Goughs on the Go: Bertha’s Back to Blipping Blue Blobs at the Bungle Bungles!

Our GPS tracks where we have been. When we zoom out, we get a wonderful overview of our previous journey so far. We watched our approach to “that awful place” (Lexie’s words) where we had spent so many days broken down with apprehension.

I just wanted to be past it and back on new roads again. We had been following our own blue line for far too long. This day’s drive was sooo different from the previous one though. That was really hot and we were watching the engine temp constantly. Dunc was pulling over because it had been up near high for so long. This day, it was way down near low! There was a lovely cool breeze blowing and Bertha was like a completely different bus. We cruised past the truck bay with ease and headed all the way to the Bungle Bungle caravan park without a worry. There was a great free camp right next door (Spring Creek), but since we were doing a full day trip into Purnululu (The Bungle Bungles) Dunc was happier leaving Bertha in the caravan park.

The next day we were off early, as Purnululu has a VERY rough road in, and, as seems to be the way at most national parks lately, has two separate sides to explore. We faced our first river crossings getting in there, resulting in the funniest conversation in a long while:

Sacha: This looks a little deeper. Want to jump out and check?

Dunc: Nah – doesn’t look deep at all

Dunc: Or.. maybe it is!

The last bit was said as we were halfway across and the water from our bow wave was flowing OVER the bonnet. Gave us all a good laugh, though Dunc was relieved it wasn’t any deeper as Baby Bertha does not have a snorkel and that water was definitely our deepest yet! We had 5 or 6 river crossings and the windiest road in the world. The children and I were feeling rather second rate, and I knew it was bad when even Dunc had to stop for some fresh air!

We chose to tackle the southern side first, knowing that this is where the beautiful rounded mounds known as the bungle bungles are. We combined 2 walks into one, and headed into Cathedral Gorge via the Domes walk.

Thanks to having read the recent blog entries of my friends, I was expecting it to be hot with little shade. I wasn’t expecting the sand! It was like hiking along the beach and being forced to avoid the lovely firm sand and only walk in the soft stuff. I found it a rather hard slog and was happy to get into the gorge, where we were able to walk along the riverbed a bit.

Cathedral Gorge was absolutely stunning and soooo much larger and more awe-inspiring than expected. Well worth the soft sand.

After our somewhat challenging walk, we stopped for lunch – our new favourite crispy chicken wraps. Chicken, honey-soy sauce, cucumber, cherry tomatoes and chang’s chinese noodles. Yum! Much to EVERYONE’S horror, I forgot to pack the noodles. Which made our truly delicious lunch suddenly just ok. There were complaints all ‘round.

It was a good hour or so drive to the other side of the park, which gave Lexie and I time for a little nap on the way… (Oh apparently it was only 45 minutes. I wouldn't know - I was asleep!) The walks on this side were a bit shorter, but also a bit more challenging and exciting. The walk to Echidna Chasm was on large stones rather than sand, and in the words of a man we passed “Every stone is well worth it!”

The approach was stunning, with Livistonian palm trees creating a true paradise. The walls were so close and sooo tall. The signs clearly mentioned that the best bit of the walk is the last stage, where you have to climb 2 ladders. We were a bit confused when we thought we came to the end without any ladders, until we realized that there was a small opening around a tiny corner. Then we reached a section which appeared to be blocked with huge boulders. Another couple ahead of us turned back at that stage, though we pressed on as there had been no ladders as yet! I told the kids they could bloody well climb over the rocks, but in the end there was no need as there were narrow little passages winding around them all.