Back on the main road, we embarked on our journey towards Purnululu National Park, renowned for the breathtaking Bungle Bungle Range. We had heard from friends that the road leading into the park was both lengthy and quite rugged, so we opted to free camp just outside the entrance, leaving our caravan behind to explore the park in one adventurous day. As we settled into camp, slightly off the main highway alongside a few other caravans, the children gathered firewood with the hope of assembling a cozy campfire. Lily and I whipped up some damper, which we relished as dessert, accompanied by butter and jam.

Rising at 6am, we set off in the car into the national park. After letting down the tires, we spent the next hour and a half navigating the 53-kilometer stretch of Spring Creek Track cautiously. A successful visit to the Visitor Centre equipped us with a well-planned itinerary, and the kids eagerly picked up junior ranger booklets to complete. Venturing towards the southern part of the park, we caught our first glimpse of the enchanting beehive-shaped sandstone domes. These remarkable formations, a World Heritage site, have been sculpted over millions of years through erosion. After a brief stop to admire Elephant Rock, we spent the morning hiking through the area, allowing us to appreciate the domes up close—simply stunning. One of our trails led us to Cathedral Gorge, an awe-inspiring natural amphitheatre of red rock. Here, Lily and I belted out a song from Moana 2, “Beyond,” at the top of our lungs.

Once we finished lunch, we headed towards Echidna Chasm, situated roughly 50km across the park. With steep gorge walls towering up to 200 meters high and barely a meter wide in places, Echidna Chasm was a fascinating site to explore. We marvelled at how the sun’s rays illuminated the rock surfaces in varying shades of red, orange, and yellow. Our last trek of the day was to Mini Palms Gorge, a captivating and picturesque walk involving rock climbing and scrambling. The red rock walls provided a backdrop to the vibrant palm trees. Exhausted after covering roughly 12km of hiking trails, we piled back into the car to return to camp. To conclude the day, the children toasted marshmallows by the fire. Despite the exhausting day, we unanimously agreed that visiting the unique park was well worth it.

The following morning, we set off early, with Lake Argyle as our destination. Having little knowledge about the area, we were pleasantly surprised by its spectacular scenery and beauty. Lake Argyle, Western Australia’s largest and Australia’s second largest freshwater man-made reservoir by volume, is home to over 70 islands. We arranged to meet our traveling friends, the Deuchars, to rent a BBQ boat together. Our time at the infinity pool was accompanied by stunning views, despite the pool’s frigid temperature! As dusk approached, Ollie, Lily, Jethro, and Holly wandered around the caravan park attempting to sell their handcrafted cards and bracelets. Their entrepreneurship was fuelled by a desire to save for their travels and to donate to charity. Thankfully, their efforts (and charming smiles) paid off, raising a total of $28! Meanwhile, the adults enjoyed a special sunset location, sharing cheese, drinks, and laughter. Near our campsite, the children noticed a Bernese Mountain Dog. Missing Renjo dearly, I approached him for a pat. His name was Hugo, and he weighed a whopping 70kg!

With the dawn of a beautiful sunrise, we got ready to spend the morning cruising the lake on a rented BBQ boat. With four hours to enjoy, the two families set sail amidst stunning scenery in search of wildlife. Glen quickly conjured up a hearty breakfast consisting of bacon, eggs, chipolatas, tomatoes, mushrooms, hash browns, and more. Although wildlife remained elusive, we headed towards Jump Rock where we anchored and savoured our delicious breakfast. Everyone plunged into the inviting waters, with the daring ones scaling the rock face for a thrilling jump. Jumps began at about one meter high, gradually reaching ten meters. During the rest of the journey, the children took turns steering the boat before we returned. We all agreed it was an ideal way to conclude our unforgettable time in Western Australia. That afternoon, we journeyed towards the Northern Territory, bidding a heartfelt farewell to Western Australia.