Taking up almost a third of the country, Western Australia has many national parks of great beauty that can be explored on foot.
Rising above fertile plains, the Stirling Range is a single chain of peaks 10 km (6 mi) wide and 65 km (40 mi) long, providing spectacular rough walking. The park contains over 500 species of wildflowers, and orchids are common in the sandy soils around the foothills. The prime walking areas, including a two-day circuit, are in the eastern end of the park. Spring (September-November) is the best time to visit as the wildflowers are in bloom and water is available from recognized sites.
The Nuyts Wilderness Area of the Walpole-Nornalup National Park on the state's southern coast is designated walkers only. It contains thickly vegetated sand dunes, towering karri and jarrah forests, extensive heathlands, an abundance of wildflowers and wide ocean beaches. The standard two-day walk follows a well-defined track and is suitable at any time of the year.
In the state's far north, The Kimberley is a magnificent tropical wilderness of cliff-lined coast, rugged mountains, huge rivers and inland plateaus offering unlimited bushwalking for the adventurous. Lying within this region is the imposing Purnululu (Bungle Bungle) National Park, a 350-million-year-old massif of giant beehive-like mounds or domes, gorges and palm-fringed rock pools. The park is very remote with few facilities and no food or accommodations. Access is by four-wheel drive only and walkers must carry in their own food and water. Cathedral Gorge, the area's most visited site, is an easy walk but visitors to Piccaninny Creek and Gorge will need to camp overnight. Camping (with toilet facilities) is available in two areas within the park and supplies can be obtained from nearby Turkey Creek.
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