Photographing Purnululu National Park

About Purnululu National Park

Purnululu National Park protects the extraordinary Bungle Bungle Range: striped sandstone domes in the south and deeply cut chasms and escarpments in the north, all within a remote living cultural landscape.

This is Gija and Jaru Country. The strongest coverage combines a defining view with medium studies and details that explain the geology, ecology, architecture or cultural setting.

Some useful webpages

Instragram page for Purnululu

National Parks - Purnululu Information

Viewpoints

Purnululu is famous for blue skies, and its 350 Million year old 'bee hive' hills and gorges. There are a range of locations within the park:

1. The Bungle Bungles Tripadvisior Page
2. Cathederal Gorge Tripadvisor Page
3. Osmond Lookout Tripadvisor Page
4. Echidna Chasm National Parks Echidna Chasm Page Tripadvisor Page
5. Mini Palms Gorge Bloodwoods-Mini Palms
6. Homestead Valley
7. Stonehenge
8. Kungkalanayi
9. Elephant Rock
10. Cathedral Gorge
11. The Window
12. Piccaninny Creek.

1. Walardi visitor area

   Southern base and campground. Start with the defining environmental view, then vary height and focal length.

   Useful lenses: 16–35mm and 24–70mm.

2. Cathedral Gorge

   Vast natural amphitheatre. Use this stop to add context or a contrasting visual rhythm.

   Useful lenses: 24–70mm and 70–200mm.

3. Piccaninny Creek lookout

   Banded domes and creek bed. Use this stop to add context or a contrasting visual rhythm.

   Useful lenses: 16–35mm and 24–70mm.

4. Echidna Chasm

   Narrow northern chasm. Use this stop to add context or a contrasting visual rhythm.

   Useful lenses: 24–70mm and 70–200mm.

5. Osmand Lookout

   Escarpment panorama. Use this stop to add context or a contrasting visual rhythm.

   Useful lenses: 16–35mm and 24–70mm.

6. Kungkalanayi lookout

   Sunset over the range. Use this stop to add context or a contrasting visual rhythm.

   Useful lenses: 24–70mm and 70–200mm.

Other Things to Look Out For

• Directional light, cloud, mist and changing weather
• Characteristic textures and small details
• Wildlife observed quietly with a long lens
• Human scale where it strengthens the story without compromising privacy

How I photographed the park

What I took - what was in my kit

I have not been yet. I plan to take my LowePro Backpack loaded with Canon 5DSR body, Canon 24mm TS, Canon 16-35, Canon 24-105mm zoom, Sigma Art 50mm and Sigma Art 85mm, Manfrotto 190 Tripod, and of course a range of lens wipes, spare batteries, sunscreen and bug repellant. While the 5DSR can shoot 50MP, I will take a Gigapan to capture the really big shots. (300 - 1000MP)

I am also going to take my Linhof Technorama here and shoot with Velvia 50 and Velvia 100 film. These will be stored in the freezer.

I plan to take my drone here. Drones are not allowed to be used in the park itself, but I might be able to use it nearby, and the drone is neither large nor heavy.

Note, I will note be carrying all of the above everywhere I walk. I tend to scout with the 5DSR and 16-35mm lens, and perhaps either the 50mm Sigma or the 24mm TS, and then go back again for something really interesting.

Techniques

See the individual locations above.

Other things to look out for

The Kimberley is full of places that are 'off the beaten track' and dramatic. Firstly, regardless of whether you drive from Perth or from Darwin, you are going to pass a range of interesting places.

Nearby Locations

Kununurra

The principal northern service base, with the Ord River, Lake Kununurra and Mirima National Park.

Halls Creek

The southern service base for fuel and supplies.

Scenic flights

Available from regional bases and within the park, subject to operators and weather.

Nearby Auspano pages

• Karijini National Park — approximately 1180 km in a straight line; road distance may be considerably longer.
• Carnarvon — approximately 1736 km in a straight line; road distance may be considerably longer.
• Palm Valley

Location

Location: Purnululu National Park (Walardi Campground), Great Northan Highway, Ord River  WA ///lung.laziness.unwind (-17.523248766842418, 128.29821358497446)

Purnululu National Park is located in the North West corner of Australia, some 2837km North North East of Perth, or 1224km North North West of Alice Springs. This is the Kimberley region of Western Australia, famous for pearls, iron ore and rugged landscapes. It is also known as the Bungle Bungles, although that is only part of the park.

Purnululu National Park, East Kimberley, Western Australia

Approximate photographic centre: -17.52320, 128.29820

Map markers identify photographic objectives, not guaranteed parking places or permission to leave formed public access.

Apple Map – Photographic Locations

The Apple Map identifies the main photographic objectives and selected nearby viewpoints. Confirm signage, land status and current access on arrival.

How to Get There

Tours There are several tours from nearby centres that will take you to the park, and arrange all your accomdation etc.

Driving Driving to the park is how most people will get there. It could be a (long) day trip from Kunnunarra, or it could be with a stay of a day or two at the National Park's accomodation. This is all outback driving, and any car should be a 'true' 4 wheel drive (i.e. not an SUV with all wheel drive). High clearance, a tyre repair kit, an ability to deflate - inflate the tyres and some recovery gear is recommended. However, that said, the Bungle Bungle caravan park is definitely 2 wheel drive access (it is just off the Great Northan Rd) - and from there it is some 53Km to the park. I doubt that a 2 wheel drive would let you get around much of the park without problems though.

Fly. You can fly into the park. I am not sure if it would then be possible to rent a car though, so I would not do this unless i was part of a tour group that had arranged its own transport. This is the outback, and dont expect local buses, trains or taxi to be around.

From Perth, use the Apple Maps route for initial planning, then verify the final road, parking and walking approach with the responsible park, council or site operator. Allow extra time for unsealed roads, congestion and photographic stops.

Driving from the State Capital

The state capital is used as a consistent reference point. Apple Maps provides route planning from central Perth to Purnululu National Park; verify the final approach and current conditions.

Current Access / Conditions

Obey every closure, barrier and on-site instruction. Carry water, offline navigation and clothing suitable for changing conditions.

Best Time to Visit

May - September.

Rains in the north of Australia tend to come in the 'the Wet' (Summer) but this makes a lot of the dirt roads difficult. The 'Dry' is better for access, but this means that the pools and waterfalls are not the best. The best time to visit is really just a balancing act around these two issues. The Kimberly region, like most of northern Australia, has day time temperatures from the low 20 C through to mid 30 C. At night though, it can drop to single digits. These extremes mean that you need to have sun protetion during the day, lots of water, insect repellant, and the ability to 'rug up' in warm clothing as the sun starts to set.

Note - there are no shops in the Park, and while there is some bore water, this is best boiled before you drink it -- this means that you take all food, water, and other essentials you need to the park - and of course bring your containers and rubbish back out with you. As the park can be quite hot during the day, and visiting the sites will require walking - you should take a lot of water in the car, and a good sized water bottle with you when you are walking to the sites.

Accessibility

Expect conditions ranging from accessible paved areas to uneven natural tracks. Wear suitable footwear, keep clear of edges and moving water, and do not rely on mobile reception.

Where to Stay

This is the outback. The best choice is a tent, camper-trailer, RV or caravan etc. However, there are also other options:

Dicovery Park Lake Kunnunarra This Caravan Park is not at the National Park. It is some 300+ km, or 4-5 hours drive away.

Bungle Bungle Caravan Park This caravan park is just off the Great Northan (sealed - 2 wheel drive) road. From here it is some 50-60km to the various sites in the park. Note that this is still more than an hours drive at most times (plan on 2 hours), and cars should have enough fuel for several hundred kilometres. Also expect lots of corrugations, and a few river crossings. There is no fuel here. The caravan park has a resturant, cabins, 'glamping' tents, tent sites, caravan / RV sites. You need to book well in advance though. The Caravan Park has showers, power, and best of all - a Bungle BARavan - a sort of bar attached to a Caravan. So you can get cold drinks here. It also has BBQs if you dont feel like going to the resturant, or it is booked out. I would suggest you decide how you are going to eat before you go, and make any resturant bookings at the time of booking into the Caravan Park.

If you do want to vist the park - and dont want to travel by 4 wheel drive - you can come to the Caravan Park and get a tour from the caravan park or a helicopter ride over the park.

Camping in the National Park. The National Park is some 300+ Km from Kunnunarra, and along these roads that's 4-5 hours driving in a 4 wheel drive. The drive from Kunnunarra to the National Park and back again is basically a whole day. Staying at the National Park is probably the best option. The campgrounds are open from April - December. They offer tent and camper-trailer camping, and the National Parks do not recommend attempting to take dual axle caravans (or any caravan for that matter) into the site. Both campsites have toilets and (untreated) bore water. Note that NO campfires are allowed in the park - so bring your own portable gas cooker. I would recommend boiling the bore water before using it. It also helps improve the flavour if you filter it (to remove the slight dirt tang).

Kurrajong Campsite This camp

Walardi Campsite

Photography Recommendations

Photography recommendations

• Plan separate sessions for the Bungle Bungle domes and the park’s gorges/lookouts; they respond to different light.
• Use early or late light for sculptural dome forms and a telephoto to simplify repeating patterns.
• In narrow gorges, expose for sandstone highlights and use reflected light; an ultra-wide lens is useful but should not exaggerate empty foreground.
• Dust, heat and long walks favour a compact, protected kit with ample water and batteries.

Suggested Photographic Sequence

1. Use the first low-angle light for broad dome landscapes.
2. Work closer dome patterns and vegetation with normal and telephoto lenses.
3. During higher sun, move to gorge interiors where reflected light can be productive.
4. Use late light at an approved lookout or dome viewpoint for a second landscape session.

How Long Should a Photographer Stay?

Allow at least two full days in the park; three days provides a much better photographic margin for walks, road travel and changing light.

My Priority Photographs

1. A defining environmental portrait of Purnululu National Park
2. A tighter image of the location’s characteristic structure or texture
3. A composition that communicates scale
4. A second image made in distinctly different light or weather