Echidna Chasm, Western Australia: Walk, location & photography

Echidna Chasm in Purnululu National Park provides one of the most spectacular walking trails in the Kimberley region of Western Australia. Expect high gorge walls and photography-friendly colour changes.

What is Echidna Chasm

Echidna Chasm in Purnululu National Park is one of the highlights of the Kimberley region, Western Australia.

At the northern end of Purnululu National Park, Echidna Chasm is a narrow, winding passage that cuts through the rumpled sandstone landscape. The gorge walls reach up to 200 metres in height, and the gap between them gets down to around a metre in places.

4 top Kununurra experiences to book

Take a cruise along the Ord River – including the spectacular Kimberley sunset.
Or go for the Ord River lunch cruise instead.
Dine in the outback – cooked in a camp oven at an atmospheric secret location.
Take a scenic flight over the Bungle Bungles – and land for the Cathedral Gorge Walk.

Echidna Chasm walk

The Echidna Chasm walk is a 2km return trail from the Echidna Chasm car park. It is rated as a grade four walk, although this is largely because of the rocky surface. There can be boulders providing obstacles in the path, with three points of contact required to negotiate them.

There are several towering Livistona palm trees near the gorge entrance, but the main reason to visit is the ever-changing colours provided by the sunlight creeping into the chasm.

When to visit Echidna Chasm

Echidna Chasm is best tackled during the Kimberley’s dry season, between May and October. However, the photography is best between 11am and 1pm, due to the sunlight flooding into the gorge.

This, of course, is the worst time of day for actually walking, as temperatures can get seriously hot. Make sure you take plenty of water, sunscreen and a hat with you.