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Mungo Woolshed - Built by Chinese Labour |
Mungo Features
Highlights of Mungo National Park
MUNGO FEATURES
Mungo National park is the heart of the Willandra Lakes World Heritage Area and 150kms north west of the town of Balranald in Western NSW. Mungo National Park includes most of the ancient dry lake bed of Lake Mungo, one of a series of dry lake beds that make up the Willandra Lakes World Heritage Area. During the last ice ages Lake Mungo was one of a chain of enormous freshwater lakes strung along Willandra Creek, then the main channel of the Lachlan River, flowing to the Murrumbidgee River. The vegetation of the Park is typical of the western NSW plains. Belah (Casuarina) is the dominant species on the sand plains and bladder saltbush is dominant on the slightly saline clays of the lake bed. Mallee grows on the dune fields. Red kangaroos, western greys, echidnas, native mice and bats occur at Mungo. Resident lizards include shinglebacks, bearded dragons and geckos, while native birds such as emus, pink cockatoos and orange and white fronted chats can also be seen.
WALLS OF CHINA
Today, a great crescent-shaped and eroded dune (lunette) stretches along the eastern shore of the dry lake bed of Lake Mungo. Originally named by the Chinese labourers who worked for the pastoralists at the end of the 19th century the Walls of China include the spectacular landforms that have provide the iconic images of the park. The Mungo National Park visitor centre is a ‘must see’ to enable you to learn about Mungo’s natural and cultural history before you explore the rest of the park. There is a self drive touring route, some 70kms, that takes you past and around the back of the Walls of China through a range of vegetation types and some of the more important pastoral heritage sites.
Contact details
Hank van Apeldoorn
hvanapeldoorn@balranald.nsw.gov.au
