The Ultimate Travel Guide To Mungo National Park

The World Heritage-listed site must be seen to be believed.

I’m sure I speak for many of us when I say I’ve always wondered what it would be like to visit the moon. Seeing it in the evening sky always conjures up feelings of whimsy and wonder in me – a mystic, dreamy place just begging to be explored. Unfortunately, also like the majority of us, I can’t afford to just jump in a rocket and zoom on up there.

But what if I told you there’s a place right here on Earth that effortlessly encapsulates this ethereal atmosphere? I didn’t believe it either, until I visited Mungo National Park myself, one of Australia’s most underrated national parks.

Where is Mungo National Park?

Mungo National Park is in Ouback NSW, just over 200 kilometres from the Victorian border town of Mildura or a 10-hour drive from Sydney. The World Heritage-listed site spans 240,000 hectares across the picturesque Riverina Murray region.

Mungo National Park spans 240,000 hectares. (Image: Destination NSW)

For those in the know, Mungo is definitely worth the road trip, with many people travelling to the region purely to witness its lunar-like landscapes. But this ancient, Ancestral place flies relatively under the radar in the grand scheme of things, often overlooked in favour of its Aussie counterparts.

Don’t believe me? Well, while places like Kakadu National Park, Blue Mountains National Park and Daintree National Park see from 200,000 to 6 million visitors a year, just 37,000 people visit Mungo annually. But for what it lacks in numbers, Mungo more than makes up for in beauty, history and cultural significance.

Why visit Mungo National Park?

While the topography of Mungo National Park alone is reason enough to visit, its history is equally as staggering. This is a place where megafauna once roamed, a land that lays claim to the oldest collection of fossilised human footprints ever uncovered – dating back to the Ice Age.

Mungo is a culturally significant site for its Traditional Owners. (Image: Destination NSW)

The archaeological discoveries of Mungo Man and Mungo Lady also rewrote history. Discovered in 1968 and 1974 respectively by geologist Jim Bowler, the remains are the oldest known examples of ritual burials in the world, dating back over 40,000 years.

The findings also scientifically proved that Aboriginal culture has existed here since time immemorial. Mungo National Park is on the Traditional Lands of the Paakantji, Ngiyampaa and Mutthi Mutthi people and remains a culturally and spiritually significant site for Traditional Owners. It is symbolic of Australian history, representing the timeless connection First Nations people have with Country.

Must-see sights in Mungo National Park

Mungo can be experienced in a variety of ways, with many visitors opting to explore the national park on their own. I recommend joining at least one of the Indigenous-led guided tours with NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service. It’s a great way to learn about the land’s history and culture, as well as get the most out of your time at Mungo. Here are a few highlights.

Lake Mungo

Middens found in Mungo National Park in NSW

Ancient middens can still be found within the sand dunes. (Image: Destination NSW)

Lake Mungo is one of 17 arid lake beds within the region. It held a vast amount of water and marine life around 50,000 years ago, but has long since dried and fossilised. The now eroded sand dunes that tower around the park’s circumference continuously reveal evidence of an area once thriving with prehistoric life.

Mungo Woolshed

Built in 1869 using an ingenious drop-log cypress pine construction, this historic woolshed harks back to when Gol Gol pastoral station brought thousands of sheep to the region. The farming activity on this dramatic but delicate land helped archaeologists discover the secrets buried beneath its red-ochre surface.

Walls of China

The awe-inspiring Walls of China attract many visitors. (Image: Destination NSW)

Arcing around the eastern edge of the lake, the Walls of China is Mungo’s star attraction, where visitors most often describe a lunar-like appearance. Its low curve of sandy hills, or lunette, rises up out of the Earth like pinnacles, sculpted by millennia of sand-soaked winds.

Red Top Lookout

Head to Red Top Lookout in time for sunset for unparalleled views over Mungo. The fading light renders its tapestry of deep ravines and rising hills in all shades of orange, pink and purple, mirroring the magic of the moon.

Mungo Loop Track

See the highlights along the Mungo Loop Track. (Image: Destination NSW)

Get acquainted with this awe-inspiring desert landscape by driving, or better yet, cycling the 70-kilometre Mungo Loop Track. Cross the ancient lakebed to the Walls of China before tracing its shores, taking in the iconic dunes and mallee trees of Outback NSW.

The Meeting Place

Head to the Meeting Place at Mungo Visitor Centre to learn about Mungo Man and Mungo Lady. While the remains are kept private for cultural reasons, the lunette-shaped viewpoint here commemorates their resting place and that of countless Aboriginal Ancestors. You’ll also see casts of the park’s ancient fossilised human footprints.

Mungo wildlife

Mungo is home to adorable red kangaroos. (Image: Destination NSW)

Many species call Mungo home, and spotting them is like a game of wildlife bingo. There are over 100 species of bird here, from mulga parrots to pink cockatoos. It’s also a prime place to see red kangaroos and emus. If you’re lucky, you may also spot short-beaked echidnas, fat-tailed dunnarts, pygmy possums, carpet pythons, mallee dragons and more.

How to get to Mungo National Park

The closest major city centre to Mungo National Park is Mildura in Victoria, around a 2.5-hour drive away. You will inevitably encounter unsealed roads that are usually in good condition, but always check traffic updates and carry adequate food and water.

A small plane in Mungo National Park in NSW

Take a scenic flight to see Mungo from above. (Image: Destination NSW)

If you’re coming from Sydney, it’ll take you up to 11 hours to reach Mungo. You can stop in trending detour destinations like Goulburn and Wagga Wagga to rest and refuel. I’d also highly recommend flying with Murray Darling Scenic Flights from either Echuca or Swan Hill. You’ll see Mungo in all its glory from above, as well as nearby natural landmarks like Lake Tyrrell, one of Australia’s most mesmerising pink lakes.

Where to stay at Mungo National Park

Mungo Lodge is a 10-minute drive from the Mungo Visitor Centre. The sprawling 77-hectare property is well-appointed with large family rooms, deluxe cabins and glamping tents, as well as an onsite restaurant and bar.

Mungo Lodge in Mungo National Park in NSW

Book a stay in one of Mungo Lodge’s cosy cabins. (Image: Destination NSW)

The Mungo Shearers’ Quarters offer rustic accommodation in the heart of the park. Stay in a cosy cabin with access to communal kitchens and bathrooms. BYO bedding.

Two kilometres out of Mungo National Park is Main Camp. Located off Arumpo Road, the campground boasts plenty of unpowered sites and includes picnic tables, barbecues and non-flush toilets. Pre-booking is not available.

Sinking a cold one on a hot afternoon hits differently in the outback – particularly at these Broken Hill pubs and clubs.

If you’ve been in Australia for anything over 24 hours, chances are you’ve seen quite the range of pubs in your time in the Antipodes. But when it comes to the Broken Hill region, the vibrant pubs here are considered so iconically Aussie, Hollywood types have travelled across the globe… just to get a few shots for their movie.

And as good as a frosty beer tastes on a hot afternoon in this dusty mining town in far western NSW, we’re thinking they didn’t just come in for a schooner when it comes to the below Broken Hill pubs and clubs.

Whether you’re after a drink, a succulent surf ‘n turf, or simply a night out making the karaoke rounds, Broken Hill has the establishment for you.

1. Palace Hotel Broken Hill

Take in the street views from the deck of the Palace Hotel.

Most famous for its appearance in the celebrated Australian film, The Adventures of Priscilla Queen of the Desert, the Palace Hotel actually began as a house of temperance, serving up coffee instead of shots.

Go beyond the fabulously kitsch Aussie landscape murals that bedeck its foyer and head inside its restaurant for bar food – and on Wednesdays – a raucous karaoke night. Accommodation is available here too.

Address: 227 Argent St, Broken Hill, NSW

2. Silverton Hotel

The hotel has been the set of many movies. (Image: Destination NSW)

A pub so quintessentially ‘Aussie outback’, you may recognise it off the bat from its appearances on the silver screen.

The disturbing Wake in Fright (1971), Mad Max 2 (1981), Razorback (1984) and Mission Impossible 2 (2000) all filmed scenes here.

Drop by for a cold drink, a gander at all the memorabilia on the wall, and a surprisingly affordable (and wide) range of pub meals for such a remote tourist hot spot.

Address: 12 Layard St, Silverton, NSW

3. Musicians Club Broken Hill

With a history that dates back to 1919, when four musical mates wanted a location where they could jam together with others, the Musicians Club Broken Hill has grown to become the largest club in Broken Hill. A friendly spot with a bistro that serves lunch and dinner, the ‘Musicians’ has all the classic staples of a country club. Stop here for the rotation of live music, to chat with the locals or to try your hand at the meat raffle (a real win for the camp barbecue).

Address: 276 Crystal St, Broken Hill, NSW

4. The Astra Broken Hill

Sit outside to enjoy your drink. (Image: Broken Hill City Council)

While Astra’s history goes all the way back to the 1890s, this Broken Hill pub has retained its historical features over the passage of time… as well as adding a wine and dessert bar. If you were inclined to skip a day of Broken Hill sightseeing, you could spend a good part of the day here. At breakfast, there is its Soull Cafe & Espresso Bar. In the evening? You’ve got the option of Trinders a la carte menu Temptations Dessert Bar, Pizzeria & Pasta and Lush: an al fresco cocktail bar on the upstairs balcony.

Address: 393 Argent St, Broken Hill, NSW

5. Tydvil Hotel Broken Hill

Want to try out some local tipples? This historical country pub is also home to the Broken Hill Distillery. Best known for having out-of-the-ordinary and uniquely Australian flavours, the creative choices include redgum honey and quandong gin as well as rosemary, mint and wattleseed. Try out some of these tasty samples, and soak it up afterwards with a hearty plate of chicken parmi.

Address: 318 Oxide St, Broken Hill, NSW

This lunar-like national park is hiding in plain sight