Tunnel Creek National Park, Nature reserve in Kimberley region, Western Australia
Tunnel Creek National Park is a nature reserve where a 750-meter tunnel cuts through the Napier Range, showcasing dramatic limestone formations. The passage is interrupted in places by water pools that have formed within this underground system.
The limestone system began forming around 250 million years ago when the Devonian reef was first exposed, fundamentally reshaping the landscape. The structures visible today took shape over the last 20 million years through ongoing erosion and water movement.
This place holds deep meaning for the Bunuba people, who have long ties to the land and left their mark through rock art on the cave walls. The paintings inside reflect their connection to the area and are part of their storytelling traditions.
Visitors should bring torches and water-resistant shoes, as some tunnel sections require wading through permanent water pools. Water can reach stomach depth in certain spots, so care is needed when walking through.
Five bat species live inside the tunnel alongside freshwater crocodiles that inhabit the large water pools of the system. This unusual mix of flying mammals and reptiles makes the wildlife here particularly noteworthy for visitors to observe.
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