There are more jaw-dropingly gorgeous places to see Down Under than we know what to do with. Sure some you have to battle the crowds to get a glimpse of, but all great things take time to see right?
But what if there are a couple secret places that the Aussies love to keep for themselves? Let’s take a few ‘footsteps’ along these secret areas of Australia that are sure to become part of your bucket-list!
MYALL LAKES NATIONAL PARK
Myall Lakes National Park conserves one of this state’s largest coastal lake systems, Myall Lakes and 40 km of beaches and sand dunes.
The vegetation consists of heath lands, rainforests and swamps and the park is home to wildlife such as kangaroos, wallabies, egrets, herons and 15 amphibian and 16 reptile species.
The landscape is dominated by wetlands and sand dunes. Many of the park’s walking tracks such as Dark Point Trail, across the sand dunes, and Mungo Brush Rainforest Walk are extremely scenic. Stoney Creek Road is a picturesque cycling trail. Visitors can enjoy water sports such as canoeing, sailing and kayaking in the extensive number of lakes. Boat-based camping at Johnsons Beach and the camping grounds at Boolambayte Lake are very popular with Aussie locals.
One of New South Wales largest coastal lake systems - and an official Ramsar Wetland of International Significance. The Grandis, a magnificent 76 m high flooded gum, is one of the tallest trees in the state. The Myall Lakes National Park incorporates 31 562 ha of headlands, forest, swampland and a staggering 10 000 ha of coastal lagoons. These lagoons - Myall Lake, Boolambyte Lake, Two Mile Lake and The Broadwater - are linked by narrow straits which form a continuous waterway joined to Port Stephens by the lower Myall River. Between the lakes and the sea, are high sand dunes and 40 km of almost unbroken beaches.
The ferry at Bombah Point leaves every half hour from 8.00 am - 6.00 p.m. The car ferry transports you across to Myall Shores, from this point a walking track leads to the mouth of the Upper Myall River. A very poor quality unsealed road leads to the township of Bulahdelah just 15 kms away.
Things to do
· Camp, caravan or use the boat ramp at Mungo Brush (seasonal)
· Camp at Korsmans Landing at Two Mile Lake
· See numerous Aboriginal middens on the coast and Broughton Island
· Choose a fishing or dolphin-watch cruise
· Boats & houseboats can be hired at Tea Gardens, Bulahdelah or Nelson Bay
· Hire a canoe, sailboard, power boat or catamaran at Myall Shores campground
· Walk the 21-km Mungo Track to Mungo Brush
· Walk Dark Point Walk & Wildflower Walk-best between August & October
· Dive Broughton Island or Little Gibber
· Spot lorikeets, wattle birds, honeyeaters, bowerbirds, kookaburras, green catbirds, little terns, ground parrots, tawny frogmouth, kangaroos, echidnae, lace monitors, koalas, sugar gliders, ring-tailed possums, carpet pythons, flying foxes, bandicoots, marsupial mice and dingoes
Bungle Bungles
One of WA's key attractions is Bungle Bungle (Purnululu) National Park. Only reachable by 4WD vehicle (there are no sealed roads to the park) in the wet season (Nov-Mar) the area is inaccessible. These ancient, rounded, orange and black-striped sandstone formations of the Bungle Bungles are truly spectacular. This is one of the best areas to take a scenic flight to appreciate the enormity of the landscape
Purnululu National Park the Bungle Bungle Ranges was discovered by white men only in the 1980s late twentieth century! And ground access into the extremely remote range was almost never achieved.
Clearly visible from the air, but without tracks or trails, it took the pioneering ingenuity of an East Kimberley family man: a spotter plane; sacks of flour; lots of patience and a four wheel drive vehicle to find a reasonable and safe entry into the wonders of the Bungle Bungle Range.
The spotter plane flew low and carried sacks of flour, which were thrown out from the aircraft to mark the most accessible route into the Bungle Bungles. The 4WD vehicle followed the white dusty flour trail through the brilliant red earth and found a way into this most splendid natural creation.
The Bungle Bungles Experience
Purnululu is truly one of nature’s cathedrals and to take a helicopter flight over Purnululu is to understand what awesome means. Experiencing the Bungle Bungles in this way will tell you that no mere camera will ever do it justice please see and feel the Bungle Bungles.
Access
The Bungles are a hidden world of magnificent gorges, tropical pools, dramatic caves and Aboriginal rock art 250km south of Kununurra, off the Great Northern Highway.
The access road to the Bungles is unsealed and is only suitable for large 4WD vehicles. The access road is only 55 km long but takes some 3 hours to travel in reasonable conditions.
The Bungle Bungles can be reached by plane or helicopter. Alternatively, a specialist Landcruiser 4WD Self Drive Holiday package from Kununurra or Broome is the perfect way to properly feel the Kimberley: with a couple of nights stopover in the National park; accommodation and meals and an optional helicopter flight available from the remote camp inside the National Park.
The joy of a flight by helicopter or light aircraft will remain with you forever and be a constant reminder of the awesome beauty of the Purnululu National Park in the East Kimberley.
Purnululu means sandstone in the tribal language of local Kija Aborigines. The Bungle Bungle Ranges are usually closed to traffic from January to March to protect the fragile sandstone during the Kimberley wet season. Extreme care must be taken to keep to the marked trails when walking through the National Park in order to preserve the fragile, ancient range.
Bungle Bungle Stripes
Over the span of 350 million years, rivers washed sand and pebbles into the area, layer-upon-layer, and the sand was ground finer and harder together until it formed sandstone rock. Strong winds and heavy rains have eroded the sandstone away to form the dome shapes we see today. The Bungle Bungles gain their tiger-stripes from black algae growth that permeates the more porous layers of the rock, and a glossy orange build up of manganese and iron staining. Standing within these domes, you can’t even begin to fathom the time it has taken for this process to occur.
Piccaninny Creek
Here, gorges, gullies and caves are the products of this evolution; tourists visit the Bungle Bungles in particular for some places of spectacular interest; Piccaninny Creek on the southern edge, a winding 12km gorge within the high walls of the domes.
Cathedral Gorge
Cathedral Gorge is a spacious cavern rising high into the sky that will make anything insignificant for that moment in time. The walking tracks at Echidna Chasm run for 1.5 to 3km long and make for an interesting hike along a narrow gorge quite different to the other side.
Permanent waterholes and remnants of tropical rainforest are found at Frog Hole and Mini Palms gorge.
Whichever way you visit the Bungle Bungles, it is imperative to make the Ranger Station aware that you are entering the Bungle Bungles National Park. Please take care, leave no rubbish behind, keep to the trails and never climb on the ancient and fragile sandstone structures of the Bungle Bungle National Park.
This world offers us so many treasures, and as any treasure hunter knows, sometimes you have to take that ‘footstep’ off the path. Most locals are proud of their birth place and will be happy to show you the ‘real’ culture and hidden gems if you ask.
As always when travelling, be safe, use common sense and respect the environment, culture and traditions of where you are! If you are unsure, ask, and seek out resources such as the local Ranger’s office to help make your stay adventurous and safe.
Be sure to tell us about your footsteps across the globe, and a hidden gem that you think must be shared!
© Copyright, 2010 Main Street Magazine/Rain Enterprises
As seen in the June Issue of Main Street Magazine.
Printed in Canada, ISSN: 1920-4299 by Rain Enterprises
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