30th August

What an amazing few days we have had. We left Kununurra on Monday and headed to a place called Warmun or sometimes Turkey Creek. On the way we had a detour to Wyndam, we wanted to see the 5 rivers lookout. When we found the turnoff for the lookout it showed that it was not suitable to take our van up, we noticing that there was a van parked in the car park we debated whether or not to leave ours, the couple belonging to the van returned and reassured us that it was well worth leaving the van and going for a look at the top, and yes it was worth the trip, the views were amongst the best we have seen on our trip and the van was still there when we returned to it.

We found a free camp site just outside of Turkey Creek to park the van. This is a popular spot and you need to get there early as it fills up very fast. As we were only there for 2 nights we did not set everything up.

The next morning we were up early to start our trip out to the Bungle Bungles which are situated in Purnululu National Park. It was a 53km 4WD road through a cattle station before we made it to the visitor center.

Once we had paid our entry fee, studied the map of the area and made our decision on which direction to take first we headed off on yet more 4WD roads another 27km to Cathedral Gorge and Piccaninny Walk and lookout. The lookout was a fairly easy walk along a dry river bed and took around 45mins, when we got to the end the outlook was of flat plains with beehive shaped domes that were stripped with black and red bands of earth layered down over millions of years then as time has gone on erosion has formed these extraordinary formations.

We then headed back down the track to head the other way to Cathedral Gorge, although we have seen a lot of gorges, each one has a uniqueness about it this one being no different. We again made our way up a river bed into a canyon, the sides went straight up and the colours were vibrant and seemed to bounce of the walls. On the way we were lucky enough to spot a couple of local lizards on the track, on was sunning himself on the rocks as we walked by and the other was having a drink at one of the few water holes left in the area. At the end of the walk we were greeted with a huge amphitheatre with an area that looked as though you could have been spending the day at the beach and not in the outback of Australia, there was sand and a waterhole, although at this point I would not swim in it as it looked a little stagnant, but this did not take away the atmosphere of the place. This was a nice spot to have morning tea and relax a little.

It was then back to where we had left the car and head of to the next destination, back up the 27kms and then another 20kms of 4WD, this time it was a chasm that we were going to explore, called Echidna Chasm, this was a 45min walk that starts off on a river bed out in the hot sun, then goes into a cool narrow chasm with walls towering up to 200mts high, this area does not see sunlight for most of the day, the only time it does see it is at around midday and then the walls of the chasm light up with yellows, oranges and reds, it is again amazing. There is a surprise at the end of the chasm, what seems to be the end is not, there are large boulders that seem to be the end but if you look closer and with a little climbing there is a further 100mts to go and it gets narrower as you go in. Above you can see rocks that have fallen and have become jammed in the narrow opening above.

We ended the drive with a quick walk up a small hill to a lookout that gave a great view of the area, it was then time to make the long drive back along the road to our campsite for a well earned rest before going to Fitzroy Crossing, where we will spend a few more days exploring and relaxing.