Purnululu National Park and the striped domes of the Bungle Bungle Range
Published on 08/14/2026 at 14:19 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
Purnululu National Park in Western Australia is known for the Bungle Bungle Range, a landscape of striped sandstone domes and steep-sided gorges. The park is a World Heritage site and lies in the East Kimberley near Kununurra.World Heritage site
Striped domes in the Bungle Bungle Range
The best-known landform here is the banded sandstone of the Bungle Bungle Range. Dark horizontal stripes mark the orange rock, and the domes rise from a broad plain rather than a city skyline.banded sandstone
The range is composed of Devonian-age quartz sandstone, and the patterning comes from a surface crust on the rock. That combination of pale stone, dark bands and rounded forms gives the park its clearest identity.Devonian-age quartz sandstone
World Heritage landscape in the East Kimberley
The park covers 239,723 ha and sits in the Kimberley region of Western Australia. Its protected status reflects the geological value of the range and the wider remote landscape around it.239,723 ha
Purnululu National Park was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2003. The same listing also records the Bungle Bungles as an outstanding example of cone karst in sandstone.inscribed in 2003
Purnululu National Park and Aboriginal country
The park is linked to long Aboriginal occupation and to the Traditional Owners of the area. That cultural history sits alongside the rock formations rather than apart from them.Traditional Owners
Purnululu is the place name used for the park, and the Bungle Bungle Range remains the feature most closely associated with it. The two names appear together across maps, listings and park information.Bungle Bungle Range
Visiting Purnululu National Park: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- The park is reached from the East Kimberley around Kununurra, with access by road into a remote inland landscape. The approach leads into open savannah and sandstone country.
- The terrain is dry and rugged, with narrow gorges, rocky surfaces and exposed ridges. The domes and cliff lines are the main features, not manicured paths.
- English is widely used in Western Australia, and the currency is the Australian dollar.
- Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.
Searching for Purnululu National Park on social platforms
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Frequently asked questions about Purnululu National Park
Where is Purnululu National Park?
It is in the East Kimberley of Western Australia, near Kununurra. The park lies inland in a remote part of the state.
What should a visit there involve?
Expect sandstone domes, gorges and a dry, rugged landscape. The park is about the rock formations and the scale of the country around them.
What makes Purnululu National Park distinctive?
The Bungle Bungle Range is made of banded sandstone domes, with dark horizontal stripes across the orange rock. Its World Heritage status is tied to that landscape and its geological interest.
