TRAVEL WITH CHRIS BROWN

Transcription

1 TRAVEL WITH CHRIS BROWN THE KIMBERLEY: BUNGLE BUNGLES & MITCHELL FALLS Where can you really get away from it all without missing out on life s little luxuries? Chris finds out this week as he heads to one of the world s last untouched wilderness areas The Kimberly region of Western Australia. Staying in an upscale wilderness lodge, he finds himself footsteps from the Bungle Bungle ranges in the Purnululu National, walking amongst its gobsmacking 350 million year old red and black, beehive shaped, sandstone towers. The 450 square kilometre area is so remote that was known only to local Aborigines until the 1980s. And just as jaw dropping is the magnificent Mitchell Falls. On foot and by air, Chris explores the stunning four tiered falls, set among a striking red rock escarpment. It s a sight he ll never forget and one you should add to your travel bucket list.

2 ABOUT THE KIMBERLEY Located on the northern- most part of Western Australia and covering some 421,451 square kilometres (approximately 261,000 miles), The Kimberly is an area three times the size of England and three- fifths the size of Texas. It s home to only 40,000 people, meaning that there are fewer people per kilometre than almost any other place on the planet. The Kimberley is remote and rugged, with wide horizons, ancient gorges, rock pools and pristine beaches. australia.com/ ABOUT THE BUNGLE BUNGLES One of Western Australia's greatest natural wonders is Purnululu national park, more commonly (and charmingly) referred to as the Bungle Bungles. The Aboriginal people are believed to have settled the area for more than 20,000 years The Bungle Bungles are beautifully remote, located 110km north of Halls Creek and 250km south of Kununurra. But a journey here is well worth the effort after all, nowhere else on earth will you find a landscape quite like this. Bulbous rock formations of orange and black stripes reach as far as the eye can see, forming a landscape of natural waves reminiscent of a rucked- up rug. Between them, you will find an awe- inspiring landscape of gorges, canyons and chasms, which beg to be explored on foot, and there are trails of all lengths running through the park. If you don't fancy the rugged drive by 4x4 to get here, you can also take in this unique landscape from Kununurra either by fixed- wing aircraft or by helicopter a truly scenic flight you won't forget in a hurry. western- australia/wonders- of- western- australia- the- kimberley

3 Echidna Chasm: A narrow gorge at the Northern end of the Bungle Bungles, formed by millions of years of water rushing along and through a joint in the sandstone and conglomerate rocks, eroding away enough rock to form the chasm. During the middle of the day when the sun comes overhead, sunlight streams down the walls of the chasm, causing them to glow a beautiful orange colour. APT Kimberley Wilderness Adventures - Echidna Chasm Estimated Duration: 60 mins return trip Length: 2kms Description of Terrain: The walk goes into the Chasm and is fairly narrow in places. There are loose stones and rocks in the creek bed near the beginning of the walk. There are also some boulders that block the chasm and require negotiating. Ladders assist in some places. In others, passengers will need to scramble across themselves. Difficulty: Medium/Hard Cathedral Gorge / Picaninny Creek: Cathedral Gorge is an astonishing natural amphitheatre of red rock located within the Bungle Bungle Ranges in Purnululu National Park. The unusual beehive, striped formations and deep gorges make it one of the most fascinating geological landmarks and one of two World Heritage sites in Western Australia. Water pounding through there in the wet season has created a huge amphitheatre of red rock with a pool of water in the middle. The acoustics are so good that music has been played within the gorge.

4 APT WILDERNESS LODGE Bungle Bungle Wilderness Lodge (Purnululu) Exclusive to APT passengers and guests, the award- winning Bungle Bungle Wilderness Lodge offers accommodation within World Heritage Listed Purnululu (Bungle Bungle) National Park. Our exclusive Wilderness Lodge offers unparalleled accommodation in the wilderness. The lodge features tented cabins with private en suites, flush toilet, hot showers, comfortable beds with crisp linen, pillows, doona and lighting. The Wilderness Lodge s unique restaurant features a retractable canvas roof for the truly unforgettable experience of dining under the stars. To further enhance your outback experience, the lodge also offers a range of activities including star gazing under the Kimberley night sky through our telescope, bird watching and an interpretative nature walk. FOR BOOKINGS: info@aptouring.com.au Freecall

5 THE MITCHELL FALLS The Mitchell Plateau area is a completely unique biological entity. This region of the Kimberley has some of the most spectacular waterfalls, scenery and rock art galleries in Australia, including; The King Edward River rock art Galleries, Walsh Point, Port Warrender, and Admiralty Gulf Lookout, Surveyor s Pool, Mitchell Falls, King Edward River, Little Mertens Falls & Big Merten's Falls. Ngauwudu is the name Wunambal Aboriginal people give to the Mitchell Plateau area in the far north Kimberley. At Punamii- unpuu, the Mitchell River and its tributaries have carved spectacular gorges and waterfalls into the sandstone bordering the laterite- capped plateau. Accessibility: The Plateau is accessible via the Kalumburu road, which connects with the Gibb River Road. The turn- off for the Kulumburu road is located 411km from Derby or 294km from Kununurra, along the Gibb River Road. If you can't make the drive up The Plateau, you can do a scenic flight over the Mitchell Falls from Drysdale Station, or Kununurra. Aboriginal sites: are of special significance to Aboriginal people and important to the cultural heritage of all Australians. They are also protected by law. Please do not touch paintings or engravings and do not disturb or remove artefacts.

6 APT WILDERNESS LODGE Mitchell Falls Wilderness Camp: Situated close to the Mitchell Falls and beside a waterhole on Camp Creek, Mitchells Wilderness Camp is perfect for exploring one of the Kimberley's most amazing attractions. Mitchell Falls boasts minimal environmental impact - giving guests the unique opportunity to be surrounded by untouched habitat. Stroll through the Livistona palms and eucalyptus trees, or cool off in the camp waterhole. From the camp it's a 20km drive to the thunderous Mitchell Falls, a three- tiered waterfall cascading over the plateau's edge and into the Mitchell River. The only permanent, ensuited accommodation on the plateau available to self drivers. The Wunambal people welcome you to explore Ngauwudu (Mitchell Plateau), home to astounding waterfalls, ancient Aboriginal art and unique flora and fauna. FOR BOOKINGS: styles/wilderness- Lodges/WA- Kimberley Freecall WEBLINKS australia.com