Never again... but I am glad we did it.

So Tuesday started for us like most school days with Hamish having his on air lesson in the morning.  For Darren it meant he was up early and starting to fix their broken leaf spring having gotten the part the night before.  Now I am not mechanically minded at all and have no clue about anything so I was very impressed with the fact that by the time I had finished Hamish’s on air lesson at 8:30am he was finished and it was all fixed and ready to go.  It also meant that we did not have to stay in Halls Creek any longer.  We really were starting to clutch at straws for things to do.

So just before 10am we drove out of Halls Creek and continued on our way to the Purnululu National Park with only one quick stop at a rest area so Darren could tighten the wheel nuts on the caravan after 50km.  Again something I didn’t know.  It was then straight to the caravan park at the entry of the road into the Purnululu National Park.  Here we madly dropped off the vans and had a quick bite for lunch and packed up the car all ready for our camping expedition into the national park.  For those who aren’t aware the Purnululu National Park is the traditional (and now official) name of the Bungle Bungles.  It has been returned to its rightful name which I feel is right, even if it took me longer to get a hang of how to spell it.

Oh look the caravans first proper water crossing.

The drive into the Information Centre which was only 53km away took us one and a half hours.  Yes that is right, that is an average of under 40km/hr.  The actually information brochure said to allow 2 to 3 hours to do the 53 km!  It as the longest and worst road we had ever driven on and poor Hamish felt sick from all the corrugations and constant bends and the ups and downs over ridges.  I must admit, I also felt a little bit sick.  In all there were six water crossings, of which two were really puddles but at least they made it a bit exciting.  Once we arrived at the Information Centre all I could think of was how I was hoping that these views were really worth all that effort and what the road had done to our poor car.

Look how much the aerial was bending - that was nothing compared to some part.

I think Kayla thought the car needed to be held together.

After a quick chat to the ranger, booking our campsite and enjoying a zooper dooper ice block we headed towards Echidna Chasm as two ladies we had met recommended it to be the one you do when it is hotter as it is mostly in the shade and is cool.  Of course this was a further 24 or so kilometres down the road but thankfully this road seemed more like a highway after the other one.   As we drove along we had a stunning mountain range out to our right, but it was nothing like what I expected as it didn’t have the beehive shaped mounds that all the brochures and pictures had.

Starting our walk - already going the wrong way.

Back on the right track and already it is impressive.

I love how it has a tropical feel about it.

We didn’t have a lot of spare time up our sleeve as we were mindful that we had to get the tent set up before dark.  It didn’t help when we missed the turn and ended up going the wrong way up to a lookout instead.  Really it is not good to add extra distance with the kids.  Yet alone a track that inclines.  Once we were on the right track we soon found ourselves getting more and more enclosed by the Echidna Chasm and the shear height of the walls was amazing.  There was also the scatter of palm trees, shade and cool breeze which made the walk more comfortable.  After a while I was not feeling too well at all.  I think my tummy was still upset from the drive in and then a hot walk was not a good combination.  In the end we were all satisfied with what we had seen and we didn’t want to push the kids too hard so turned around and headed back out.  So yes we didn’t make it right to the end but it was cool what we had seen.

You can just make out Hamish in the chasm.

Looking up, so far away to the top.

Hamish had a blast climbing over the rocks.

Back at the campsite we started the process of setting up the tent.   This happened pretty fast with only a few disagreements in our campsite.  Peta and Darren were pros and had it all done in no time!  At least we managed to get there but I did have tent envy as at least they could stand up in theirs.  Jason, Peta, Darren and the boys headed up to watch the sunset hit the range whilst I stayed back with the girls.  I had exhausted myself enough that day and was happy to sit back and read my magazine.  I was dreaming as it really wasn’t possible with two kids!  Dinner was a basic combination of sausage on bread and it was lucky that Peta and Darren were well set up for it all and we pretty much just provided our bread and sausages.

The boys are having a rest.

Family photo before turning back.

Walking back out.

The next morning or even that night was not good at all.  Saying we had a terrible night sleep was an understatement.  Kayla woke up screaming in the wee hours of the morning and just wouldn’t settle.  I think if Jason suggests camping again I will happily send him on his own with the kids!  I value my sleep way too much.  In the end Jason and I took it in turns sitting outside nursing Kayla in the cold with just a sleeping bag covering her and half of us.  Apparently she said she was scared, but at least I managed to see two shooting stars and as the sun was rising I was able to sneak her back into the tent where she slept for a long time.  I watched her begrudgingly.  Part of me was glad she was asleep but it would have been nice to also get some!

Of course again we had packed a simple breakfast of rice bubbles but our kids didn’t want that, instead opting for the pancakes that Peta and Darren had.  Honestly I would hate to think how terrible our camping trips would be if we weren’t with others who are way more prepared and equipped.  Packing up happened relatively fast and before we knew it we were on the road to Cathedral Gorge.  This meant back tracking pretty much to the Information Centre and then driving another 27km around to it.  This road was not a good one either.  At least now we got to see the beauty of what everyone knows of the beehive shaped mounds.

This is more like it.

The view from the car park.

And we are off.

Once there we were all ready for the “500m” walk in.  Well that is what Jason told me it was so I was all ready for this easy walk with the kids.  Instead we opted to do a dome walk first which was a longer way to the Cathedral Gorge.  This would end up being a big mistake really.  Don’t get me wrong, it was still pretty and worth it but with kids and a hot day, we should have just headed straight to the destination and if they were happy on the way back, then do the extra walk.  It ended up being a 2km return walk to Cathedral Gorge, not 500m.

Just keeping her balance.

Kayla was really into the walk to start with.

All the kids having a rest.

It was really hot in the sun and the kids were feeling it, but once in closer the shade and breeze was a welcome reprieve.  When you first see Cathedral Gorge you are just blown away by the sheer size and how it has a distinctive ceiling around the outer edges, and then you just need to sit back and take it all in.  I got talking to some people on an APT tour and was quite envious of them with their packed lunch and refreshed looking faces after a good night sleep in the fancy (and expensive) tent accommodation nearby.  Not a bad way really to see all these places and you just get to sit back and relax.

Hamish relaxing in the shade.

Getting closer.

Cathedral Gorge - just stunning.

Before long it was time to make our way back to the carpark.  By now both our kids were over it and whilst at first they were fine for the first 200m, the rest was a mixture of willing Hamish to keep going and pulling him along.  The poor little things, it was so hot and they were tired but we all were.  Eventually we ended up carrying them both out the last 400m just to speed it up and so we weren’t out in the sun any longer.

Trying to capture the enormity of it all.

From the other side.

It was a long way up.

The cars were started straight away so that the air conditioners could start cooling them down.  This had taken away a bit of the magic and now we were facing the drive back out of the national park!  Off we headed and to be honest I have nothing nice to say about the road.  I would hate to think about what damage it is doing to the car or any car on it for that matter.  We even happed to see a Nissan Navara duel cab ute with one of its wheels hanging off it.  Eventually we did make it out but again Hamish was not feeling well but had at least fallen asleep so that wasn’t too bad.  Peta and Darren had gone on ahead whilst we opted to take it a bit easier, so by the time we got back to the caravan park they were hitched on.

We were then in a mad rush to unpack the car and then put everything that belongs in there away and all the outside furniture back in the car ready for towing.  By now I was really getting tired and cranky and I just wasn’t in the mood for a long drive, not to mention I felt the car needed a break after just finishing that drive.  So I suggested we just check out the free camp across the road as it had a creek you could swim in.  I don’t think anyone dared to disagree with me but I didn’t hold a lot of hope of us getting a good spot in the shade

We were in luck and managed to squeeze our way in to a spot and I then took Kayla down for a paddle and before I knew it Jason and Hamish joined us.  I just sat in the water to cool down and it was so nice and refreshing.  Peta and the kids came down and joined us and we met another family who was travelling.  The rest of the afternoon we chilled around the camp area and talked to all different fellow travellers.  Jason even made friends with some NSW travellers who happened to have a satellite dish so he was invited over to watch the game.

It was so nice to be back in the caravan, have a nice long hot shower and go to sleep in my comfy bed.  Jason went and watched the football at the neighbours van whilst I stayed in the van and got the kids to sleep and just chilled.  I did go over to watch once they were asleep but as we were losing and I didn’t have a chair out I just decided to go back and enjoy the fact I had our tv all to myself.  Everything feels right again with the world.