Bungle Bungle

“How’s the road in?” I asked as we prepared ourselves for driving the 53 km 4WD track into the Bungle Bungle Range.

“Rough! Real rough! There’s also a bushfire, road was closed last night. You’re lucky, it’s only just opened but being monitored and will most likely close again tonight. Are you planning to stay in at Walardi overnight?

“Yes, well that’s our intention, in fact three nights, however if there’s a bushfire?”

“Oh, you’ll be right. There’s a ranger there, he’ll keep you posted.”

And with that, we dropped our tyres, strapped everything down and headed into the Bungle Bungle. The road was so corrugated that at times my head was bobbing around like one of those nodding dogs people had in the back of their cars. Steve, firmly gripping the steering wheel and changing gears accordingly drove over corrugations, down and over steep dips, though sand and water, round tight bends over rocky roads and  rocky creek beds.  It took one hour and forty minutes to travel the 53 km road.

From the hwy there is not even a hint of the beauty that lies deep inside. A rough road that winds its way into this world heritage listed area. I was in awe of what lay in front of me. Extensive escarpments that lined the horizon, hills and mounts scarred black from fire, and amongst it all, green lush spinifex springing to life, making a statement about the aussie bush. Tough!

As you near the Bungle Bungle Range you understand the amazing power of nature. It  has created its very own installation. Sand, rock and minerals all moulded together over billions of years to form hundreds of dome beehive shapes. And nature over billions of years dropped them into this one and only space. Nowhere like it anywhere else. Fascinating!