West AustrAliAn WAndering
Purnululu National Park, south of Kununurra in the West Kimberley region, is one of only 12
UNESCO Natural World Heritage sites in Australia. It covers a huge 240,000 hectares, encompassing
some incredible areas of scenery, including the Bungle Bungle Range, but it is remote. Bungle
Bungle guided Tours flies visitors in on either helicopters or small planes before heading off on
walks through the towering cliffs of Cathedral Gorge (above), past the beehive-shaped Domes,
along the sandy bed of Piccaninny Creek and through the narrow Echidna Chasm. There are
three different tours, graded from easy to challenging, all led by local Indigenous guides, who
share their culture with guests along the way. bunglebungleguidedtours.com.auGADGETS
Transform your journeyTangled cables? Uncomfortable
ear buds? Those pesky headphone
problems become a distant
memory the moment you slip on
PXC 550 Wireless by sennheiser.
Designed with NoiseGard noise-
cancellation technology, these
stylish headphones allow you to
tune out the world and into your
favourite album or podcast with
ease. A gentle tap of the touch-
sensitive ear cups adjusts the
volume, skips a track or answers a
call, while the built-in microphone
siphons peripheral sound so your
conversation is always clear. Going
on a long-haul flight? Plush material
ensures comfort throughout your
journey and, with up to 30 hours’
battery life, you’ll be able to listen
to tunes from take-off to landing.
$499.95, sennheiser.comCultural connectionsAustralia is full of amazing stories,
none more so than those from the
Indigenous community. Marcia
Langton’s Welcome to Country not
only lists a huge range of Indigenous
tourism experiences – national parks,
galleries, festivals, communities
open to visitors and more – but it
also offers an introduction to other
aspects of the culture. Learn about
languages, history, story-telling,
native title, art and dance, as well as
etiquette for visitors. It’s an important
guide for travellers who want to
experience all aspects of this diverse
country. Hardie Grant Travel, $40,
hardiegrant.com.auCup of the bestIf you’ve been burned by arriving
in a new city and not being able
to find a decent espresso, arm
yourself with global Coffee Tour.
This guide offers the must-drink
brews from 37 countries around
the world, teaches you how to
order in the local language,
directs you towards legendary
cafes, and points you towards
tours of plantations and cupping
sessions at urban roasters. It’s
the perfect companion for
caffeine aficionados wanting
to avoid cups of instant.
Lonely Planet Books, $30,
shop.lonelyplanet.comMap it outDo you like to have a really good
plan before a trip? We don’t blame
you, particularly if it’s a first-time
destination. Anyone doing a tour
of Vietnam should grab a copy
of the dK eyewitness Travel
guide: Vietnam and Angkor Wat.
It offers all the details, including
comprehensive itineraries, maps,
historical and cultural context, and
insider tips on where to stay, eat, shop
and more. The stand-out of this guide
is its strong visual style that offers
colour photographs, as well as floor
plans of some of the bigger sights,
like the Hue Citadel and Angkor Wat.
Penguin, $30, penguin.com.auoff The
shelfWhat we’ve been reading.heAring Aid BesT BooKs Wilderness CAMPing PACKing soluTions MoneY MATTers16 NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC TRAVELLERCOURTESY BUNGLE BUNGLE GUIDED WALKS; SENNHEISER; HARDIE GRANTtHings We l OVe