Bungles July
EXPERIENCES / KIMBERLEY
Bungle Bungles
Overview
While there are many tours which will take you to Purnululu (Bungle Bungles), no other tour will allow you to experience as much of the park in as intimate a fashion as ours.
We hike up Piccaninny Creek and spend nine days exploring the many side gorges, mostly without full packs. These gorges offer a variety of delights — some are palm filled, some are very narrow and require swimming, some have caves which require the use of a torch. There is at least one gorge that allows us to reach a high point. No words can do justice to the beauty of the area. The only way to appreciate it is to come and see it for yourself.
KIMBERLEY
July 7-15 2024
From Kununurra we drive almost 350 kilometres, the last 80 kilometres of which is a 4WD track. The drive takes most of the day but we should arrive with plenty of time to walk to our first camp site.
The first part is especially slow and easy as we stop and explore some of the small southern gorges along the way.
Eventually we reach a base camp about 12–13 kilometres up Piccaninny Gorge, where sheer red cliffs are silhouetted against the clear blue skies of the dry season.
Piccaninny is by far the largest gorge in the Bungles. We spend three or four nights at our base camp, using the days to explore the many fascinating side gorges.
These gorges offer a variety of delights — some are palm filled, some are very narrow and require swimming, some have caves which require the use of a torch. There is at least one gorge that allows us to reach a high point. No words can do justice to the beauty of the area. The only way to appreciate it is to come and see it for yourself.
Cimbing up the domes themselves is not permitted because of their exceptionally fragile nature. We can, however, follow watercourses as far as they will take us ... and that gets us some amazing views.
On the final day, we return to our vehicles and drive back to Kununurra.
Details
DATES
July 7-15
PRICES
Full price: A$3795
GROUP SIZE
4 - 12 guests
CAMP SITES
Mostly on sand, might include rock ledges on some nights.
ART
Minor sites, easily missed.
SWIMMING
Normally fairly good. Depends very much on the just finished wet season. The water tends to be fairly cold at this time of year.
WILDLIFE
Birds are always present but we seldom see large groups. Lizards are plentiful spread out at this time of year. You are unlikely to see many large animals.
CLIMATE
Generally dry, average daytime max 29ºC (84ºF), average night minimum 12ºC (54ºF), but can get below 5ºC (41ºF) on occasion. These are averages. We once had a heat wave with a couple of 35ºC days in July. It has gone as low as 1ºC (34ºF). Rain is extremely unlikely, but not unknown.
COOKING
The Bungles is a stove only area. We will provide hot water at breakfast as well as at dinner.
WALK RATING - HARD
Terrain
With packs
- flat, minimal rock hopping, some ledging, some soft sand. The walk up the Piccaninny Gorge, mainly over pebbles and sand can be quite tiring for many people.
Going beyond our first base camp, done with full packs on some trips, requires some clambering over large rocks and includes edging along at least one narrow ledge.
Daywalks without packs
- most of the day walks involve clambering over large rocks. Some include steep climbs. Some people find this very difficult, even without full packs.
Vegetation
With packs
- minimal vegetation.
Without packs
- some walks include dense sections of sharp and/or sticky spinifex, gaiters essential, long trousers recommended.
Distance
4-6 hours per day
Pack Weight
You carry food for eight days. There will be a number of day walks where you do not need to carry your full pack.
Itinerary
*This itinerary is subject to change
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