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Discover an archaeological wonderland

Walls of China, Mungo NPCredit: Destination NSW

Moon lit sky, Walls of China, Mungo National Park, Outback NSW

#feelnew #feelnsw

Discover an archaeological wonderland

Walls of China, Mungo NP Credit: Destination NSW

Moon lit sky, Walls of China, Mungo National Park, Outback NSW

#feelnew #feelnsw

Hashtags #feelnew #feelnsw

Immense, surreal Mungo National Park is the centrepiece of one of the outback’s great road trips. Home to Mungo Man and Mungo Lady, this fossilised lakebed in western New South Wales is a 42,000-year-old cradle of Australian Aboriginal culture. Wander around one of this continent’s most photographable phenomena — the Walls of China — or just look down at your feet to witness an unparalleled, unabridged natural history of Australia.

Highlights: 

  • Hear Dreaming stories as you walk among the spectacular Walls of China 
  • Fly over Lake Mungo for the ultimate outback perspective 
  • Just getting there: take the epic Darling River Run road-trip 

Getting to Mungo National Park 

There is a superlative choice of road-trip options to take you to Mungo National Park. The most direct route from Sydney is a 1,040km drive west to the Murray River gateway town of Wentworth (via Wagga Wagga). En route, stop at Gundagai to discover the bush legend of the Dog on the Tucker Box. Detour to the multicultural food-bowl town Griffith, if only to grab a bottle or two of local speciality botrytis semillon. The two-hour drive from Wentworth to Mungo National Park is on unsealed road, so stock up on supplies and fuel, and check road conditions at Wentworth Visitor Information Centre before you leave. Explore the shifting sand dunes of former megafauna stomping grounds Perry Sandhills (6km southwest of Wentworth) before heading northeast on Arumpo Road. 

If you have a few days to spare, enter (or leave) Lake Mungo via the Darling River Run. Start this epic (unsealed) road trip in the iconic outback town of Bourke, 570km to the northeast, and tour immense Menindee Lakes with River Lady Tours on the way. Break up your journey with a couple of nights in the cosy Jillaroo’s Cottage on 130,000-hectare Trilby Station.  

A four-wheel-drive vehicle is recommended for exploring Mungo. Ensure you are well prepared for the journey by memorising the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service’s outback safety tips.  

The Walls of China 

Visually, the Walls of China is a dreamlike outback-scape like none other, but what lies on and just beneath the sandy surface of this long-dry lake is equally jaw-dropping. Mungo’s ‘lunettes’ rise up from the earth like bonsai mountains ranges, formed by millennia of sand-laden winds. The 10km-wide, 20km-long expanse is culturally significant to three Aboriginal groups: the Southern Paakantyi, the Ngyiampaa and the Mutthi Mutthi peoples. Book a NPWS Aboriginal Discovery Guide to explore a sensitive area beyond the boardwalk (all Walls of China walks must be guided). Receive a heartfelt Welcome to Country on behalf of Mungo’s Traditional Owners, then hear fascinating Dreaming stories that crisscross the entire Willandra Lakes Region World Heritage Area.

Mungo National Park, Mungo Credit: Tyson Mayr

Man watching the sunset at the Walls of China in Mungo National Park, Mungo.

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Mungo National Park, Mungo Credit: Tyson Mayr

Man watching the sunset at the Walls of China in Mungo National Park, Mungo.

#feelnew #feelnsw

Mungo National Park, Mungo Credit: Destination NSW

A scenic sand formation (lunette) in the UNESCO World Heritage-Listed Mungo National Park.

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Mungo National Park, Mungo Credit: Destination NSW

A scenic sand formation (lunette) in the UNESCO World Heritage-Listed Mungo National Park.

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Mungo Man and Mungo Lady 

The Meeting Place at Mungo Visitor Centre tells the tale of the park’s true stars: Mungo Man and Mungo Lady, uncovered here in 1974 and 1968 respectively. Scientists say the remains of these ancient humans are the oldest known examples of ritual burials on Earth. The Mungos have been described as the ‘bookend of humanity’, helping to prove that Australian Aboriginal culture has existed here for at least 42,000 years. While the remains are locked away for cultural reasons, the Meeting Place unlocks plenty of other treasures, including casts of fossilised human footprints that were found on a claypan north of the lake in 2003.

The Mungo Loop Track 

Drive around Mungo Loop Track (70km, anticlockwise) to explore the national park’s far reaches. Below tall sand dunes to Mungo’s north, Vigars Well once watered the horses of Cobb & Co stagecoaches. In the south, wander along a boardwalk to prime sunset perch Red Top Lookout to witness the outback’s ever-changing hues. Spend a night halfway at Belah Campground to transform this adventure into a two-day outback odyssey (bring-your-own everything).  

The Pastoral Heritage Walk from the Visitor Centre takes you back to Willandra Lakes’ pastoral past (allow yourself five hours). The drop-log cypress pine construction of Mungo Woolshed has stood the test of time (since 1869); it was once part of the 200,000-hectare Gol Gol Station. Among the still-standing structures at nearby Zanci Homestead, you’ll find an outback 'dugout' — an early settler version of a fridge.

Where to stay and eat 

Mungo Lodge’s smart cabins offer refined sanctuary 5km from the Visitor Centre. Its Mungo Bar and Bistro serves generous country meals from breakfast to dinner — think lamb shanks and chicken schnitzels. Browse the gift shop for local Aboriginal art and souvenirs. The kids will love Mungo’s unofficial zoo of roaming emus, kangaroos and rescue goats, and for an aerial perspective, ask the lodge to organise a scenic flight over Lake Mungo.  

Two kilometres from the Visitor Centre, Mungo Main Campground has 33 spacious sites, an amenities block, barbecues and picnic tables. From here, it’s a short walk up to Mungo Lookout. Next to the Visitor Centre, the refurbished Mungo Shearers' Quarters offer neat, simple and family friendly cabins, with shared amenities (including hot showers).  

If self-driving is not for you, Outback GeoAdventure (based in Balranald, 150km south of the national park) runs small group tours that cover all Mungo's highlights, with options to explore lesser-known national parks such as Yanga. Its Mungo Full Moon Tour is one for budding photographers. Mungo Guided Tours operates overnight tours in a 4WD coach, starting at either Wentworth or Mildura and staying at Mungo Lodge. 

Yanga National Park Credit: Destination NSW

Sun setting over Yanga Lake in Yanga National Park

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Yanga National Park Credit: Destination NSW

Sun setting over Yanga Lake in Yanga National Park

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Mungo Lodge, Mungo National Park Credit: Destination NSW

Aerial overlooking Mungo Lodge inside Mungo National Park.

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Mungo Lodge, Mungo National Park Credit: Destination NSW

Aerial overlooking Mungo Lodge inside Mungo National Park.

#feelnew #feelnsw

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