Purnululu National Park - Walardi Campground

 2 - 5 August 2022

We made our way from Kurrajong Campground to Walardi Campground and arrived around morning tea time. Walardi is smaller than Kurrajong with only 37 sites, compared to Kurrajong's 106. Because we were early we had a good choice of spots and again found one that we thought would suit us. This campground has a lot more bush around so the opportunity to collect solar throughout the day wasn't as good as at Kurrajong, but we managed well enough. The bonus was a nearby tap with a good spot for Mick to set up with the camera and tripod, and a few neighbours who were also birders.

The weather forecast was for more hot days, and some slightly warmer nights, so we rose early to get to Piccaninny before the heat set in. We decided to head out to Piccaninny Creek Lookout first as it was described as a 2.8km, Class 3 walk that is exposed to the sun. Once again we walked along a creek bed for part of the way, but this one was undulating smooth sandstone underfoot. At the end of the walk we were rewarded with a view over Piccaninny Creek towards the Ord River, beehive domes and Dixon Range. 

Returning to the main track we walked back towards the carpark and turned off to Cathedral Gorge, another of Purnululu's most well-known features. Cathedral Gorge Walk is described as 2 km return (from the carpark) and Class 4, but once again we found it fairly easy. The track includes another walk through a creek bed and among beehive domes which are just awseome, with the gorge at the end of the walk. When we arrived, it was so quiet, with the few others there sitting in silence just taking it all in. Even the children were quiet! It's just that kind of place. We spent quite a while enjoying the cool in this special place, chatting quietly to new friends who just happen to live in Hobart.

After leaving Cathedral Gorge we returned to the main track and left it again for The Domes walk, a 700m, Class 3 loop. This walk allows a close-up look at the iconic beehive domes for which Purnululu is famous. Here you can see the layers of sediment and protective banding of iron oxide and cyanobacteria that gives the domes their distinctive look.

By the time we had finsihed taking in all these magnificent sights, it was almost lunchtime so we headed home with so many photos - it's so hard not to keep taking shots of everything you see. We enjoyed a restful afternoon including some socialising with neighbours.

After a number of very active days, and having completed all the walks that we wanted to do, we had a rest day on our final full day at Purnululu. Mick staked out the water point and we started to get packed up so we could get away early in the morning. We wanted to allow plenty of time to refuel and shop in Kunnurra as well as time to stop and look for birds along the way.

We set the alarm for 5:30am, and rose just as the sun was starting to get up. We packed as quietly as we could, but most of our near neighbours were up anyway. We stopped to chat to new friends and were away before 7:00am. We weren't looking forward to the long and slow drive out of the park, and made it back to the entrance just after 8:30am. We stopped to put air back in the tyres and have a cup of coffee. We also discovered that the Anderson plug that provides power to the camper trailer battery while driving had broken off, so Mick replaced it with the one from the compressor. We would have to buy a new one (or maybe 2) in Kunnurra. We were back on the road in just over 1/2 hour, heading for Lake Argyle.