Tuesday July 5     Bungle Bungles

Next day we started out early, to explore the northern end of the park. It was Cheryl's turn to do the driving so that she could feel comfortable using a four-wheel drive car on unsealed roads. We began by walking up Mini Palm Gorge. The first part of the trail was an exposed dry creek bed with fist-sized pebbles under-foot, and it was pleasant in the early morning light. Then came a scramble to get past huge boulders, at times only possible by removing our small daypacks. Then the gorge opened out into an oasis full of small, palm trees. It was wonderfully cool and very beautiful, with lush vegetation. The gorge ended at a high viewing platform giving views into the deepest part of the gorge. We had the place to ourselves. It was only when we were ready to leave that numerous other visitors arrived.

We tried to walk into Frog Hole Gorge, but found the path blocked with not much to see apart from a mountain that had been struck by lightning. So we drove to the trailhead for Echidna Chasm. Walking in was a wonderful experience. We passed through caverns becoming narrower as the path got higher, until we reached the final part of the chasm open to the sky. We joined a small group of people waiting for the mid-day sun to light up the rock walls. While there the Kolfen family we'd met at Lake Argyle arrived, and this time we introduced ourselves properly. After eating our lunch and taking numerous photographs we walked down to the next cavern on our way out and stayed there reading for almost an hour. It was a beautiful place, and cool. Eventually we walked out, drove back to our campsite for some tea and a rest, and still had time to get to the Walanginjdji Lookout to view the sunset. This time we chose the southern end of the ridge for a different view of the Bungle range in the golden light.