MUNGO & KINCHEGA NATIONAL PARK

Written by Rowena Paterson

During my holidays in August I headed up to Mungo National Park NSW (just north east of Mildura in Victoria). I enjoyed my stay in the camping area ($3 per person) with basic facilities like pit toilets, tables and fireplaces.
Lake Mungo is an ancient dry lake bed that lies within the Willandra Lakes region world heritage area. Evidence of around 50 000 years of human occupation is present within the area. When the lakes were full, Aboriginal people lived and fished along the shores. The lake has been dry for 18 000 years. Aboriginal people continued to live in the area (after the Lake dried) near soaks along the old river channel.
I drove my OKA around the lake following a 70km self drive signposted track. The round trip, which firstly heads across the lake floor, takes you to the Walls of China (huge sand dunes) and Vigars Well (a natural soak that was used by Aboriginal people and early European settlers). I really enjoyed Mungo, I found it fascinating. When you first arrive at Mungo you can see the shape of a lake. It has been dry for a very long time but you can still see it was once a lake. There is also an old woolshed that was built around 1869 and a visitors centre.
After leaving Mungo I headed up to Kinchega National Park and Menindee Lakes. I stayed in a Caravan Park overlooking Menindee Lakes (not a drop of water in the lake). I went for a day drive through Kinchega and did a little fishing on the Darling River. Plenty of places to camp along the river, some with basic facilities. Kinchega also has an interesting woolshed (built in the 1870?s) to look at. Evidence of Aboriginal occupation is also present at Kinchega with relics and artefacts being found. Burke & Wills and Charles Stuart?s exploration parties both spent time at Kinchega.
After my stay at Kinchega, I headed across to Broken Hill then down to Wentworth. I spent the best part of a week at Fort Courage (20 km?s west of Wentworth). Fort Courage is a small Caravan park situated on the Murray River. The River is huge, twice as wide as the Murray at Echuca. The Caravan park is nicely set up with a couple of camp kitchens and a boat ramp. I had an opportunity to go out on a boat and came back with a couple of Perch.
On my way home I called in to visit Pedro & Kaylene Bridley in Mildura. I liked their OKA camper, a great set up.
My OKA preformed beautifully throughout the trip. The dirt roads up to Mungo and Menindee were in very good condition.