Why You Should Visit Outback NSW In Winter

Winter in the outback will leave you awestruck, so what are you waiting for?

From underground dugouts in the desert to quirky museums, old-school watering holes, and the dusty roads in between, we share why Outback NSW should be at the top of your travel bucket list this winter.

Outback NSW is the place to be this winter. (Image: Matt Cheok)

1. To wander underground dugouts in the desert

Since the 1880s, miners, hobbyists and other fortune-seekers have descended on White Cliffs to pursue opals.

And although the township seemingly appears abandoned with mounds of earth, holes in the ground and old ‘blower trucks’ in every direction, its residents actually live in underground dugouts to avoid the extreme summer conditions and keep temperatures between a pleasant 16-26°C.

Should you desire, it’s possible to visit an underground dugout or join a mine tour to experience the fossicking process and learn about the town’s history.

In addition, around dawn or dusk, we recommend going on a self-guided walking loop to Sullivan Hill and strolling to Turleys Hill for a spectacular vantage point.

White Cliffs seemingly appears abandoned, but its residents actually live in underground dugouts. (Image: Matt Cheok)

2. To explore a lunar landscape at dusk

Traversing the corrugated path to Mungo National Park is a bumpy but memorable journey where clay and sand pinnacles stand in the desert, and the Walls of China highlight one’s visitor experience.

It’s here that Mungo Man and Lady Mungo were discovered – the oldest human remains found in Australia laid to rest over 40,000 years ago.

People walking in Mungo National Park, NSW

Mungo National Park is a bumpy but memorable journey. (Image: Matt Cheok)

You’ll encounter ancient burial sites including the world’s oldest-recorded cremation site, stone tools, and old fish bones remaining fixed in the sand. Today, the land is maintained by the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service and representatives of the local Barkindji, Ngyiampaa and Mutthi Mutthi communities.

To wander beyond the Walls of China viewing platform, you must join a sunset tour. We strongly recommend doing one with Mungo Lodge or National Park Aboriginal Discovery Tours to get up close and personal with these formations.

Accommodation options inside the park are plentiful and cater to all budgets, ranging from the no-frills Main Campground to Mungo Shearers’ Quarters and the high-end Mungo Lodge.

To wander beyond the Walls of China viewing platform, you must join a sunset tour. (Image: Matt Cheok)

3. To discover silo and water tower art in Bourke

Not only are the outback murals enormous in stature, but they also offer insight into our rich country town history and the stories about the people who came from them.

Bourke’s hometown hero, Percy Hobson, is portrayed high jumping an impressive 2.11 metres to claim gold at the 1962 Perth Commonwealth Games – the first Indigenous Australian to do so.

By transforming silos and water towers into visual art pieces, these repurposed structures are often significant drawcards for communities, bringing tourism opportunities to the region and breathing new life into the local economy.

Percy Hobson is portrayed high jumping in the mural. (Image: Matt Cheok)

4. To encounter quirky museums and Aussie galleries

Chances are your film fanaticism is far from the level of Adrian and Linda Bennett, who moved their family from Northern England to the remote town of Silverton to set up the Mad Max Museum.

The carefully curated space features an extensive collection of original/replica vehicles, costumes and memorabilia that must be seen to be believed.

The Mad Max Museum features an extensive collection. (Image: Matt Cheok)

While you’re in Silverton, stop by John Dynon’s Gallery and studio. The facade is enough to turn heads with paint-splatted cars, bicycles and sculptures canvassing the entry point. Dynon’s artwork beautifully captures the feel of the outback with his renditions of emus, shacks and local rivers. And if you’re curious about his work, you can chat with him in person.

When you’re done exploring Silverton’s offerings, continue the drive to the Mundi Mundi Lookout for a view of the Barrier Ranges and relive the film set of an iconic Australian classic.

Stop by John Dynon’s Gallery in Silverton. (Image: Matt Cheok)

5. To visit old-school watering holes

Our country town pubs are full of charm and larrikins and are often a great source of information about a region’s hidden gems and recommendations.

Couple that with the hearty feeds, the refreshing cold beverages, beer gardens and heritage architecture, and that’s a recipe for success. Our favourite watering holes include the Palace Hotel in Broken Hill, The Great Western Hotel in Cobar and the Tilpa Hotel in Tilpa.

Sit in the sun on the deck of the Palace Hotel in Broken Hill.

6. To admire sculptures in the desert

About a 15-minute drive from Broken Hill’s centre, 12 impressive sandstone sculptures stand triumphantly inside the Living Desert State Park.

The interplay of light, especially at sunset, gives these structures new life and purpose, so we recommend visiting in the late afternoon. Amidst this dramatic landscape, visitors can access numerous walking trails and fascinating flora and fauna sanctuaries.

12 impressive sandstone sculptures stand triumphantly inside the Living Desert State Park. (Image: Matt Cheok)

7. To marvel at a forest of drowned trees

Black box trees rise from the ephemeral lakes along the Darling River, offering an eerie yet captivating view stretching kilometres.

The major highlight of any trip to Menindee Lakes is a camping experience on the shores of Lake Pamamaroo as the sun goes down. Caravans, 4WDs, tents and swimmers line the banks, and it won’t cost you an arm and a leg to stay here – it’s actually free.

Although our Outback can be very desolate and unforgiving, regional NSW’s hidden gems prove that some of the best travel destinations in the world are right under our noses. We urge you to adventure there this winter!

Black box trees rise from Menindee Lakes. (Image: Matt Cheok)

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.

7 reasons why you should visit Outback NSW this winter