Purnululu

Days 32-33, Tuesday- Wednesday , 13-14 July

Up early from Kununurra on Tuesday morning for the drive down to Purnululu. Good run on the Northern Highway, still amazed by the number of massive caravans being hauled up and down the Highway. Quick re-fuel at Warmun , then shortly after we were heading east on the Purnululu access road. We had been told it was a bit rugged- that was an understatement, it was as rough as all get-out.

Minor drama about half way in- there was a loud thud as we exited a steep Creek crossing and the car felt anchored. Turns out it was- by Bernie. We had lost both the split pin holding the pin holding the tow ball yoke , and the actual yoke pin. The safety chains had done their job and held, but the trailer frame had done a bit of plowing.😳. Bugger. We never found the pin(s), Nessie even spent some time wading in the Creek looking for them ….Possibly an excuse to cool off 😉.

So, we chock the wheels, get the jack and jack up the trailer arm, fix the jockey wheel in place and assess. Turns out we were in a ok -ish situation. Everything muddy, but still apparently intact. Just no pin. As we were assessing the merits of using a D- Shackle , Lucas turns up on his way out of the park and offers large bolt and nut which will do the job. Legend. Then Peter and Simone turn up with a spare pin. Double legends. We were on the way again within 30 minutes of the incident. Thanks to the team who offered help!😀

Into the park proper- Tuesday and Wednesday night we camped under the trees at the Kurrajong Campground. Sunset view through to the main range to the east at sunset was worth the price of admission alone.

Up at sparrow’s on Wednesday,coffee and a dingo’s breakfast and heading south to the Domes. We did the Dome’s walk , Cathedral Gorge walk and then out to the Picinninny Lookout by around 1030 , before it got too hot. Spectacular.

Midday and we took a Helispirit Helo trip over the Domes and Picinninny Gorge. Great – and worth doing as it offered a perspective that you couldn’t determine from ground level.

Back to warm lissitude during the heat of the day, then a really good walk into the depths of Echidna Chasm just before the he sunset

Up early Thursday for the long drive out of the park and even longer drive to Derby. Bottom line up front – Purnululu is spectacular and should be on everyone’s bucket list . We wish we had longer , but grateful we still got there despite the border closure.