Purnululu National Park (WA)
Purnululu National Park in the East Kimberley region of Western Australia is renowned for the Bungle Bungles, a huge expanse of strikingbeehive domed structures, massive sandstone cliffs and towers - 20 million years in the making. It is a World Heritage site with a rich aboriginal cultural heritage spanning some 20,000 years. The national park is testimony to hunter-gatherer cultural tradition which has survived to the present day despite the effects of colonisation.
Purnululu - The outback's scenic jewel
Purnululu's outstanding landscape is a striking natural phenomenon, yet before 1982, when aerial pictures were first released, it was virtually unknown except to pastoralists, scientists and the local Aboriginal community. It is now seen as one of the scenic jewels of outback Australia. The park is a superb example of the stages of earth's evolutionary history including the record of life on the planet and major on-going geological processes.
Where to find the Bungle Bungles
To get to the Bungle Bungles you'll need to hire a 4WD vehicle at Kununurra in Western Australia's Ord Region and the drive some 300 kilometres.
You can also access the Bungle Bungles by air. Helicopter flights are available, from Turkey Creek Roadhouse at Warmun, 187km south of Kununurra, and light aircraft, from Kununurra.
Motels
Turkey Creek Roadhouse
Great Northern Hwy
Turkey Creek WA 6740
Telephone: (08) 9168 7882
Camping and Other
Turkey Creek Roadhouse
Great Northern Hwy
Turkey Creek WA 6740
Telephone: (08) 9168 7882
Daintree National Park (QLD)
Home to the Daintree Rainforest the oldest rainforest, which is over 135 million years old. The Park occupies and area of roughly 1,200 square kilometres. Approximately 430 species of birds live in the national park, including 13 species that are found nowhere else in the world.
This World Heritage site contains the highest number of rare plant and animal species threatened with extinction. It is outstanding example of the major stages in the earth's evolutionary history and ongoing ecological and biological processes.
Explore the magnificent Daintree
For tourists, this remarkable corner of the world offers a holiday few other places in the world can match. There are hiking trails, golden beaches, scenic lookouts, camping sites, picnic tables and swimming holes.
Cape Tribulation - where the rainforest meets the Great Barrier Reef
Not trip to the Daintree would be complete without to Cape Tribulation, a spectacular lookout point with sandy beaches surrounded by dense rainforest and colourful coral reefs on the other.
Just off-shore from Cape Tribulation is the Great Barrier Reef. Boat tours to the Reef leave from Cape Tribulation beach most days and make their way to tourist favourites Mackay Reef or Undine Reef.
Kakadu (NT)
Located in Australia's Northern Territory, 171 kilometres east of Darwin is Kakadu National Park. It is Australia's largest national park, a 2,000 year old plateau carved into escarpments and scoured by gorges brimming with rainforests and flowing with waterfalls.
A rich tapestry of life and art
Here you will find some extraordinary galleries of Aboriginal art, left behind by its original inhabitants some 25,000 years ago. For nature lovers there are approximately one thousand species of flora, 30 mammals, 75 reptiles, 1500 butterflies and moths, 50 freshwater fish and 25 species of frog.
Kakadu - two seasons of contrast
Kakadu has two seasons; 'wet' and 'dry'. From October to April, the park is showered with monsoon rains and many of its attractions are impossible to get to, but for the adventurous types it is also the time of year when lush Kakadu's flowers bloom and grow.
The dry season kicks in with a vengeance from May to September. This makes the Park more accessible to visitors.
Lots to see and do in Kakadu
Kakadu's wetlands are a feast for the senses. Large saltwater crocodiles and their smaller freshwater counterparts sleep on the banks of rivers and billabongs or can be seen floating or swimming in the water. A plethora of birds sing and play in the waters of the park including jabiru, jacanas, herons and ospreys.
Kakadu is a nature lovers paradise - so don't delay, book your ticket to Darwin today and make your way to beautiful Kakadu.
Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park (TAS)
In the heart of Tasmania's Wilderness World Heritage area lies Cradle Mountain - Lake St Clair National Park, a spectacular mountainous national treasure covering 1,280 square kilometres.
A wild landscape of jagged mountain tops, ancient rainforests, alpine grass fields and beech trees provide a wonderful range of environments to explore. Icy streams flow down from rugged mountains, ancient pines, still glacial lakes and wondrous wildlife ensure visitors in the area will not be disappointed.
Lake St Clair is the park's main attraction and is the starting point for Tasmania's most famous walk, the Overland Track, a stunning wilderness walk among dolerite mountains, waterfalls, through a variety of fascinating ecosystems and close to Tasmania's highest mountain, before finishing at Australia's deepest lake, Lake St Clair.
Due to the ever increasing tourist numbers, a booking system has been put in place, so before your next visit to Tasmania, be sure to make a booking for the Overland Track.
Kosciuszko National Park (NSW)
Kosciuszko National Park is the largest park in New South Wales (NSW). It hosts the highest mountains in Australia and the famous Snowy River. The park contains major ski resorts, superb cross-country skiing areas, scenic hiking trails and rugged bike paths - something for everyone year round.
Walk to the top of Australia amid wildflowers
For a truly spectacular outing, take a bush walk to the top of Kosciuszko, Australia's highest mountain. In the summer months as wildflowers bloom along the alpine climbs you'll imagine yourself in Austria or Switzerland instead of Australia.
Ski Thredbo and Perisher in the Winter
Alternatively you can join the throngs of ski starved Aussies in the winter time who make pilgrimage to Australia's best ski hills, namely Thredbo and Perisher Blue.
It's crowded with snowboarders who haven't quite got the hang of things and sometimes the hot temperatures mean that you're skiing on artificial snow, but on a beautiful winter's day when snowflakes are sprinkling down, you'll think you're in ski heaven!
