6
Moderate to Challenging
Activities
  • 5 days trekking with a full pack/ combined with day pack walking
  • 2 days canoeing
Accommodation
  • 5 nights camping 2 nights accommodation (includes pre night)
Meals
  • 7 Dinners
  • 7 Lunches
  • 7 Breakfasts

7 Days$AUD

Trip Code: SOG6384

Bungle Bungles Trip highlights


  • Return scenic charter flights from Kununurra to Bungle Bungles
  • Canoeing down Ord River for 2 days- remote bush camping
  • Wilderness walking in the legendary, World Heritage listed Bungle Bungles
  • Sleep under thousands of stars in remote bush campsites
  • Carry only a daypack on exploratory walks high in to the upper gorge
  • Take a refreshing dip in some of the many isolated rock pools
  • Visit the magical natural amphitheatre of Cathedral Gorge
  • Be enchanted by this incomparable, spellbinding ancient landscape

The Bungle Bungles (Purnululu) have legendary status as one of the most unique and remote natural wonders in Australia, if not the world. This splendid isolation is a great attraction to trekkers and with specially chartered flights we can avoid the long drive, allowing us to trek deep in to the heart of the Bungle Bungles. Our expedition exploring the Picanninny Gorge offers trekkers an achievable expedition style bushwalk. This 5 day trek follows the gorge as it winds its way between the red and black beehive-like sandstone domes. We establish a base camp for a few nights, freeing us to leave our big packs behind and make lightweight exploratory walks high in to the upper gorge. We'll walk, stopping at waterholes and caves, soaking in the wild seclusion as the domes transform with the light of the day. Our ultimate destination is the fingers: five sandstone chasms made for rock hopping and sun soaking, looking to discover the mysteries held within this ancient and weathered land. On our final day we trek out to Cathedral Gorge before a short transfer to the airstrip and a stunning scenic flight over the Bungle Bungles and the Kimberley back to Kununnurra.

After doing a short re-supply in Kununurra we head off on our next adventure to a secret bush campsite ready for 2 days canoeing down the mighty Ord River. The Ord River is a 320-kilometre (200 mi) long river in the Kimberley region of Western Australia. The river's catchment covers 46,100 square kilometres (17,799 sq mi). We will only get to paddle around 35kms of the river but this will still be a memorable part of your adventure. At the end of the canoeing experience you will be picked up by boat and taken direct to your accommodation in Kununurra.

Activities:

Itinerary

Our adventure begins when we pick you up from Kununurra Airport on the afternoon of the 30 MAY. In the afternoon we will have a short safety briefing and then will take you to your accommodation for some free time and to relax before our big adventure. In the morning we will pick you up from your accommodation around 6am and transfer to the airport – with a bite to eat for breakfast en route – for our one hour dawn flight over the Ord River and Lake Argyle, into Purnululu National Park. You'll never forget your first sight of the Bungle Bungles from the air, a maze of thousands of domes that seem impenetrable were it not for Piccaninny Gorge. After the flight we have a short and scenic 4WD transit to the trail head, then begin our full pack exploratory walk following the track north-east deep into the World Heritage listed ranges. This evening we set up our base-camp surrounded by the red cliffs of the Bungles at Piccaninny Gorge, one of the world's most remote wilderness areas. Walking Distance: 13km

Meals:  B,L,D

Sheer rock walls surround us on all sides, within which there is so much to discover. The beautiful light bouncing off the worn and coloured sandstone lifts the soul and inspires your walking, exploring and experiencing. During these couple of days we can go as hard or easy as the group desires, allowing the most chance of immersing ourselves in this truly pristine environment where people are few and nature is boundless. Carrying only a day pack with the essential supplies we disappear into the many fingers of the upper gorge, allowing plenty of time for nature appreciation, rock hopping, photography and maybe even a dip into a cool and isolated rock hole. Each evening we enjoy kicking back at base-camp and chatting about the day’s adventures over a delicious meal. Walking Distance: 5km + each day, including scrambling and rock hopping

Meals:  B,L,D

Today we break camp and once again don our full packs. We retreat out of Piccaninny Gorge past The Elbow, having the opportunity to again appreciate the vast formation of domes in this area. Every dome is unique, and even the same dome will look completely different depending on the weather and angle of the sun – the more time you spend in The Bungles, the more enchanted you become by this ancient and majestic landscape. We follow Piccaninny Creek south west towards Cathedral Gorge. Keep your eye out for one of the more than 130 bird species found here, and native animals such as the short-eared rock wallaby. This afternoon we set up camp in another remote location near the creek, from where we watch the sunset light reflect dramatically off the domes. Walking Distance: 9km

Meals:  B,L,D

This morning we return to the trail head via a short and unforgettable side trip into the grand Cathedral Gorge. It is said that the acoustics within the naturally walled amphitheatre of the Gorge are better than the Sydney Opera House! After soaking in the magic sounds of the gorge, we take our final leg of the trail to meet up with the transit vehicle, which returns us to the airstrip. The last part of this journey is our scenic flight around and out of the Bungles, passing over Piccaninny Gorge and the areas we walked through, Argyle diamond mine and Lake Argyle and finally Kununurra. This flight is possibly one of the most beautiful scenic flights anywhere in Australia. When we land we will go to Coles in Kununurra and re-supply on the food for the next 2 days canoeing adventure down the mighty Ord River. In the afternoon we will be picked up by our local canoeing operator and he will take us to a private secluded camp on the river approximately 75kms drive away. The Ord River is a 320-kilometre (200 mi) long river in the Kimberley region of Western Australia. The river's catchment covers 46,100 square kilometres (17,799 sq mi). We will only get to paddle around 35kms of the river but this will still be a memorable part of your adventure. In the afternoon you will have time to relax at the private bush camp, with showers and tolites and will get ready for the next day canoeing on the river. Enjoy another magnificent evening under the stars, at the private camp. Walking Distance: approx. 5km

Meals:  B,L,D

Today at your leisure you will be given all the maps and equipment to canoe approximately 23kms down the Ord River. This will be an experience you will never forget. We supply an esky (cool box) to keep your lunch and drinks cool and a watertight barrel for your camera & valuables. Along the way, you will pass waterholes. observe wildlife, swim in crocodile free waters, and see the magnificent scenery and gorge systems of the Ord River. In the afternoon you will enjoy an overnight stop at the environmentally designed Cooliman Camp, which features BBQ facilities (with firewood supplied) plus gas burners, water and shower facilities fed by a natural spring, eco-toilet and above ground sleeping platforms. We also supply swags, mosquito domes, cooking and eating utensils and another larger barrel for you to pack your clothes, food, drinks and any other items that you bring along. Camp on River

Meals:  B,L,D

After staying at our beautiful Cooliman Camp in the secluded bush, on the Ord River you will do around 10km paddle in the morning and stop at Stonewall Camp ready for a pick up. Along the way you will have the opportunity to explore some of the waterholes or see some of the bush walks from your guide book, at your own pace. When you are ready we will come and pick you up in the private boat and return to Lakeside Resort in Kununurra by boat. It is an inspiring way to finish the trip and provides perfect opportunity to reflect on all we have experienced on this walking and canoeing adventure in the Bungle Bungles and the Mighty Ord River. In the evening after a well earned shower, you can enjoy a group evening farewell meal in the local restaurant. Stay: Lakeside Resort

Meals:  B,L,D


Inclusions

  • 6 breakfasts, 7 lunches and 7 dinners
  • Professional wilderness guides (2 guides)
  • All National Park and camping fees
  • All group camping equipment including mosquito net, sleeping mats, ground sheet (tarpaulin), stoves, catering and dining utensils
  • Emergency communications and group first aid kit
  • Scenic private charter flights from Kununurra to Bungle Bungles and return
  • Canoes and all equipment for camping on the river for canoeing

  • Airfares to Kununurra
  • Items of a personal nature, such as laundry and postage
  • Backpacks
  • Sleeping Bags
  • Alcoholic beverages
  • Travel insurance

Accommodation


Suitability

Moderate to Challenging

6

Participants should expect around 6 hours walking each day of this trek in potentially challenging conditions. There will be soft sand, sharp and uneven rock, scrambling over crags etc. The distances are not great however this is almost irrelevant as the time and effort required is equivalent to much longer treks. Strength and agility will be important as well as adaptability to heat. Thorough physical and mental preparation is important for your safe participation and enjoyment of this expedition. As with any active holiday, the fitter you are for the activity, the more the attention moves from looking at your feet to experiencing your surrounds. In short, fitness enables you to do more, see more and simply relax more. The best way to train for an active holiday is to simulate the activity you will be undertaking on the trip. Train for uneven terrain by finding a rough narrow bush track, even just your local park or sports field, and go for a lovely long walk in your trekking boots (nothing spoils a trekking holiday quite as much as poor fitting boots!) – splash in the puddles or kick up the dust! Train for pack-carrying by carrying a load similar to the one you expect to carry on the trip. Use the pack you will use during your expedition if possible. Enjoy your training – include friends and family, set some goals, note your progress and explore.


Departure dates


Priceper person from

$AUD

Options & Supplements*
    *Prices listed are per person

Essential Information

Ready to book? Make sure you download and read the detailed "RRR" Bungles Trek trip notes which contains all the essential information you need to know before booking. Once you’ve booked, we will supply you with a Pre-Departure document which contains a detailed gear list and other important information to help you prepare for your adventure ahead.


Bungle Bungles Trip reviews


Positive Impact Travel

By joining this trip you are directly supporting positive impact projects in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

We’ve offset the carbon emitted by this trip by purchasing credits that support important projects that address the UN’s seventeen SDGs, like reducing poverty, affordable and clean energy, reducing hunger, clean water and climate action.

Proceeds from this adventure purchase carbon credits through the world’s largest and most awarded carbon project developer, South Pole, which are invested into projects accelerating the transition to renewable energy sources in developing countries.

Supported projects are based on internationally recognised standards and are third-party audited. They entail a series of positive impacts on the ground, which benefit local communities and ecosystems, that are aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.