Purnululu (Bungle Bungle) National Park

210,000 ha, plus 110,000ha in conservation reserve.

The national park was established in 1987 to protect the curious rock formations looking like striped beehives, the flora and fauna, and remains of Aboriginal culture, some of them very old.

The rock domes of the Bungle Bungle hills, shaped like beehives, consist of soft sandstone with a coating of silicates and lichens that produce the stripes, orange or grayish-black in color. The deep gorges and chasms have been carved out by the violent summer monsoon rains of the Kimberley region. Since the sandstone is liable to break away when touched access to the rock formations is restricted to the dry riverbeds and climbing on them is prohibited. The Bungle Bungle hills and surrounding area were for thousands of years the home of Aboriginal tribes, to whom the region was known as Purnululu. The remains of their culture (ceremonial sites, rock paintings, a burial ground) are strictly protected. The Aborigines who still live in the area take part in the management of the national park.

From the parking lot there is an easy walking trail to Cathedral Gorge 2.5 km, 1 hour); the difficult trail continuing to Piccaninny Gorge is 18km long and takes 8-10 hours.

Vehicles may drive only on the marked tracks; the trails into the gorges are for pedestrians only.

From the Three Ways intersection at the entrance to the park there are the following tracks. North to the Kurrajong camping ground (5 km, 15 minutes' drive) and on to the parking lot at the Echidna Chasm (15 km; altogether 1 hour); from parking lot to chasm 1.5km on foot (45 minutes). South to the Bellburn Creek camping ground and ranger station (15 km, 30-45 minutes) and on to Piccaninny parking lot (15 km, 45 minutes), then on foot to Cathedral Gorge and Piccaninny Gorge.

There are sightseeing flights from Halls Creek and Kununurra, usually including a visit to the Argyle diamond mine, 70km north (day trip). Longer tours in all-terrain vehicles are also on offer.