Grasslands Nature trail
Mungo National Park
Overview
Wheelchair-accessible Grassland Nature trail is a short, easy walk through grassy woodlands offering scenic views and birdwatching near Willandra Lakes in World Heritage-listed Mungo National Park.
- Where
- Mungo National Park in Murray-Riverina
- Accessibility
- Easy
- Distance
- 1.2km loop
- Time suggested
- 15 - 45min
- Grade
- Grade 2
- Entry fees
- Park entry fees apply
- What to
bring - Drinking water, hat, sunscreen, binoculars
The vast desert wilderness of Mungo National Park hums with life, and this short, easy track will delight and awe in equal measure. Wheelchair friendly Grasslands Nature trail, near Main campground, takes in the grasslands, shrubs of bluebush and copper bush, woodlands of Belah, cypress pine, and mallee scrub of this World Heritage region in outback NSW.
This outback wilderness is a haven for wildlife, so grab your binoculars for the birdwatching experience of a lifetime. Look in the branches of the towering black cypress and belah trees for wedge-tailed eagles and whistling kites. Brilliant crimson chat flit among the scrub, and a massive flock of pink cockatoos is a sight worth going to see.
To get the most out of your visit, why not join an Aboriginal ranger on a guided tour? While suitably inspired, be sure to check out Mungo lookout and Mallee Stop walking track.
Map
Map
Map legend
Local alerts
For the latest updates on fires, closures and other alerts in this area, see https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/things-to-do/walking-tracks/grasslands-nature-trail/local-alerts
General enquiries
- National Parks Contact Centre
- 7am to 7pm daily
- 1300 072 757 (13000 PARKS) for the cost of a local call within Australia excluding mobiles
- parks.info@environment.nsw.gov.au
Park info
- in Mungo National Park in the Murray-Riverina region
Mungo National Park is always open but may have to close at times due to poor weather or fire danger.
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Park entry fees:
$8 per vehicle per day. Fees are payable through self-registration envelopes outside Mungo Visitor Centre. Different fees apply for commercial tour operators and vehicles with 8 seats or more.
Buy annual pass.
Visitor info
All the practical information you need to know about Grasslands Nature trail.
Track grading
Features of this track
Distance
1.2km loop
Time
15 - 45min
Quality of markings
Clearly sign posted
Experience required
No experience required
Gradient
Flat
Steps
No steps
Quality of path
Formed track: The walk is a 1.2m-wide hard-packed ground track.
Getting there and parking
Grasslands Nature trail starts at Main campground in the south western precinct of Mungo National Park. To get there:
- From Sturt Highway, take Silver City Highway south of Mildura.
- Turn right into Arumpo Road and follow to the end
- Main campground is on the right shortly before the T-intersection
Parking
Parking is available in a gravel carpark at Main campground.
Weather, temperature and rainfall
Summer temperature
Average
15°C and 34°C
Highest recorded
47.7°C
Winter temperature
Average
3°C and 20°C
Lowest recorded
-4.8°C
Rainfall
Wettest month
May
Driest month
January
The area’s highest recorded rainfall in one day
93.3mm
Facilities
There are accessible toilets and picnic tables at Main campground where this walk begins.
Maps and downloads
Accessibility
Disability access level - easy
- Grasslands Nature trail is a flat, 1.2m-wide hard dirt track leads from Main campground through the grasslands and woodland. The track is suitable for wheelchairs, prams, and people with reduced mobility.
- There are sheltered picnic tables at the campground, where you can rest before or after the walk.
- The campground has an accessible toilet
Prohibited
Drones
Flying drones in Mungo National Park is not permitted unless you've received written agreement from the Park Office before your visit. Please note that a consent to fly a drone in this park is only permitted in exceptional circumstances with endorsement from the traditional owners. Read more about the Drones in Parks policy and the process to apply for consent.
Pets
Pets and domestic animals (other than certified assistance animals) are not permitted. Find out which regional parks allow dog walking and see the pets in parks policy for more information.
Smoking
NSW national parks are no smoking areas.
Visitor centre
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Mungo Visitor Centre
4 Melaleuca Street, Buronga NSW 2739 - Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 4.30pm.
- 03 5021 8900
Learn more
Grasslands Nature trail is in Mungo National Park. Here are just some of the reasons why this park is special:
A landscape like no other
Gaze in awe at scenery moulded by the elements and discover how climatic changes since the last ice age have shaped the land's geography. The park's lunette is perhaps its most astonishing feature. Comprising four layers of sand and silt deposited over tens of thousands of years, this majestic sight almost defies description. Walk the ancient dry lakebed of Lake Mungo and photograph the spectacular etched dunes of the Walls of China. At night, sit back and be amazed at star-filled skies unlike anything you've seen before.
- 5-day Desert Sky outback tours to Mungo Immerse yourself in big blue skies and endless landscapes on a 5-day adventure with Desert Sky Tours. Leaving from Adelaide, enjoy camaraderie on the open road and explore fascinating outback sights by 4WD.
- Corner Country 4WD tours by Spirit Safaris Experience the beauty of remote outback landscapes on this sweeping 4WD tour by Spirit Safaris. You’ll explore national parks and other highlights of Corner Country and Channel Country.
- Lake Mungo and Culpra Milli immersion Students make meaningful connections with remote Aboriginal Australia in this Stage 5 Red Earth Aboriginal Studies excursion. They travel to Mungo National Park for a 6 or 7-day immersion experience.
- Mungo day tours with Discover Mildura Join the knowledgeable guides of Discover Mildura to take a big leap back in time as you explore stunning landscapes in Mungo National Park. Learn about Aboriginal civilisation and hear fascinating stories of geology in World Heritage surrounds.
- Mungo Guided Tours day trip Enjoy an action-packed day out in World Heritage surrounds with the friendly guides of Mungo Guided Tours. Explore fascinating Outback history and discover the stunning and austere geology of Mungo National Park.
Incomparable history
Walk in the footsteps of the Ngyiampaa, Mutthi Mutthi and Southern Paakantyi Aboriginal people who have lived here for millennia. Come and share this ancient place and stand at the history-making sites where the world's oldest human cremation was unearthed and 20,000 year old human footprints and trackways have been found. Join an Aboriginal ranger on a Discovery Tour and learn about Mungo's exceptional heritage and continuing importance.
- 5-day Desert Sky outback tours to Mungo Immerse yourself in big blue skies and endless landscapes on a 5-day adventure with Desert Sky Tours. Leaving from Adelaide, enjoy camaraderie on the open road and explore fascinating outback sights by 4WD.
- Corner Country 4WD tours by Spirit Safaris Experience the beauty of remote outback landscapes on this sweeping 4WD tour by Spirit Safaris. You’ll explore national parks and other highlights of Corner Country and Channel Country.
- Guided 4WD outback adventures in Corner Country Explore the fascinating outback region known as Corner Country with the friendly guides of Outback Spirit on a 14-day 4WD adventure taking in scenic wonders from Adelaide to Alice Springs.
- Lake Mungo and Culpra Milli immersion Students make meaningful connections with remote Aboriginal Australia in this Stage 5 Red Earth Aboriginal Studies excursion. They travel to Mungo National Park for a 6 or 7-day immersion experience.
- Mungo day tours with Discover Mildura Join the knowledgeable guides of Discover Mildura to take a big leap back in time as you explore stunning landscapes in Mungo National Park. Learn about Aboriginal civilisation and hear fascinating stories of geology in World Heritage surrounds.
Outback animals
With its thriving kangaroo and emu populations, Mungo's the perfect place for an up-close glimpse of Australia's coat of arms. You're sure to be amazed by the sight and sound of pink cockatoos in their hundreds, or the vision of harmonious bird species taking turns drinking from ground tanks. There's a good chance you'll see a mallee ring-neck parrot - look for its striking green/gold colouring.
- 5-day Desert Sky outback tours to Mungo Immerse yourself in big blue skies and endless landscapes on a 5-day adventure with Desert Sky Tours. Leaving from Adelaide, enjoy camaraderie on the open road and explore fascinating outback sights by 4WD.
- Mungo lunette guided tour Take a guided tour of Mungo lunette (Walls of China) with an NPWS Aboriginal guide. It's one of the most spectacular outback landscapes in NSW and a must-do when visiting Mungo National Park.
- Rosewood picnic area Enjoy lunch and some birdwatching at this picnic spot. It’s well-positioned near walking tracks, and is a great place to contemplate Mungo’s scenery and Aboriginal history.
- Round Tank picnic area Round Tank picnic area offers a picnic spot on Mungo Self-guided Drive tour, with excellent birdwatching opportunities in outback NSW in Mungo National Park.
World Heritage wonders
Mungo National Park is part of the Willandra Lakes Region World Heritage Area. The region abounds in ancient cultural and archaeological treasures, the scale of which is almost impossible to grasp without a visit. Findings include human skeletal material, tools, middens and animal bones, along with relatively undisturbed landforms spanning several thousand years.
- 5-day Desert Sky outback tours to Mungo Immerse yourself in big blue skies and endless landscapes on a 5-day adventure with Desert Sky Tours. Leaving from Adelaide, enjoy camaraderie on the open road and explore fascinating outback sights by 4WD.
- Corner Country 4WD tours by Spirit Safaris Experience the beauty of remote outback landscapes on this sweeping 4WD tour by Spirit Safaris. You’ll explore national parks and other highlights of Corner Country and Channel Country.
- Guided 4WD outback adventures in Corner Country Explore the fascinating outback region known as Corner Country with the friendly guides of Outback Spirit on a 14-day 4WD adventure taking in scenic wonders from Adelaide to Alice Springs.
- Mungo day tours with Discover Mildura Join the knowledgeable guides of Discover Mildura to take a big leap back in time as you explore stunning landscapes in Mungo National Park. Learn about Aboriginal civilisation and hear fascinating stories of geology in World Heritage surrounds.
- Mungo Guided Tours day trip Enjoy an action-packed day out in World Heritage surrounds with the friendly guides of Mungo Guided Tours. Explore fascinating Outback history and discover the stunning and austere geology of Mungo National Park.
Plants and animals protected in this park
Animals
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Emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae)
The largest of Australian birds, the emu stands up to 2m high and is the second largest bird in the world, after the ostrich. Emus live in pairs or family groups. The male emu incubates and rears the young, which will stay with the adult emus for up to 2 years.
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Wedge-tailed eagle (Aquila audax)
With a wingspan of up to 2.5m, the wedge-tailed eagle is Australia’s largest bird of prey. These Australian animals are found in woodlands across NSW, and have the ability to soar to heights of over 2km. If you’re bird watching, look out for the distinctive diamond-shaped tail of the eagle.
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Red kangaroo (Macropus rufus)
The red kangaroo is one of the most iconic Australian animals and the largest marsupial in the world. Large males have reddish fur and can reach a height of 2m, while females are considerably smaller and have blue-grey fur. Red kangaroos are herbivores and mainly eat grass.
Plants
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Saltbush (Atriplex nummularia)
A hardy Australian native plant, the saltbush is a small spreading shrub that can withstand dry salty soils such as those found in the desert plains of western NSW. It is grey-white in colour and has small spear-shaped succulent leaves. It flowers from December to April.