Bungle Bungled

As soon as we were back in WA the maximum speed limit dropped to 110kmph (130kmph in Northern Territory) and immediately after that speed limit sign there was another sign – informing us that this section of road is an accident 'black spot'. Are we the only ones to read something into that? Maybe the road surface is not as good?

We drove into Kununurra town centre, parked in the hotel car park and phoned a couple of caravan parks. The Town Caravan Park was right next to the hotel where we were parked, which would be really handy to walk into town but would potentially be really noisy as it was so close to the pub.

The next one I rang was actually $3 p.n. cheaper, was on the edge of a small lake and supposedly only a 10 minute walk from town. We decided to check out the second one and were delighted with it's appearance and the fact that it was a Top Tourist Parks member. (We have joined this group and get 10% discount on rates).

We booked in for 2 nights with an option of a 3^rd. We checked through the various options for trips out to the Bungle Bungles and chose one. Unfortunately we couldn't go until Monday – today is Wednesday – so we had to extend our stay by 4 nights not just 1. This took us into the “Peak Season”, which starts regardless of the weather, on May 1^st, and cost us an extra $10 p.n.

The next day we endured the heat and walked into town, did a little shopping and walked back. Phew! It was very hot, very sticky and we were very sweaty.

I also booked the next big treat of the trip – a flight over and then a boat through the Horizontal Falls, north of Derby. To tie in with a high tide we're booked for a week on Monday.

After that we won't have any events on the timetable and can slowly meander our way down the coast to home.

That afternoon we walked down to the water's edge and there was the caravan park's regular visitor – Dolores – a freshwater crocodile.

The next day we went out in the van for a little drive around town, and to do some more shopping.

We drove up to the lookout on Kelly's Knob. A short drive and then a short climb up over rocks and we enjoyed lovely views over town and some of the Ord Irrigation Scheme.

The next couple of days we relaxed and then Monday morning arrived.

We were picked up outside the front of the caravan park and driven to the airport. There we met our fellow day trippers, were weighed and then escorted out to the plane. The group of 13 was divided into two planes, so we had plenty of room and everyone got a window seat.

The flight to the Bungle Bungles was fantastic. Great views over the Ord River,

Lake Argyle, Lissadell station and Texas Downs station,

 and then they appeared – the Beehive Domes of the Bungle Bungles. 

We got some long, lovely views and then landed.

We were met by our land guide, Bruce, and boarded the bus which took us around the park, stopping to show lots of interesting trees, birds and views. 

Then we reached the car park where we were given our lunch packs and started our walk to Cathedral Gorge.

This walk was listed as 3.6kms, but it felt much, much longer, and it was b****y hot!

(Remember weeks ago, we stopped in the little town of Gladstone, in the southern Flinders. In the Op shop there we bought a back pack - Elmo, and he's come in very useful.)

Our guide showed us a variety of native vegetation some to eat and some that could be used for flavouring. He also stopped and showed us the spot where that famous “still call Australia home” advertisement for Qantas was filmed. He was there when they filmed, it was filmed in April so was extremely hot, apparently all of the equipment was carried in, and the children got very fractious - it was an ordeal for all involved. Who would have thought that – they all look so well behaved and angelic.

It was also in this gorge that our guide finding a scrap of rubber, pointed out that one of the major 'accidents' that occurs on these walks is that the rubber sole of trainers disintegrates and separates, leaving the wearer with burning feet on the hot rocks.He used to bandage around the outside of the shoe to hold the sole in place, but now he uses duct tape!!

 We both wondered about that particular scrap of rubber – he didn't pick it up, just left it where it was, so…. Was it a prop or did he actually drop it there before we all joined him?

The other 'incidents' on these walks usually involve dehydration and exhaustion!!

We trudged on towards the Cathedral Gorge. We had to climb around a small rock pool where the smell was particularly pungent - “Cane Toads”. Yes they've reached the Bungle Bungles. I was aghast at how many there were, some desiccated, some recently squashed and some hopping around – ugh. They have apparently settled in, defying all attempts to get rid of them, having a detrimental effect on local snakes and lizards. The Tanami Desert is holding them back from spreading further south.

Finally we reached the Cathedral Gorge – it was a beautiful, cool rock pool with towering rocks all around. We all found ourselves a large rock to sit on and enjoyed a small salad lunch. (Personally a bread roll would have been more welcome – after drinking loads of water a small ham salad with lots of lettuce, an orange juice and an orange was NOT what we needed – carbohydrate was what we both needed, something with bulk and substance!)

A couple of people waded into the rock pool, we contented ourselves with wetting small towels and putting these on our heads to cool off. Then it was time to trudge on – a direct route this time, back to the car park and the bus. This last walk was done quite a bit faster than the inward trek and we were soon grateful to be back in the air conditioning.

There are always images in the rock formations, where ever you are in the world - here in the Bungle Bungles they see elephants! 

A couple of brave souls were taking a helicopter ride over the Bungles so the rest of us were taken to the base camp kitchen where we were were told that the girls were preparing afternoon tea for us – well, yes they had filled the urn and cut up some watermelon and fruit cake, but fresh scones were nowhere to be seen – aaah!

Then time to fly back to Kununurra, as we were no longer carrying all those lunch packages we were all able to fly on the one plane (we were all probably a few kgs lighter too). The pilot started to say that she needed either Alan, Michael or…… that was as far as she got, Michael quickly said “I'll do it”. We both knew that it was for someone to sit up front next to her, and as the saying goes, 'First in, best dressed'. He was soon up in the seat, grinning away.

We flew along the southern edge of the Bungle Bungles and got a different perspective of the park.

 We then flew up over the Argyle Diamond Mine. All the mining activity is now underground so not a lot to see, certainly nothing twinkling on the ground.

Then we were back over the stations, Lake Argyle, the Ord Irrigation crops and landing in Kununurra as the sun set.