberely

The car park to Mini Palms Gorge is 9km from the Visitor Centre to the north. The walk is a 5km return walk which will take about 3 hours. The walk is easy initially but becomes challenging as steep slopes and large blocks of fallen Rock have to be negotiated. You walk along pebbly dry creek beds which lead to high cliffs undulating over fallen blocks of cliff face before and ascent to the first viewing platform reaching a vortex of rocks and palms. Another ascent leads to the top platform and an awe-inspiring view into a high, narrow amphitheatre - the Mini Palms Gorge. There are toilets and shaded picnic areas at the carpark.

Echidna Chasm is one of the real highlights of the park. Start your walk at the Echidna Chasm carpark which is 19km north of the visitor centre.
The walk is only 2km but allow around 1 hour to take it all in. It is a moderately difficult walk with a short challenging climb near the end. The Gorge is a spectacular long, narrow chasm, which yields striking colour variations depending on the angle of the sun beaming into the chasm, with Livistonia palms waving from the 200m high ridges above. This area is very popular for photography. The geology here is a real treat with amazing conglomerate boulders strewn along the path.

You can walk to this lookout from the Echidna Chasm Carpark where. Its a fantastic view out to the nearby Osmand Range which is dry, wild and rugged. Good at any time of day but spectacular in early morning or late afternoon light.
Back at the Echidna Gorge carpark are shaded picnic areas and toilets.