Bungle Bungles walks: a guide to hiking in Purnululu

The Bungle Bungle Range in Purnululu National Park is one of Australia's most extraordinary landscapes. From the air, hundreds of orange-and-black striped domes rise from the plain like giant beehives. On the ground, walking trails lead between the domes, into echoing gorges and up to lookouts over the range. Walking is the best way to appreciate the scale and texture of this World Heritage landscape.

This guide covers the main walks, how to plan your walking days, the best times to walk and how to stay safe in the heat. Distances and times are approximate. Always check current trail information with Parks and Wildlife Service WA before you go. For an overview of the park, see our Purnululu destination guide.

Understanding the park

Purnululu covers a large area in the East Kimberley, south of Kununurra and north of Halls Creek. Access is via the Spring Creek Track, an unsealed 4WD road from the Great Northern Highway. The track crosses creeks and rough sections and takes a few hours to drive. Inside the park, there are two main walking areas:

• The southern area, near Piccaninny Creek, with the famous beehive domes, Cathedral Gorge and the Piccaninny walks.
• The northern area, near Echidna Chasm, with narrow chasms, palm-filled gorges and conglomerate cliffs.

The two areas are about an hour's drive apart, and there is a visitor centre near the park entrance. Campgrounds within the park are the best base if you are self-driving.

Walks in the south (the domes)

The Domes Walk

A short, easy loop among the beehive domes. It is a good introduction and a fine walk for early morning or late afternoon light, when the bands of colour glow.

Cathedral Gorge

The park's signature walk is an easy-to-moderate return walk of about three kilometres along a dry creek bed between the domes into a huge, cave-like amphitheatre. The acoustics are remarkable, and a seasonal pool may lie at its base. Allow a couple of hours with time to stop. Many people combine it with the Domes Walk.

Piccaninny Creek Lookout

A longer return walk along the broad, rocky Piccaninny Creek bed to a lookout into Piccaninny Gorge. The terrain is uneven, with stretches of soft sand and rocky creek beds, and there is little shade. Start early.

Piccaninny Gorge (overnight)

For experienced, self-sufficient hikers, an overnight hike continues deep into Piccaninny Gorge and its side gorges. It involves remote, unmarked terrain and requires registration with park staff. Only attempt it with the right experience, equipment and navigation skills.

Walks in the north (the chasms)

Echidna Chasm

A short but spectacular return walk of about two kilometres along a creek bed into a narrow chasm with walls up to two hundred metres high. In the middle of the day, sunlight briefly reaches the floor, lighting up the red walls. The walk includes some boulders and uneven surfaces.

Mini Palms Gorge

A moderate return walk into a gorge lined with Livistona palms, finishing at a viewing platform. The trail involves scrambling over boulders and through narrow sections, so wear sturdy footwear.

Froghole Gorge

A short walk into a shady gorge, often with a small pool early in the season.

Osmand Lookout

A walk up to a lookout over the northern range and the surrounding plains, especially beautiful in late afternoon light.

Lookouts and sunset spots

• Kungkalanayi Lookout: a short climb near the central part of the park, popular at sunset for views over the range.
• Bungle Bungle Lookout: a viewpoint along the main road with a sweeping outlook over the domes.

How to plan your walking days

If you can, stay at least one night in the park. Day trips by road from Kununurra are very long, and walking in the cool of morning and evening is far more pleasant than at midday. Our posts on a Purnululu day trip from Kununurra and scenic flights versus 4WD compare the options.

When to walk

The park is open only in the dry season. Within the season:

• April and May: greener, with possible water in gorges, but heat can still be high and some areas may not be open.
• June to August: the coolest months and peak season, ideal for longer walks.
• September and October: temperatures rise sharply. Walk at dawn and finish before midday.

Within each day, start at first light. The chasms in the north are best around midday, when sunlight reaches the floor, but the open dome walks are hottest then.

Safety and walking tips

• Carry plenty of water, more than you think you will need, and drink regularly.
• Wear a hat, sun protection and sturdy footwear. Creek beds are rocky and sandy.
• Avoid walking in the heat of the day, especially on the open domes and Piccaninny Creek walks.
• Stay on marked trails and do not climb the domes. The sandstone crust is fragile.
• Tell someone your plans, and register for any overnight hike.
• Carry a first-aid kit and know the signs of heat exhaustion.
• Respect cultural sites. Some areas are culturally significant to Traditional Owners. Follow signs and do not touch rock art.

Getting there without your own 4WD

If you do not have a suitable vehicle, you can:

• Join a 4WD tour from Kununurra or from the Great Northern Highway, ranging from long day tours to multi-day camping trips.
• Take a scenic flight from Kununurra or from Bellburn Airstrip in the park, some with a walking stop at Cathedral Gorge or Echidna Chasm.
• Combine a helicopter flight from within the park with your walking days.

See our tours hub and scenic flights guide for more.

Fit Purnululu into your trip

Purnululu sits well within a week in the East Kimberley. Our East Kimberley road trip itinerary shows how to fit it around Kununurra, Lake Argyle and El Questro, and the East Kimberley travel guide has the wider planning picture.