Mungo self-guided drive tour
Mungo National Park
Overview
Mungo self-guided drive tour through Mungo National Park in World Heritage Willandra Lakes offers scenic desert views of Walls of China and cycling options in outback NSW.
- Where
- Mungo National Park in Murray-Riverina
- Accessibility
- Medium
- Distance
- 70km loop
- Time suggested
- 2hrs
- Grade
- Easy
- Entry fees
- Park entry fees apply
- What to
bring - Drinking water, hat, sunscreen
- Please note
- Remember to take your binoculars if you want to birdwatch
- Check the weather before you set out as the Mungo self-guided drive tour can become boggy when it rains
Mungo self-guided drive tour, also known as Mungo loop track, is a brilliant introduction to the awe-inspiring desert landscape and a chance to experience the historic significance of Mungo National Park in comfort. Crossing the ancient lake-bed to the Walls of China, the route takes in the iconic dunes and mallee country of outback NSW, before tracing the north-east shores of the lake.
To get the most of your outback tour, drop by Mungo Visitor Centre and pick up ‘Driving the Mungo Story’. Stretch your legs at Walls boardwalk and then continue onto Red Top lookout and boardwalk which overlooks the dunes.
Pull up for a bite at Rosewood picnic area before taking a short walk on Mallee Stop walking track. Round Tank picnic area and Vigars Well picnic area are the last stops before picking up Zanci Pastoral Loop. Vigars Well dates back to the earlier settlers and from here, there’s access to the mobile dunes overlooking the majestic Mungo dry lakes. For an extra challenge, try cycling the track by mountain bike.
Emus and western red kangaroos are often seen bounding through the mallee scrub, and the park is home to numerous birds of prey. Keep your eyes peeled for the whistling kite, wedge-tailed eagle and brown goshawk.
Take a virtual tour of Mungo Self-guided Drive tour captured with Google Street View Trekker.
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/driving-routes/mungo-self-guided-drive-tour/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.
-
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 Mungo self-guided drive tour.
Getting there and parking
Mungo self-guided drive tour starts at Mungo Visitor Centre in the Walls of China 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
- Turn left into Balranald Road
- Take the first right into Mailbox Road and continue to the visitor centre
Parking
Parking is available at various attractions along the drive.
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
Toilets
Toilet facilities are located along this driving route at Mungo Visitor Centre, Walls of China carpark, Belah campground and Vigars Well picnic area.
Picnic tables
Picnic faclilties are located along this driving route at Mungo Visitor Centre, Walls of China carpark, Rosewood picnic area, Belah campground and Vigars Well picnic area.
Maps and downloads
Accessibility
Disability access level - medium
Assistance may be required to access some areas.
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.
If you're travelling through a national park or reserve on a public road you can have pets inside your vehicle. However, you must keep them inside your vehicle while driving through national parks or reserves. You must also comply with any conditions in the park’s plan of management, and you cannot stop to visit the park or use park facilities (unless for safety reasons, or to use publicly accessible toilets).
Smoking
NSW national parks are no smoking areas.
Visitor centre
-
Mungo Visitor Centre
4 Melaleuca Street, Buronga NSW 2739 - Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 4.30pm.
- 03 5021 8900
Learn more
Mungo self-guided drive tour 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 Stage 5 students (Years 9 to 10) will make meaningful connections with First Nations People in this excursion. It’s tailor-made for Aboriginal Studies. Students travel to Mungo National Park for a 5 to 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 Stage 5 students (Years 9 to 10) will make meaningful connections with First Nations People in this excursion. It’s tailor-made for Aboriginal Studies. Students travel to Mungo National Park for a 5 to 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.