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Mungo NP via Top Hut Road

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Start		Wentworth Pooncarie Rd & Top Hut Rd
Finish		Mungo National Park Visitor Centre
Difficulty
Suitable For
Distance	58.5 km
Minimum Days	1
Average Speed	83.16 km/hr
Travel Time	42 mins 12 secs

Trek By: ExplorOz Team

Page Updated: 21 Oct 2021

Description

This trek note has been prepared to provide one of the 3 alternative access routes into the Mungo National Park, located in the southwest corner of NSW, roughly 100km northeast of Mildura (Vic). For other access routes please also read our trek note for Mildura to Mungo NP.

For full details on visiting the park please ensure you also read our Mungo National Park trek note which provides details on all park features and provides the plot file for touring the 70km self-drive route within the park.

How to Use this Trek Note

To download this information and the route file for offline use on a phone, tablet, headunit or laptop, go to the app store and purchase ExplorOz Traveller. This app enables offline navigation and mapping and will show where you are as you travel along the route. For more info see the ExplorOz Traveller webpage and the EOTopo webpage.

TIP	ExplorOz Traveller now features the NEW EOTopo 2025 mapset!

Environment

The crescent shaped lunette, otherwise known as the ‘Walls of China’, is one of the main highlights in Mungo National Park. Standing around 30m high and stretching nearly 30km long, this now dry eastern shore holds secrets of preserved campfires, cooking hearths and burials of ancient Aboriginal people. There are three distinct layers of sands and soil forming the Walls of China. The oldest is the reddish Gol Gol layer, formed between 100,000 and 120,000 years ago. The middle greyish layer and the most archaeologically rich is the Mungo layer, deposited between 50,000 and 25,000 years ago. The most recent is the Zanci layer, which is pale brown, and was laid down mostly between 25,000 and 15,000 years ago.

Flora

There are three main types of native vegetation that co-exist in the Mungo National Park - being grassy woodlands, heathlands and semi-arid woodlands. Within the grassy woodlands, cypress pines thrive on loamy soils, sandy ridges and rocky out-crops. They can grow in dense communities, but these days are somewhat scattered, mainly due to extensively harvesting. These trees must be seen in their native habitat to be truly appreciated, as they play host to a variety of wildlife including pink cockatoos, which feed on the seeds of the small pinecones. The heathlands consist of lakebed shrubs such as Chenopodiaceae, commonly known as saltbush or bluebush. During Spring, these plants reveal a beautiful understorey of wildflowers. In the semi-arid woodland parts, mallee dominate the area. The name mallee comes from an Aboriginal word for eucalyptus trees that are multi-stemmed from their base. The underground woody structure (lignotuber) stores water and nutrients, allowing the plant to survive in such harsh conditions. Aborigines used to rely on these lignotubers as an important source of drinking water.

Fauna

There are many species of fauna within the park such as the largest of our marsupials - the kangaroo. These herbivores spend their days grazing quietly in the grasslands or resting in a scratched out pad in the woodland shade. All three species - Red, Western grey, and the Eastern grey kangaroos co-exist in the park. Other animals you may be lucky to encounter are short-beaked echidnas, spiny anteaters, bats, pygmy and larger possums, bandicoots and the common and fat-tailed dunnarts. The largest reptile in the park is the harmless carpet python, which grows between 2 and 4 metres long. Mungo supports a wide variety of bird species mainly due to the diverse environment. Birds you may see include: emus, mallee ring-necks, galahs, pink cockatoos, zebra finches, crested pigeons, blue bonnets, budgerigars, and orange and crimson chats.

TrekID: 179

Preparation

MUST READ: You are strongly encouraged to read the following articles prepared by the knowledge experts at ExplorOz for your safety and preparation before undertaking any published ExplorOz Trek - Outback Safety, Outback Driving Tips, Outback Communications, and Vehicle Setup for the Outback.

TIP	Please refer to Road Reports published by the local shire and/or main roads for the area you intend to visit. Road/Track conditions can change significantly after weather events. Travellers must be responsible for their own research on current conditions and track suitability.

Mungo National Park does not have closing times, but be aware that all roads in and around the park are closed after rain. Please take adequate supplies of fuel, food and water. No food, petrol or diesel is available at or near the park, and water is a rare commodity in a semi-arid environment - so always carry plenty with you. All roads in and around the park are unsealed. Many of them have little traffic, particularly outside holiday seasons. Always carry extra food and water in case of an emergency. If you become stranded - stay with your vehicle.

Consider taking communications equipment such as HF or UHF radios. Mobile phones do not work in Mungo National Park, so in emergencies, a ranger can be contacted on UHF channel 22. Mungo lies in the fruit fly exclusion zone so you can only bring in food bought in from Broken Hill, Menindee, Hillston, Griffith, Narrandera, Shepparton, Swan Hill, Mildura, Waikerie, Renmark or other places within those boundaries.

Permits

If you are driving into Mungo National Park, then you will need to purchase a Vehicle Day Pass.
Payment is by self registration. Envelopes & information from the front of the Mungo NP Visitor Centre.

Camping fees in Mungo NP also apply. Belah campsite has 12 sites. This campground is a great overnight spot for people taking their time doing the Mungo Drive Tour, or for those looking for a secluded campsite. No fires are allowed.
For more information on fees, please click: Camping in Mungo NP

For more information in general, you can contact the park office in Buronga.

Buronga

Street address: Corner of Sturt Highway and Melaleuca Street, Buronga NSW
Postal address: PO Box 318, Buronga NSW 2739
Phone: (03) 5021 8900
Fax: (03) 5022 2037
Email: buronga.office@environment.nsw.gov.au

Fuel Usage

Unfortunately, there is no longer any fuel available at Pooncarie.

Diesel	ULP	LPG
4cyl 8 litres	4cyl 9 litres	4cyl 12 litres
6cyl 9 litres	6cyl 11 litres	6cyl 10 litres
8cyl 9 litres	8cyl 10 litres

Usage is averaged from recorded data (* specific to this trek) and calculated based on trek distance.

Best Time To Visit

Outback New South Wales experiences very hot and dry summers. Travel is safer and more enjoyable between March and October. Please note - unsealed roads may be closed after rain.

Closest Climatic Station

Pooncarie Mail Agency

Distance from Trek Mid Point 34.61km NW


Mean Max. °C
Jan	35.8
Feb	34.4
Mar	30.5
Apr	26.3
May	20.9
Jun	17.3
Jul	17.0
Aug	19.5
Sep	23.4
Oct	26.9
Nov	31.0
Dec	33.2
Mean Min. °C
Jan	18.8
Feb	18.2
Mar	14.8
Apr	11.1
May	7.1
Jun	5.2
Jul	4.4
Aug	5.4
Sep	7.7
Oct	10.6
Nov	14.4
Dec	16.2
Mean Rain mm
Jan	23.1
Feb	23.2
Mar	18.3
Apr	17.5
May	25.9
Jun	26.0
Jul	22.5
Aug	22.6
Sep	21.5
Oct	26.3
Nov	20.9
Dec	21.4

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Mean Max. °C	35.8	34.4	30.5	26.3	20.9	17.3	17.0	19.5	23.4	26.9	31.0	33.2
Mean Min. °C	18.8	18.2	14.8	11.1	7.1	5.2	4.4	5.4	7.7	10.6	14.4	16.2
Mean Rain mm	23.1	23.2	18.3	17.5	25.9	26.0	22.5	22.6	21.5	26.3	20.9	21.4