Friday, 29 July 2011

Bungle Bungle

The Bungle Bungle or the "Purnululu National park” to give it it’s correct name is a most amazing sight.

Where the name Bungle Bungle comes from is not clear. The Kija Aboriginal people, who have lived here for over 20,000 years, called the area “Purnululu, the Kija word for sandstone.”

Bungle Bungle may be a mangled version of that name, or maybe it stems from the name of the bundle bundle grass that grows in the region. (Not that that name makes any more sense...)

The name Bungle Bungle was first given to a nearby station in 1930. And in 1983, when the Department of Lands And Surveys had to call the range something, they named it after the station.

I chose to take an organised day bus trip out to Purnululu from Mabel Down Station camp site where I resided for 3 nights. These are large all wheel drive busses designed for this rough terrain, I would not have been able to do it in my camper van.

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After a couple of hours rough driving we eventually get there.

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This is a common sight in the area, these little critters are everywhere it is normal to have to share the showers with them.

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The sandstone formation of the Bungle Bungle ranges is estimated to be 350 million years old.

The range was formed during the Devonian period. But the Bungle Bungle range isn't part of a reef. It is the sediment of an old river bed. The sediment was laid down in layers, compressed into sandstone and eventually lifted up to form a mountain range.

Originally it was all one big block, with joints and weak areas as a result of the movement. Weathering caused more cracks and the edges wore away in the millions of years of torrential wet season rains, winds, combined with alternating winter freezes and 50 plus degree heat in summer.

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The Domes Walk is connected to the Cathedral Gorge Walk. It's like a detour or a couple of side tracks. I walked through these tracks to get to Cathedral Gorge.

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Piccaninny Creek Walk

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This is a river bed dry at present, the erosion produced by water is very visible on the rock bed.

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Very ambitious termites living on the top of this mound, they must have a wonderful view from up there. Pity they are blind!

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Cathedral Gorge is a huge natural amphitheatre. The rock ledges on the left invite you to sit down, and watch, and observe...

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Erosion would continue at a much more rapid pace if it wasn't for the easily damaged cyanobacteria coat. This is a very fragile environment, hence you are not allowed to do any climbing. In fact, there are only a few hikes through the range and you are not allowed to leave the paths.

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Another long bus trip out to Echidna Chasm which is on the other side of the park, To get to the chasm we had to walk through an area called Mini Palms Gorge.

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Entering Echidna Chasm.

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Every now and then you have to climb over boulders blocking the way, or duck under some that didn't quite make it to the floor and are stuck above you, where you hope they'll stay until you're gone...

In the end you find yourself in a gap that's less than a metre wide, with walls so tall that it's nearly completely dark at the bottom.

Pictures not too good as light very poor and fastest sensor speed.

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The Chasm walls are all conglomerate rock.

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Back through the palms to the bus.

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Another long journey home to Mabel Down, a very long day and we all relaxed with a barbeque (included as part of the trip) and a few beers.

I got back to my van late and as I had not been able to get any power for 3 days the battery had discharged, so no lights and the contents of the fridge ruined but it was well worth it.

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