Planning to visit Purnululu National Park? Here’s what you need to know before you go.
Wow. There’s pretty much no other way to sum up Purnululu National Park. Located in Western Australia, this stunning natural wonder is home to the iconic Bungle Bungle Range – a series of beehive-shaped rock formations that have been carved over millions of years.
Purnululu’s history stretches back over 350 million years, making it home to some of the oldest rock formations on Earth.
This area has been known to local First Nations peoples for millennia, and was only “discovered” by outsiders in the early 1980s when a film crew flew over the region. The documentary they made led to the area being made a national park, before it was later recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
This remoteness means Purnululu is hard to get to – but that just means fewer crowds. While you’ll still need to book a camp site in advance, you won’t be elbow-to-elbow with other tourists – unlike some other popular national parks in WA.
To help you plan your trip to this must-visit national park, here’s everything you need to know about visiting Purnululu National Park.
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How to get to Purnululu National Park
Getting to Purnululu National Park isn’t a walk in the park (pun intended). The nearest town is Kununurra, about 300 kilometres away, which will take you just under three hours by car. The Great Northern Highway is sealed, but when you turn off the highway to begin the drive into the national park is where the fun begins.
The next major town is Broome, which is an 800km drive to the Purnululu National Park entrance. Purnululu is a great side trip if you’re taking a Darwin to Broome road trip.
It took us almost three hours to drive the 50km from the national park entrance to the Purnululu Visitor Centre. Yes, three hours. We were slowed down by the potholed and corrugated dirt road, as well as for a few water crossings. You’ll need a high-clearance 4WD for this track.
The closest airport is in Kununurra, with direct connections to Perth, Darwin and Broome. Check Skyscanner for the latest flight schedules and airfares.
If driving to the national park doesn’t appeal to you, there are also scenic flights over the Bungle Bungles from Kununurra and Broome. Some – like this tour from Kununurra – even include a touchdown in Purnululu so you can have a walk around to see the highlights before being whisked back by air. This tour from Broome includes a scenic flight and short hike at Purnululu with an Indigenous guide.
However you get there, this park is worthy of being on your Australia bucket list.
How many days do I need at Purnululu?
You’ll want to spend at least two nights at Purnululu National Park to truly appreciate its rugged beauty. This is one of the most spectacular places to visit in the Kimberley region.
With the rough road into the park and the travel time required just to get there, spending only one night would feel too rushed. Two nights allows you to explore some of the park’s iconic attractions such as the Bungle Bungles, Echidna Chasm, and Cathedral Gorge at a more relaxed pace.
Plus, the serene nights under the outback sky are something you don’t want to miss.
However, if your schedule allows, I highly recommend staying for three or more nights. This extra day gives you the flexibility to wander further and take on more challenging hikes.
Tips for visiting the Bungle Bungles
Road conditions
Only single-axle vehicles are allowed in the park due to the rough road conditions. If you’re towing a dual-axle caravan, you can leave it in the area on the other side of the Great Northern Highway, opposite the turn-off into the park – you’ll see all the other caravans parked there.
Lower your tyre pressure when driving the road into and around the national park.
WA Park Pass
All visitors must have a WA Park Pass, which you can buy online. You’ll need to show this when you check in to your campsite.
Phone coverage
There’s no phone coverage inside the national park – for Telstra at least. We met some other campers who had Optus and their service was fine.
Stock up before you go
Buy all the food, water and supplies you need in Kununurra. There’s a shop in the visitor centre with coffee, ice creams, drinks and snacks, and souvenirs, but not much beyond that.
Fill up
You’ll do a lot of driving to and then inside the national park, so make sure you fill up before you enter and that you’ve also got a full jerry can or two. There are no petrol stations once you’re inside the park. If you’re coming from Kununurra, the nearest petrol station is in the town of Warmun. Coming from the west, stop in at the service station in Halls Creek to fill up.
Best time to visit
Purnululu National Park is only open during the dry season, from April to October. Check online, however, before you make your plans, as the wet season can sometimes delay opening of the park.
Try to do your hikes in the early morning or later in the afternoon to avoid the heat of the middle of the day.
Things to do in Purnululu National Park
Purnululu has two major sections – and they’re both so different. I recommend spending a day in each of the Northern and Southern sections. This is so you can experience everything, but it also means you’re making the driving more efficient – to drive between two parts of the park takes around an hour.
Short on time? Take a scenic flight to Purnululu from Kununurra or Broome for spectacular views over the park.
Southern section – Purnululu National Park / Bungle Bungles
The southern section of the park is where you’ll find the incredible Bungle Bungle Range. These iconic beehive domes are a must-see. There are several walking trails that offer different perspectives of the range.
Domes Walk
This is the most popular trail and allows you to get up close to the domes – so close you can see the sediment layers and where parts are weathering. It’s a 700-metre loop that should take around half an hour to complete. It’s a fairly flat trail.
Cathedral Gorge Walk
This walk takes you through narrow gorges with towering rock walls, eventually leading you to the impressive Cathedral Gorge. It’s a 2-kilometre return trip and there are a few steps and a ladder to tackle along the way.
The acoustics here are amazing! You’ll usually be accompanied by a few people singing or shouting to get the echo effect. Take a seat and marvel at the cavernous structure.
Piccaninny Creek Lookout
For a bird’s eye view of the Bungle Bungle Range, head to the Piccaninny Creek Lookout. The trail leading to the lookout is a 2.8km return hike. It takes you through the beehive domes and then the lookout opens to views over the domes.
This trail is pretty rough and uneven, with lots of eroded spots, so watch your step! There’s also no shade along the way, so take a hat.
The Window
Continuing on after the Piccaninny Creek Lookout, the next stop (2.2km further along) is The Window, a natural “window” that has been formed out of the sandstone.
Whip Snake Gorge
If you’re up for a longer hike, consider the 7km return trip to Whip Snake Gorge. This trail takes you through stunning landscapes and ends at a beautiful waterfall surrounded by tall cliffs. It’s a challenging hike but worth it for the breathtaking views. The trail continues on from the Piccaninny Creek Lookout and The Window.
What’s most challenging about the hike is that there’s no marked trail. We found ourselves scrambling across boulders, jumping over crevasses and slicing our way through waist-high grasses, all while heading in what we thought was the right direction (and hoping there were no snakes!).
There was a swimming hole but we didn’t jump in, despite how tempting it was in the heat of the day. The trail is also mostly exposed – but the gorge itself is beautiful and shaded.
Another highlight of this trail? It’s really quiet once you get past the Piccaninny Gorge Lookout. We saw only a few other people while we were hiking, and we ate lunch in the peace of the gorge with only two other couples.
Piccaninny Gorge Trek
The Whip Snake Gorge trail leads on to another more challenging and remote hike: the Piccaninny Gorge Trek.
This 20km return hike goes through some of the most dramatic and rugged landscapes in Purnululu National Park. You’ll navigate through narrow gorges, over rocky terrain, and past towering cliffs – but it takes a minimum of two days to complete.
It’s an overnight hike so you’ll need to come prepared with food, shelter and plenty of water, as well as a personal locator beacon. There’s no facilities or directional signage, so you’ll need to be an experienced hiker to tackle this trek.
We didn’t attempt this one!
Sunset spots
You also can’t miss the stunning sunset spots in the south end of the park, where you can watch the Bungle Bungles change colour as the sun slips below the horizon. The best sunset spots in the Southern section are at the Piccaninny Creek Lookout (as mentioned above) as well as from a few of the roads near the Walardi campground.
Just be warned that you won’t be alone at any of the roadside sunset lookouts – tour buses of Champagne-sipping tourists roar up and offload their passengers!
Northern section – Purnululu National Park / Bungle Bungles
The northern section of Purnululu National Park offers a completely different landscape. Here, you’ll find the Kungkalanayi Lookout with its sweeping views of the surrounding ranges, as well as several scenic drives and walks.
The roads through this section are also far smoother than in the south.
Echidna Chasm Walk
This hike starts in the dry creek bed, which is a bit rough to walk in because it’s so sandy. But keep persisting, because when you reach Echidna Chasm it truly is incredible.
The sheer walls of the chasm reach up to 200 metres high and they “glow” when the sun is overhead, usually between 11am and 1pm, depending on the time of year.
The gorge becomes narrower the further you go in, and there were people climbing up boulders and squeezing through tiny gaps once they passed through the main chasm.
The round-trip is 2km and takes around an hour to complete.
Mini Palms Walk
This walk (4.4km round-trip) ends at a lush palm-filled gorge. It’s a lovely contrast to the stark landscapes of the park.
It begins in a dry creek bed (similar to the Echidna Chasm trail but for longer) that we trudged our way through, and then we had to squeeze through narrow openings, climb over huge rocks and duck under boulders.
The end of the trail is a wooden platform that overlooks the palm trees and the huge gorge walls. It was so peaceful when we were here, with only three other people arriving after us.
Kungkalanayi Lookout
This lookout offers breathtaking views of the surrounding ranges and valleys. It’s a great spot to take in the sunset or sunrise, or simply admire the vastness of this incredible landscape. It can get pretty windy up here, so hold on to your hat!
We also got lucky and had a bit of mobile reception up at the top, which we didn’t have anywhere else in the national park.
Stonehenge
A super easy walk, this loop trail is 500 metres long and winds through a series of informative signs about different plants and trees and their traditional uses. It’s mostly shaded and a great walk if you’ve got little ones.
Where to stay in Purnululu National Park
There are a few different options for accommodation in Purnululu National Park. Your best bet is to camp at one of the two Bungle Bungles campgrounds: Walardi or Kurrajong.
- Walardi Campground: Located in the Southern section of the park, the campground has simple drop toilets and water taps (boil the water first!). You can’t book a specific site, but if you arrive early enough you can have the pick of the crop. The campground has camp hosts who are incredibly knowledgeable about the park. We chose this campground because it’s smaller, with only 37 campsites.
- Kurrajong Campground: Closest to the visitor centre, this is also larger, with 100 sites. Similar to Walardi, there are only pit toilets. Some sites allow generator use.
- Book either campsite online here.
Not camping? The privately-run Bungle Bungle Wilderness Lodge and Bungle Bungle Savannah Lodge have glamping tents and cabins.
The Violet Valley Campground is the closest campground outside of the national park. A Camping with Custodians site (Aboriginal-owned and operated), is 36km from the national park entrance. It’s got hot showers, flushing toilets and barbecue facilities.
Unfortunately, the Bungle Bungle Caravan Park (at the entrance to the park) is no longer open – but it may reopen in the future.
What to pack for Purnululu
Here’s what to bring with you on your trip to Purnululu National Park:
- Plenty of fuel – don’t forget that just driving around the park from the northern and southern sections and to your campsite equals around 200km or so, so make sure you have enough fuel to cover all that driving
- Lightweight, breathable clothing – it’s hot, but you’ll need long-sleeved tops for sun protection
- Sturdy hiking boots
- Wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses, SPF50 (at least) sunscreen
- Spare tyre and tyre repair kit
- Tyre pressure kit
- Plenty of water (at least 3 litres per person, per day)
- All your food and cooking equipment
- First aid kit
Wrap up: Visiting the Bungle Bungles – Purnululu National Park
Purnululu National Park is an incredible spot that feels so far away from real life. It’s so peaceful and humbling being surrounded by a landscape that is hundreds of millions of years old.
While the Bungle Bungles are a bit tricky to get to, the trip is definitely worth it. Just come prepared and you’ll have an amazing experience.
Purnululu National Park: FAQs
What’s the best time of year to visit Purnululu National Park?
The best time to visit Purnululu National Park is during the cooler, dry season from April/May to October. This is when temperatures are more comfortable for hiking and camping and there is less chance of rain. It’s also when the park is open – it’s closed for the remaining months of the year.
Do I need a 4WD to access Purnululu National Park?
Yes, you’ll need a high-clearance 4WD vehicle to access the park. The roads leading into the park are rough and unsealed, with water crossings and a lot of corrugations and erosion.
Is there an entrance fee for Purnululu National Park?
Yes, there is an entry fee for Purnululu National Park. The entry fee is $17 per vehicle, but if you’re planning to visit a few national parks in WA, then I recommend getting a WA Parks Pass.
Can I visit Purnululu National Park with children?
We saw plenty of families during our time in Purnululu National Park. However, the park is remote, so make sure your kids are well-prepared for a rugged, remote outback adventure!
Can I access internet or mobile phone coverage in the park?
No, there’s no internet or mobile phone coverage in Purnululu National Park – but people with Optus service seemed to have some service. This is part of the park’s charm, though – disconnecting from technology and fully immersing yourself in nature. There’s a public telephone available at the Ranger Station for emergency use.
Do I need to book accommodation in advance?
Yes, you need to book accommodation in advance. There are only two campsites and they fill up pretty quickly, so book as soon as you have an idea of when you’re planning to visit.
Are pets allowed in Purnululu National Park?
No, pets aren’t allowed in Purnululu National Park.
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Is Purnululu National Park on your bucket list??
Related posts
Before you go… you might like these Australia travel guides:
- The ultimate Australia bucket list
- The best things to do in Kununurra
- Ultimate Darwin to Broome road trip itinerary – no 4WD needed!
- Unforgettable things to do in the Kimberley
- How to plan a half lap of Australia
- An epic Adelaide to Darwin road trip itinerary
- 10-day Northern Territory road trip
AUSTRALIA TRIP ESSENTIALS
- Book your flight to Australia online with Skyscanner. I like this site because it shows me which dates are cheaper.
- Find a great hotel in Australia. Check prices on Booking.com and Expedia online.
- Check out the huge range of day tours throughout Australia on GetYourGuide or Viator. There’s something for everyone.
- A copy of the Lonely Planet guide to Australia will be handy.
- One thing I always purchase is travel insurance! Travel Insurance Master allows you to compare across multiple policy providers, while SafetyWing is great for long-term travellers and digital nomads.
- Pack sunscreen (look for SPF50 or higher), a hat and sunglasses because the sun is hot!
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