Bungle Bungles Camping; what’s your options?
The Bungle Bungles (Purnululu National Park) is a truly insane place, and its no wonder thousands of people make the trek in year after year. Sometimes the road condition is great, and other times its brutal.
Either way, its worth the drive in and we recommend camping for at least a night or two so you can soak it all up.
Realistically, there is far too much to see in the Bungle Bungles to just drive in for the day, and then have to drive back out. This is mainly due to the road in, which when in bad conditions, can take up to 3 hours to drive, one way.
It’s also pretty windy, and the last thing you want to do after a big day exploring such an amazing place is jump back in the car for another 3 hours!
Either way, make sure you follow our gravel driving tips to preserve your sanity, vehicle and everything you are towing!
The Bungle Bungles Camping is fantastic anyway; its remote, full of wildlife and the stars are like nothing you’ve seen before.
Bungle Bungle Camping options
There are 4 different places you can stay at if you want to see the Bungle Bungles. The two most popular places are run by DPAW, and are well within the Bungle Bungle National Park.
The next closest option is the Bungle Bungle Caravan park, and lastly there is a free camp just further down the Great northern highway, on the northern side.
4WD only, with single axle trailers
One of the restrictions for the Bungle Bungle National park is that you are only allowed access with a 4WD vehicle, and if you are towing something, it can only have one axle.
For many people travelling with big vans, that means you either have to leave your van at the caravan park and tent for a while, or stay at the Caravan park and drive in.
Bungle Bungle Caravan storage
A lot of people choose to leave their vans at the Bungle Bungle Caravan Park. You can either come back and stay there each night, or camp inside the Bungle Bungles and return to your van when you are finished. There’s a small fee to leave your van, but at least its relatively secure, and out of harms way.
Alternatively, you can leave it at HeliSpirit at Warmun.
Walardi camp
The Walardi Camp is located in the southern end of the National Park, where the Bee Hive domes, Cathedral Gorge, Piccaninny Gorge and creek and the air strip are located. This has about 40 sites, with water (not suitable for drinking without treatment) and a few of the sites are generator friendly.
This site has quite a bit of shade, along with picnic tables, and non flushing toilets.
It’s $13.00 per night, per adult, and you must book in advance online
Kurrajong camp
Kurrajong camp is located towards the northern end of the National Park. It is closest to a beautiful lookout (within walking distance), Echidna Chasm, Stonehenge and Bloodwoods, Frog Hole, Homestead Valley and Mini Palms Gorge.
This site is generator free, and is split into 4 different loops. You can walk to a magnificent lookout spot to watch the sun go down, and there are about 200 camp sites.
There’s non flushing toilets and picnic tables, and you need to be self sufficient in all other ways.
We chose this site over Walardi purely because it is away from the generators. However, Walardi has a bit more shade, and is closer to the main attractions. In the end, it really doesn’t matter where you go. Loop 4 is the quietest; we had it to ourselves for some time!
It’s $13.00 per night, per adult, and you must book in advance online
Bungle Bungle Caravan Park
The Bungle Bungle Caravan Park is located about 2km down the road from the turnoff of the Great northern Highway. It has some shade, plenty of grassy sites, and a fairly solid reputation.
A lot of people stay here and do a 4WD tour in. We were glad we stayed inside Purnululu National Park, but we also don’t have a Caravan, so our options were wide open.
Bungle Bungles Free camp
We passed the free camp on the way out of the Bungle Bungles. For us, its too far out, and with no amenities, I’d rather pay the DPAW site. The drive in and out each day would not be pleasant, nor cheap for fuel and maintenance! Often the extra cost is worth the convenience, fuel and maintenance.
Bungle Bungles Accommodation
There are two glamping setups inside Purnululu National Park that you can stay at if you don’t want to bring your own camping gear. These are called Savannah Lodge, and the Wilderness Lodge. The Savannah Lodge is located not too far from the Helispirit Scenic flight location (and air strip), and the Wilderness Lodge is 24km away.
Both look fantastic, but they are glamping, and not 5 star resorts!
Visit the Bungle Bungle region
If you haven’t been to the Bungle Bungle area, its absolutely worth a visit and we’d highly encourage you. It’s another very diverse part of the Kimberley that does not disappoint.
Have you been to Purnululu National Park? What did you think of it?
