Wednesday, July 4, 2012

Echidna Chasm Walk

 At entrance to Echidna Chasm, Bungle Bungles NP

There are two sections to Purnululu National Park – one section with the Cathedral Gorge and The Domes and the second section which is quite different and is the Bungle Bungle ranges.  The whole area is world heritage listed for two main features being the area’s incredible natural beauty and its geological value.  There are more than 600 plant species and I really liked one of the trees in particular.  The red flower was just so pretty and the trees were everywhere.  We saw a number of birds but no other wildlife although there are many bird varieties and also reptiles and frog species in the area.  The visitors centre notice said that there was a known small skink in the park which is so rare it has never been photographed.  We didn’t know what we were looking for so we certainly didn’t find it.
Track into Echidna Chasm, Bungle Bungles NP

After completing the Cathedral and Dome walks we  (please note the picture of the wee is above)decided it was still early in the day that we would travel back to the centre and then go the opposite direction and complete the Echidna Chasm Walk.  This was a trip of about forty kilometres, a few water crossings and gravel road.  There were a lot of the large four wheel drive tourist buses on the roads and they sure caused a lot of dust.  Once at the Echidna car park we stopped and had our lunch and then headed off.  This was again a moderate three kilometre walk each way with a “challenging short climb near the end”.   Sounded interesting!
 Bungle Bungle Range

The start of the walk was in the dry river bed and this continued for about two kilometres and it wasn’t the easiest walking amongst the stones.  The surroundings were great though, with the ranges on both sides of us.  Interesting were the many palm trees growing.  Finally we reached the entrance to the chasm and it was good to walk on much smaller pebbles and not feeling as though we were in the middle of the river and having to balance on big and small rocks. 
 Palms on track to Echidna Chasm, Bungle Bungles NP
 Echidna Chasm info
 Walking towards Echidna Chasm, Bungle Bungles NP


Bowerbird info, Bungle Bungles NP


 Bungle Bungles Range
 Palms on track to Echidna Chasm, Bungle Bungles NP

 Peter's lovely feet on way into Echidna Chasm

1 comment:

  1. Tell Pete to breathe - he looks sostern trying to hold it all in

    ReplyDelete