Tour details

CARR BOYD RANGES South and North

 AND

PURNULULU - BUNGLE BUNGLE National Park

 

Start: Kununurra.

Finish: Kununurra

Duration: 21 days

 

The expedition starts 7:30am on the date nominated. We will travel 4 hours by 4WD to commence our exploration deep into the Purnululu National Park.

 

We can expect to encounter day trippers on the first day of the expedition but as we walk out of Cathedral Cave, we leave the crowds behind and enter a world only a few will see. For the next 6 days we will explore the five fingers.

 

We will be walking approximated 10-12km per day. I plan to leave camp at 8am each morning. Our day will start early to avoid walking in the heat of the day. We will return to camp around 4pm.

 

The weather in the area can varies greatly. We can expect the day time temperatures to climb beyond 30° C whereas during the evening the temperature can be very cold.

 

 

Inclusions:

4WD transport

Evening 3 course meal

Experienced guide with extensive knowledge of the area

 

Exclusions:

Accommodation at Kununurra

First night dinner in Kununurra

Breakfast, lunch and snacks

Farewell dinner in Kununurra

 

Optional activities:

Helicopter flight over Purnululu at you own expense

 

Please view the equipment list to ensure you have the right equipment.

 

PHOTO DESCRIPTION

 

CARR BOYD SOUTH

We leave Kununurra crossing Argyle Lake by boat, to reach the start of our walk. We then start walking up the course of a river to a waterhole where we can camp and swim.

We will walk through the spinifex country, heading towards a swimming hole on the top of a dramatic gorge.

Lake Argyle in the far background

We will keep going on our adventure to a little pass joining a gorge that we will follow all the way through the Carr Boyd South area.

The river landscape is delightful to walk, the vivid colours of this landscape are breathtaking to most who visit this area for the first time.

 

And there is great water holes for those who like to swim.

Whilst on this adventure we will have to swim with our backpacks. It is not a difficult exercise if you have the right equipment. I have found that using a plastic bag is not adequate to ensure your gear is dry, for this the reason, I will supplying you with a waterproof bag to keep your gear dry. If you wish, you can keep this waterproof bag at the end of the tour (see below Green bag on the picture).

Along our way, we will explore a very small gorge looking like a Karijini gorge but with warm water.

Our first week will end in a flooded chasm. We will need to swim about 300 meters (with the possibility of stopping for a photo halfway). On paper, swimming that far seems a little difficult but in reality, it is quite simple especially since the floating backpack performs similar to a big buoy.

CARR BOYD NORTH (Week 2)

 

On the other side of the chasm begins our second week.

We will pick up our  food drop for week 2 in the Carr Boyd North Ranges in a waterfall country

Exploring

One of the highlights of this second week are the campsites. The varied locations include, located on the waterfalls, in the heart of rainforests or in Boabab country

In the evening, I prepare our 3 course dinner.

While you enjoy the Kimberley.

And we will continue to swim in pools with enchanting waters.

On this part of our adventure, we will also be able to admire some rock art sites.

And ancient nature art (70cm seaweed Dendrite)

Enjoying day walks

Tasty camp cooked food !

And fantastic memories of the remarkable country we have visited.

Here, I provided a brief description of our adventure without going into minor details because I want you to experience the magic of discovery.

Even during our adventure, I will endeavour to keep us in the present by trying to make sure that tomorrow only exists in our imagination. I would like you to disconnect from the business and stresses of our everyday life by surrendering to the present, focusing on walks and discoveries of this beautiful area of the ranges. Let yourself be guided for a few days without worrying about what will be tomorrow is a very simple and pleasant life experience, invigorating for the mind as well as for the body.

This adventure is reserved for people who can walk ten kilometres, which is within the reach of most of us. The difficulties we encounter are, some steep climbs, off-track walking and the heat. Nothing insurmountable however.

We recognise and acknowledge Miriwoong Gajerrong people as the Traditional custodians of the Kununurra area of the East Kimberley and recognise their continuing connection to land, water and community. We pay respect to Elders past, present and emerging.

 

PURNULULU NATIONAL PARK (Week 3)

 

 

Beyond the famous Cathedrale gorge, which we will visit on the first day 

Beyond the mostly dry bed of the Piccaninny river which we will follow on the second day

Beyond the enigmatic domes which are the symbol of the national park

Beyond the majestic tranquillity of Black Rock Pool

In the heart of Purnululu National Park, in a world forgotten by tourists, carved out by almost 400 million years of erosion, snuggled up in lost times

5 small gorges are hidden: the “5 Fingers”.

The “5 Fingers” are therefore 5 small gorges, all 5 different from each other. Sometimes 200 meters high, the cliffs that form these gorges shrink, leaving the walker with only the space necessary for his progress. The light is dimmed, the orange red of the rock colors the daylight a light pink. The air is cooling. We evolve in a world of unreal dimensions.

 

Video

The first gorge, Finger 1, is a series of increasingly long pools, wedged between sandstone walls smoothed by the summer rains.

We enter the second gorge through a tunnel. It's a pleasant stroll along natural corridors that end in pools.

The third gorge is full of surprises, a source of clear water that is discovered on purple rocks, a well that seems bottomless

And a cave that leads somewhere!

You have to invent your way between large blocks of sandstone to reach the well and the long, somewhat mysterious tunnel of the fourth gorge.

During my first visit, it is the Finger 5 that I preferred for its charm which is discovered as an offering.

We will camp for 4 days in the Piccaninny Gorge, near a small body of water. I will take care of the dinner while you can enjoy the swimming pools located near the camp.

For those who are tempted, it is possible at the end of our hike to get on a helicopter to see from above what we will have discovered from below.