An overview of the challenges facing the Purnululu World Heritage Area Advisory Committee in balancing the demands of ecotourism/geotourism with geoheritage and cultural heritage responsibilities.

1. A Beehive Balancing Act for
Eco-tourism in the Bungle Bungles
Presented by: Dennis Williamson –
World Heritage Advisory Committee, Purnululu National Park, Western Australia

2. Purnululu National Park
World Heritage Area

3.  A plateau of Devonian sandstone, carved into a mass of beehive-shaped
towers with regularly alternating, dark gray bands of cynobacterial crust
(single cell photosynthetic organisms).
 The plateau is dissected by a 100–200-metre (330–660 ft) deep, sheer-
sided gorges and slot canyons.
 The cone-towers are steep-sided, with an abrupt break of slope at the base
and have domed summits.
 Fragile but stabilized by crusts of iron oxide and bacteria.
 An outstanding example of land formation by dissolutional weathering of
sandstone, with removal of sand grains by wind, rain and sheet wash on
slopes.
For the Geology Buffs

4. Osmand Range: Purnululu
Conservation Reserve

5. Open savanna woodlands and
grasslands with a diverse range of 13
spinifex species (Triodia spp.)
woodlands

6. Soaring ~250 m cliffs up cut by
seasonal waterfalls and pools,
with Livistona fan palms.

10. The famous Beehive Domes

11. Jaru and Gija
Aboriginal Cultures and Rangers

13. Tanba Banks - Jaru
Paul Butters - Gija

14. Virginia O’Neill –
Jaru Committee Representative

15. Aboriginal Rock Art:
Sacred and Fragile

17. Cathedral Gorge

18. ~ 25,000 Annual Visitors
from April to December

21. Park Gateway Signage
(with Committee Members: G. Chidlow, P. & D.
Butters, C. Done and D. Williamson)

22. Piccaninny Walks

23. Bushfire Risks

24. Prescribed Burning Program

25. Wet Season & Floods

26. Bill Dempsey –
Purnululu N.P. Manager and
Advisory Committee Facilitator

28. Vincent Edwards, Jaru Committee
Member, with the ‘Outback’
Natural History Doco Team

29. Invasive Species

30. Advisory Committee Meetings

31. Park Logo Competition

33. Come Visit
the Bungle Bungles
Contact and Campsite
Bookings:
https://parks.dpaw.wa.
gov.au/site/purnululu-
visitor-centre
https://parks.dpaw.wa.
gov.au/park-stay
Tel.: Kununurra, WA
Office on 08 9168 4200