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Published: August 21st 2017
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Great Northern HighwayWe had been told that the road into the Bungle Bungles was worse than the Gibb River Road, so we left early to allow plenty of time to get there. Just as well too! The road from Kununurra to the Bungle Bungle turn-off was all bitumen and it's only 60km into the Kurrajong campground. We discovered very quickly that reports were correct - it took us two and a half hours to do 60km - it was bloody rough. The corrugations were worse than we have had the whole trip, and there was no relief, they just kept going and going. Everything was shaken up. There were some rough pot-holes, rocky patches and a few creek crossings, but the worse was the corrugates. We finally arrived at the visitor centre to find it closed for lunch. Thankfully there was a self check-in option so we paid our fees and headed to the campground to setup.
There are two sections within the national park - northern and southern. We were camped at the northern end and many of the walks are at the southern end. So we
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The first of many creek crossings on the way into the Bungle Bungles explored the northern area the day we arrived, and planned to do the longer walks (at the other end) early in the morning. This proved to be a good plan as the weather was still stinking hot.
It is amazing how many people are in the national park, especially given the condition of the access road. But it was still much nicer than the caravan park - and much quieter (no dogs or generators allowed).
The walks and lookouts at the northern end of the park were nice, but the southern walks were what I had expected at the Bungle Bungles, with the domes and rounded sandstone formations - simply stunning. We started walking early and had finished our planned walks by 9:30am so drove around to some other lookouts and returned to our campsite. It was only mid-morning and already too hot to do anything - so we lounged around for the rest of the day and had an early night (in preparation for another early departure the next day).
Power problems have plagued us this trip, and the fridge has drained the camper battery again - apparently the DC:DC charger isn't working - the car
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Road into Bungle Bungles is still not charging the auxiliary battery. It seems to be something to do with the smart alternator in the car. It needs a special ignition lead to be connected to the charger which will trick the alternator into thinking that the battery still needs charging so it doesn't switch off. We moved the fridge into the back seat of the car and connected it to the power in the car rather than the camper battery (for now) - and Kevin will run another lead from the car to the charger to try and get the car to start charging the camper battery as it should be.
The road out of the park was the same as the road in (only one way in/out) and it took two and a half hours to return to the main road again. Kevin loves the dirt roads but even he had had enough and was looking forward to a bit of bitumen. We stopped in at Halls Creek for breakfast and then continued on, turning off at the Tanami Road towards Wolfe Creek Meteorite Crater National Park. The Tanami Road was quite good, for a dirt road, and nothing like what we
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Another creek crossing had experienced getting to and from the Bungle Bungles. Only the last 20km, from the turn-off into the National Park, was rough - but it was bloody rough.
One of the bolts on the independent suspension has snapped and disappeared - this is bad. Kevin has used a breaker bar from his socket set as a makeshift bolt - hopefully it will get us to Fitzroy Crossing where we should (fingers crossed) be able to get a new bolt.
The Wolfe Creek Crater is pretty special (but not sure it was really worth the detour on such a rough road) - you walk up to the rim of the crater and can see the impact clearly. There is different vegetation on the inside and you can see where the water runs. The sunset from the campground is awesome too.
Tomorrow we head to Fitzroy Crossing where we plan to stay for a couple of days. Hopefully we can get some bolts for the suspension, and Kevin can run the ignition wire to the battery charger...
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Terry Anne Winter
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Lots of happy memories
Hi Sue and Kevin, Finally slowed up enough to catch up on your trip. I never really thought about the rough road into the bungles and when I read your story I remembered how it was so rough. We had a troppy full of german tourist in front of us and every gully crossing they would fly through it. IT is so nice to read your adventure. It brings back all the memories of when we were out that way. It certainly sounds like it is a bit busier now then when we were there but the noisy neighbours hasn't changed. We had a pup tent with a queen bed in it and we would pick it up and move to a quieter area. The noisy inconsiderate people were the most annoying thing. Anyway we have nearly finished the house and hope to get out on a few adventure soon. loving your story and keep in touch. Love Terry and Brian xx