The Victorian Outback

The Murray region is home to unique desert landscapes. Drive through any one of the national parks in the Murray and you’ll find outback scenes at every turn. Here are some highlights you should not miss:

Walls of China in Mungo National Park
In the World Heritage Listed Willandra Lakes, this crescent shaped dune  or lunette on the eastern shore of Lake Mungo is a fascinating formation of layers of sand, salt and clay that have built up and eroded into weird shapes over tens of thousands of years. Erosion of the dunes has revealed well-preserved ancient campfires, cooking hearths and burial sites. You can see evidence of human occupation dating back 40,000 years. Take a guided tour with an indigenous tour company or call into the visitor centre near the park's entrance to find out about facilities, accommodation, and driving and walking tours. In dry weather, the roads at Mungo are easily negotiated. The park is located 110 kilometres north-east of Mildura.

Perry Sandhills
The Perry Sandhills are 10 hectares of striking red sandhills that were once part of the huge Willandra Lakes System and date back to an ice age 40,000 years ago. Evidence suggests that the Barkindji people lived here since ancient times and bones of mega fauna found in the sandhills also reveal that huge kangaroos, wombats and other creatures once roamed the region. Take some cardboard with you and slide down the huge dunes. Located 5 kilometres from Wentworth near Mildura.

Pink Lakes within the Murray Sunset National Park
The Pink Lakes are so named because of their colour during late summer. A red pigment, carotene, is secreted from the algae when the lakes evaporate over summer leaving concentrated salt crusts over black mud, which turns the lake a vivid pink. The colour is at its most vibrant early or late in the day or when it is cloudy. In spring the wildflowers in the park are also spectacular. The lakes can be accessed by two-wheel drive vehicles via a gravel road from Linga on the Mallee Highway.