Mungo National Park is part of the Willandra Lakes Region, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Far South-West region of New South Wales, Australia. Home to Aboriginal tribes and significant archaeological discoveries, Mungo NP holds an abundance of history. This guide is a compilation of the top tips, attractions and how to get the most from a trip to Mungo NP!
A stunning window into the outback of NSW, easily accessible from Mildura and highly worth the stop. There is so much history to explore I would recommend booking a tour to learn about it while you’re there.
Best time to visit: March-October
My top spots:
- Red Top Lookout (15 mins)
- The Walls of China (30 mins*)
- Mungo Lookout (10 mins)
- The Woolshed (5-20 mins)
- Zanci Homestead (10 mins)
- Self-Driving Loop (1.5 hours)
*The walls of China are a main attraction here however, to gain access onto the walls themselves you will need to be accompanied by an approved guide. These can be taken with rangers from the national park or an external company, at the time of visiting the nearby Mungo Lodge runs both morning and sunset tours. Depending on the experience you’re looking for the NP rangers focus more on the aboriginal history of the walls versus a more geological history of the walls run by the lodge. In my opinion, the sunset tour is worth spending extra on as the view is spectacular (weather permitting) and being able to see the landscape in 3 lights is incomparable.
Accommodation options within the park include camping or bunkhouses. A range of accommodation types are also available at the close by Mungo Lodge.
Weather planning is essential for this National Park, as rain can cause both the park and surrounding roads to be flooded and subsequently closed. Extreme heat is also a risk and there is little to no shade within the park.
Check out my Mungo NP guide for more information and top tips!
Recommended Time: 20 minutes
Top tip: Visit the rear of the centre to see archeological discoveries!
Full of amazing information about the park the visitor centre is definitely worth a stop by as the first point on your trip to gain the full history of the park and see the amazing archeological and cultural importance.
Recommended time: 20 minutes
Top tip: Plan your day to be here during the hottest point as a break from the sun!
A beautiful spot to take a break from the sun, the Mungo Woolshed holds its original structure and materials. Information boards are dotted around to tell the story of how the Woolshed came to be and its importance in the community.
Recommended time: 10 minutes
Top tip: This spot is the best for sunrise
Located a short drive from the park’s main entrance, Mungo Lookout provides a beautiful view of the basin with no hiking involved. The spot is marked as accessible however, it’s worth noting the access path is dirt and some wheelchair users may struggle.
Recommended time: 15-30 Minutes
Top tip: Take a sunset tour for best viewing
Some may consider the Walls of China the No.1 attraction in Mungo National Park. There is a boardwalk from the viewpoint car park leading right up to the walls. This is classed as wheelchair accessable however, some may struggle. Due to preservation reasons visitors are not allowed onto the walls themselves unless accompanied by an approved guide.
Tours can be taken with rangers from the national park or an external company, at the time of visiting, Mungo Lodge ran both morning and sunset tours. Depending on the experience you’re looking for, the NP rangers focus more on the aboriginal history of the walls versus a more geological history of the walls run by the lodge. Whether you go with the rangers or another company, taking a tour at sunset is the best time to go. The view is spectacular (weather permitting) and being able to see the landscape in 3 lights is incomparable.
Recommended time: 15 minutes
Top tip: Visit during sunset
Red Top Lookout is my personal favourite spot in the park. This stop on the self-driving loop provides beautiful views of both the lake basin and the sedimentary formations. There is a carpark directly next to the viewing platform and the boardwalk is very short with seating all around.
This spot is accessible to everyone and is best seen at sunset. The elevation of the spot makes sunset just as special as seeing it from the Walls of China, without needing to splurge on a guided tour.
Recommended time: 3 hours
Top tip: Visit early in the morning or late afternoon
The self-guided drive in Mungo binds together the majority of top destinations in the park. Starting from the visitor centre & Woolshed the loop includes:
- Walls of China Lookout
- Redtop Lookout
- Mallee Walk
- Vigars Well Sandunes
- Zanci Homestead
Most of these spots can be visited without doing the full loop with the exception of the Vigars Wells dunes and Mallee walk. The drive is surrounded by the bush and can be bumpy as not paved. The loop is 2 ways up until Red Top Lookout but after that the loop becomes one-way and you’ll have to commit to it all!
I’d recommend focusing on the other main areas of the park and committing to the loop if there is spare time as opposed to making it a priority.
Recommended time: 15 minutes
Top tip: Do not visit during windy weather
At the back of the National Park is a small access point onto the sand dunes. Other than on top of the Walls of China this is the only place visitors can walk on the sand dunes.
Take caution as during windy weather it does pose a risk to damaged vision.
Recommended time: 30 minutes
Top tip: You don’t need to do the loop to access it!
Zanci is located on the west side of the park and is the site of an old homestead and woodshed. A lot of the original structure is no longer standing however, you can clearly see the remanents of what used to be and there’s lots of historical information to go with it!
Zanci is one of the last stops to be accessed on the self-drive loop after Vigars Well however, if you don’t feel like committing to a few hours drive, you can enter the park on the west side by Top Hut Road and finish last of the loop ending back at the Woolshed and Visitor centre.
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Accommodation
There are limited options for staying over at Mungo National Park, you can stay within the park itself or at a private lodge a short drive away.
National Park Accommodation
The park offers camping and basic accommodation. Camp sites are unpowered and the hot showers and flush toilets are a located a 5-45 minute drive away, depending on which campground you choose. The park’s bunkhouses are located directly next to the toilet and shower facilities with rooms for up to 8 people with AC in the Shearer’s Quarters.
If you’re looking for something a bit more glamorous than camping but not ready to splurge on full luxury the Shearers Quarter’s is the perfect option!
With a fully kitted amenities block close by each room has multiple bunk beds with split systems for the varying temperatures. All amenities are cleaned daily and provide everything you need for your stay.
Amenities:
Kitchen
BBQ & Picnic Area
Hot Showers & Toilets
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Mungo Lodge
A 5 minute drive away from the NP is Mungo Lodge. Although separate from the National Park, the lodge offers a range of different accommodation types and packages. They have everything from unpowered camp sites with hot showers & flush toilets to bunk houses, glamping tents & luxury cabins.
Located a 5 minute drive from Mungo National Park this is the perfect option for an overnight stay near the park.
If you’re looking to stay over, Mungo Lodge offers multiple accommodation types from unpowered campsites to basic bunkhouses to luxury cabins. There is a restaurant onsite serving food for breakfast, lunch & dinner with a fully liscensed bar.
Tours operate daily to the national park with morning or sunset options available.
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Additional Information
Weather
Best time to visit: March-October
Mungo NP is very vulnerable to weather conditions. As many of the roads surrounding and within the park are dirt roads, any significant rainfall risks closure to the park. Picking a time of year that is less susceptible to rain is advised but this can be tricky when considering the heat.
Always prepare for severe heat, there is little to no shade in and around the park. Ensure to take enough water, a hat and sunglasses with you, especially if you are hiking.
Amenities
Toilets and showers are available at the visitor centre which is open daily.
Make sure to travel with a full tank of petrol, the nearest fuel stations are in Mildura or Pooncarie a 1.5 hour drive/100km away.
There is little to no phone signal out by the National Park. The only phone tower is located by Mungo Lodge and is Telstra only, free Wi-Fi is only offered by the visitor centre within the park. If you require signal during your visit, I recommend buying a pre-paid Telstra sim or downloading a pre-paid Telstra e-sim.
Mungo NP does not have any retail or food stores, there is 1 restaurant located at Mungo Lodge. Pre-booking for dinner is required and food service times apply for lunch & dinner.
Accessibility
All roads to Mungo NP are dirt roads and are accessible by 2WD - the roads should not be attempted after rainfall as you may risk getting stuck. I advise only travelling when carrying a spare tyre in case of a puncture. With no signal it may also be beneficial to have a satellite phone/radio in case of emergencies.
To enter the park you will need a NSW pass for the park and there is also an entrance fee paid at the visitor centre so carry cash!
