Purnululu National Park Park

Address: Purnululu National Park, Western Australia (park headquarters and visitor services in Kununurra/Halls Creek)

Website: https://parks.dpaw.wa.gov.au/park/purnululu

Admission: Park entry fees and tour costs vary; guided tours into the park are recommended (vehicle permits required for some areas).

Purnululu National Park in Western Australia protects the Bungle Bungle Range and surrounding Kimberley landscapes. The park is best known for its orange-and-black banded beehive sandstone domes and the network of gorges carved through them.

Key attractions include close walks into Cathedral Gorge and Echidna Chasm, viewpoints over the dome fields and opportunities for scenic flights that show the full extent of the striped domes and rugged terrain. The visual contrast of the orange rock and dark bands is a defining feature and draws photographers and hikers.

The range was formed from ancient sandstone and subsequently eroded into the dome shapes seen today; the park was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its geological and scenic significance. Visitor access is seasonal, with unsealed roads and limited services in the surrounding Kimberley region.

The park lies in the East Kimberley region of Western Australia and is reached by long outback drives or charter flights from regional centres; conditions and access are strongly seasonal, linked to the wet and dry seasons.

• UNESCO and viewing: The park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site renowned for the Bungle Bungle domes; many visitors arrive by scenic flight to appreciate the full patterning of the landscape.
• Access and seasonality: Access is via unsealed roads or small aircraft; much of the park is remote, roads are seasonally closed and 4WD travel or guided tours are recommended.

What to See#

• Bungle Bungle Range: The Bungle Bungle Range, the park’s central beehive-shaped sandstone towers with striking orange and black banding that form the area’s best-known landforms.
• Cathedral Gorge: Cathedral Gorge, a narrow amphitheatre-like ravine within the range known for its high walls and dramatic light effects.
• Echidna Chasm: Echidna Chasm, a deep cleft with towering orange sandstone walls and a popular walking route with shaded gaps in the rock.
• Lookouts and walks: Piccaninny Creek lookout and several short walks that give close views of domes, gorges and the surrounding savannah country.

Access is typically from Kununurra (about 250 km away) via the Great Northern Highway and then the unsealed Spring Creek Track or via charter flights. The park is best visited during the dry season (May-September) when roads are open and tour operators run regular services.

• Book 4WD transfers from Kununurra or Halls Creek well in advance during high season; access tracks are remote and often require permits.
• If visiting Cathedral Gorge or Echidna Chasm, aim for early morning to avoid crowds and to see the light inside narrow gorges.
• Respect cultural restrictions - Purnululu is jointly managed with Traditional Owners and certain areas are closed or require permits for photography.