We woke very early to get breakfast over and done with and on the road for the 2HR drive into the Bungles. Another small disaster – the fridge was off when we woke and upon investigation we had run out of gas again. We should have changed it over in Kununurra as we went through! I purchased a gas fuse in Alice so we would not have this problem! We decided to put everything in the Waeco and set a compromise temperature rather than a 240KM detour to Halls Creek to change over the bottle and then the drive into the Bungles.

We have been told many times the road is pretty ordinary into the Bungles. The first 10KM was pretty bad in places and we crawled along in 1st or 2nd gear for most of it. After an hour we had only gone barely half way. The last two thirds of the road were OK (as roads go around here). We reached the visitors centre in 1.75 hours. Sharon said she could not feel her feet as they had vibrated off!

Typical Bungles domes

Registered for our campsites and we were on our way along another gravel road for another 25KM to get to the southern end of the Bungles walks. The Bungles is basically split into southern and northern walks and camp grounds as well with the visitors information centre in the middle. After all the traveling and mucking around we hit the trail at 9:45 heading for Whip Snake Gorge the furthest point we will walk to today (about 5KM one way). It was already hot when we started but as we walked the temperature just kept getting hotter. We should have in retrospect camped the first night in here and started the walk much earlier but we had little choice today.

Piccaninny creek eroded rocky section

We followed Piccaninny creek bed for all but the last 1.6KM where we turned off and headed into the gorge. The bungles certainly are impressive to look at. The gorge was supposed to have a permanent small water hole and it was, small and ganky. The amphitheatre at the end was quite impressive but the hot walk had drained our energies. You have to walk a lot slower up here and make sure you keep yourself hydrated and seek shade at every opportunity. We sat and had lunch while a bird of prey toyed with some crows who went and hid on a ledge to get away like little sacredy cats.

Whip Snake Gorge

Whip Snake Gorge

Eventually we left the gorge and headed out into the now blazing sun back tracking towards the Window, a feature in the rock like a window. Sharon was not feeling too good when we reached here so we sat in the shade for a bit and pumped a bit more water into us. After a rest we walked out and passed Piccaninny Creek Lookout. Sharon went and sat in the shade while I popped in for a look. It was a nice view but that’s all, maybe at sunset or sunrise it would have some character?

The Window

Another 800M down the creek bed we hit the turn off to Cathedral Gorge with a 500M walk in with the last third in shade so that bit was very pleasant. Cathedral Gorge was the highlight of the day really and if you are pushed for time don’t bother with the others. The amphitheatre was super impressive. It is so big I could not get it all in one shot even with my wide angle 10MM lens on. A small pool of water in the centre of the beach and massive cliffs towering above you in all but one direction. You can see where the waterfalls come down in two places during the wet season. We chilled here for quite a while.

Cathedral Gorge, looking in

Cathedral Gorge, looking out

Eventually we ventured out into the still blazing sun to walk the final couple of KM back through the Domes Walk and back to the car park to get the air conditioner on full blast to get the core temperature down a bit. It was 14:45 when we got back to the car and we quickly headed to the Walardi campsite No.2 and had a wash and settled in for tonight. Tomorrow we will do the northern end of the park and we will be able to walk at much more sensible times. Tomorrow has Echidna Chasm what I have been waiting to see.

Campsite