KIMBERLEY (WA)
Echidna Chasm

Return distance : 2 km; Time : 1.5 hours

The Bungle Bungles (Purnululu National Park) is a must-see destination in the Kimberley (although you may have some doubts about this as you bump over the endless rough road in from the main road!). At the northern end of the Park we find Echidna Chasm. This is a narrow gorge, at some points only two metres wide, but with 200 metre high vertical walls. The walk is moderate with a challenging short climb at the end. A steel ladder allows access to the innermost section.

The gorge was formed along a joint in the sandstone and conglomerate rocks. The rocks were weakened by the tectonic forces, and water was able to enter the rock along fissures. Erosion over the years created this narrow, deep and spectacular gorge. There is a spectacular rock formation as we approach the Gorge.

Interestingly, these rocks do not have the characteristic beehive structure found in the southern section of the Park.

The track in gets more rocky than this. It is very red!

Like other gorges in the northern part of the Bungle Bungles Echidna Chasm is home to Livistona palms, which survive the dry and hot summer days protected by the steep gorge.

It is amazing how plant life survives in adverse conditions.

Not a good place for the claustrophobic ...

... but it gets worse!

The scale of the rock walls dwarfs the puny humans who dare enter.

Soon we’ll all be in the dark. Visiting around midday will ensure that the Chasm is at its brightest.

This fissure goes in a long way.

Towards the end the going is a little more tricky, but not impossible.

A wonder of nature!