Purnululu National Park (Bungle Bungle)

Purnululu National Park, located in Western Australia's Kimberley region, is renowned for its striking beehive-shaped sandstone formations known as the Bungle Bungle Range. These formations, some reaching over 250 meters in height, were formed approximately 360 million years ago and have been sculpted by natural forces over millions of years. The park covers an area of 239,723 hectares and was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2003 for its exceptional natural beauty and scientific importance. Visitors can explore various hiking trails, including the 700-meter return 'The Domes' walk, which offers close-up views of the beehive domes, and the 2-kilometer return 'Cathedral Gorge' walk, leading to a natural amphitheater with a permanent pool. The park also features the Purnululu Visitor Centre, which provides interactive exhibits and virtual reality tours of attractions like Cathedral Gorge and Echidna Chasm. Access to the park is via a 53-kilometer unsealed track from the Great Northern Highway, requiring high-clearance four-wheel-drive vehicles. The park is open from April to November, with facilities including two campgrounds—Walardi and Kurrajong—both offering unpowered campsites. Visitors are advised to plan their visit carefully, carry sufficient water and supplies, and be prepared for extreme temperatures, as daily temperatures can exceed 40°C, with radiant heat from the surrounding rocks increasing the temperature to over 50°C. Drones are not permitted within the park.