PHOTOGRAPHING + VISITING MUNGO NATIONAL PARK, NSW
The place lunettes kind a chiselled panorama of rugged formations and Australian wildlife and Aboriginal tradition take centre stage, Mungo Nationwide Park is one location to place in your images wish-list.
The glow of dawn illuminates dry lakebeds the place kangaroo and emu are slowly beginning their day, whereas golden sunsets and pastel skies create a shocking palette when photographing the other-worldly panorama.
Carved and formed over tens of millions of years, Mungo Nationwide Park has so many tales to inform and on a latest go to, I used to be blown away by simply how a lot I didn’t find out about not solely Australian landscapes, however our tradition, folks and historical past. Do your self a favour, in case you get an opportunity to go to Mungo, spend a number of days right here to actually take in the wonder and magic of this photogenic and vital a part of Outback New South Wales.
The place is Mungo Nationwide Park?
Positioned in Outback NSW, Mungo Nationwide Park is roughly an 11hour drive west of Sydney or 7hours north-west of Melbourne. Resting close to the centre of the Murray Basin, Mungo Nationwide Park includes of 19 linked lakes (now dry), dunefields, sandplains, lunettes (extra on these within the images part beneath) and lakebeds which are thriving with native Australian wildlife.
Damaged Hill, NSW, is a 3-4hour drive north-west whereas Mildura, Victoria, is a 90minute drive south-west from the Mungo Customer Centre.
What makes it so vital?
Thick layers of sand and clay discovered inside Mungo Nationwide Park reveal indicators of how the local weather and panorama has modified over the past 100,000 years. Not solely is the earth vital, discoveries made inside the area have allowed particulars of the previous to be voiced.
Three Aboriginal tribal teams stroll within the footsteps of their ancestors at the moment, the Paakantji, Ngyiampaa and Mutthi Mutthi folks care and proceed the tradition and information of Nation.
A timeline of how the panorama was fashioned (useful resource: NMA)
- 32 million years in the past the ocean flooded the Murray Basin by which the Willandra Lakes and Mungo Nationwide Park are positioned.
- 150,000 years in the past the Willandra Lakes fashioned as low-lying basins stuffed with water from the mountains to the east.
- 40,000 years in the past the local weather turned constantly drier and the world plunged into a chilly, glacial section from 22,000 years in the past.
- 10,000 years in the past the final Ice Age was over and a comparatively secure, semi-arid local weather settled over the world.
Maybe most individuals know Mungo Nationwide Park as the situation for the place essentially the most vital human stays ever to be found in Australia, have been discovered. Named Mungo Man and Mungo Lady, the stays date again 42,000+ years and are a number of the oldest stays of contemporary people, discovered outdoors Africa.
Geologist Jim Bowler found the bones of Mungo Girl in 1968 and located that they had been ritually buried, making her stays the oldest identified cremation on the planet. They’re additionally a illustration of the early emergence of humanity’s religious beliefs.
Learn extra in regards to the folks and and tradition on the Go to Mungo web site.
*Info additionally resourced from the Nationwide Museum of Australia.
What and the place to {photograph} at Mungo Nationwide Park?
The very first thing that shocked me throughout my go to to Mungo Nationwide Park was the abundance of wildlife. When researching and scouting places through Google Maps, I had famous the large Lake Mungo, Lake Leaghur as potential places for panorama images, nonetheless in particular person, they’re expansive, dry lakebeds that at the moment are house to an unimaginable quantity of kangaroos and emu. Inside minutes of arriving at Mungo we noticed a mob of 15 emus huddled collectively and kangaroos stood and watched as we drove (waving like we’d by no means seen a kangaroo) by them.
For many panorama photographers nonetheless, it would little question be the Partitions of China that drew you to Mungo Nationwide Park. Stretching alongside a ridge on the japanese aspect of Lake Mungo, this panorama is other-worldly. Made up of lunettes, fashioned over 1000’s of years, they’re a chiselled assortment of sandy clay formations.
My favorite location of the park is the Pink Prime Lookout which is the spot you’ll see in many of the Mungo imagery on Instagram/social media. It’s a viewing platform that’s perched in one of many highest places inside the park and appears down into the lunettes and throughout the Partitions of China to the north. From Pink Prime Lookout you may {photograph} dawn, sundown and likewise watch in anticipation for a full moon to rise (examine dates for the most effective viewing!).
Options of the panorama are highlighted inside the golden hour as shadows assist to boost the patterned and textured formations, notably alongside the Partitions of China and from Pink Prime Lookout.
When to go to Mungo?
You may go to and {photograph} Mungo Nationwide park year-round, nonetheless word that in winter it would get fairly chilly, and in summer time the warmth shall be moderately intense! I visited in mid-February and we had 41degrees at some point, then 27degrees the subsequent, which I can inform you was much more snug to {photograph} in!
You may plan your go to round a full moon to {photograph} this lovely scene from Pink Prime Lookout.
This exhibits the distant haze while trying towards the Partitions of China, created by the 41 diploma warmth inside Lake Mungo.
Winds have been so sturdy (you may see within the distance behind me), sand was whipping up throughout however the wind was additionally serving to to chill the air somewhat!
What gear to make use of?
It may be windy, sandy and gusty out right here so having a digicam that may deal with a little bit of sand/mud is crucial. My OM SYSTEM OM-1 and Olympus E-M1 MKIII cameras have been such an amazing companions for this journey!
Right here’s a listing of the gear I used whereas photographing Mungo Nationwide Park:
OM SYSTEM OM-1 Digital camera (learn all about this unimaginable digicam through the OM SYSTEM web site right here)
OM-D EM-1 MKIII Digital camera
40-150mm f2.8 professional M.Zuiko lens (learn my article about this lens right here)
12-40mm f2.8 professional M.Zuiko lens
7-14mm f2.8 professional M.Zuiko lens
MC-20 x teleconverter
As I ventured on to the Partitions of China with a neighborhood information, I used to be in a position to rise up good and near the lunette formations and therefore, use my wide-angle 7-14mm lens to get some shut particulars of the rugged formations. I did discover although, my favorite lens to make use of was the 40-150mm as I actually loved zooming in to carry the panorama nearer and reveal the layers of carved sand and clay.
At occasions I additionally hooked up the MC-20 2 x teleconverter to get near the distant dunes I wasn’t in a position to entry because of the self-guided street being closed. Whereas the street closure was a disappointment, I used to be actually proud of the pictures I captured of the dunes from a special angle and was actually glad to have the MC-20 in my digicam bag, increasing the 40-150mm lens to 80-300mm (approx. 160-600mm full body equal).
I opted to have the 40-150mm lens on the digicam more often than not not just for landscapes, however for the wildlife too. They’re so near the street and viewpoints nonetheless as soon as they’ve noticed you, can bounce away and watch from afar, so having that additional focal size allowed me to seize the cuties even somewhat additional away.
Drones usually are not permitted inside Mungo Nationwide Park except you’ve obtained written permission from the Park Workplace previous to arrival, and you’ll require an endorsement from the normal house owners.
The way to get to Mungo Nationwide Park?
There are a variety of how you may drive to Mungo Nationwide Park, most require some dust roads which change in situation relying on the climate. My greatest recommendation is to drive to the circumstances, depart early to keep away from driving at evening and go as gradual as you are feeling snug. As somebody who isn’t an off-road driver, I used to be fearful previous to arriving that the roads could be somewhat too tough for me, nonetheless, they have been completely high-quality and as soon as I relaxed somewhat, I had a lot enjoyable driving alongside them! You do want to look at for kangaroos, emus and the odd deeper sandy patch on the street that may seize the wheels.
An necessary word – there are not any petrol/gas services when you enter Mungo Nationwide Park so it is advisable be full (replenish in Mildura, Wentworth or Balranald and able to be self-sufficient for the drive there and again! There are additionally no shops inside the park, so carry meals, water and no matter you want during your go to.
Driving from Sydney or Melbourne, you’ll almost certainly drive by considered one of two foremost centres, Mildura or Balranald.
Driving from Mildura: From Mildura you may take Arumpo Street which has 20km sealed and 88km of unsealed roads that lead straight to Mungo Lodge (see extra within the ‘The place to Keep part’, which is 5minutes away from the Mungo Customer Centre.
This street is nicely maintained and may be pushed in a 2WD car, nonetheless, it’s a dust street, there are patches of sand and if it’s been raining, the circumstances could also be tough. At all times examine street circumstances with the native customer centre if it’s been raining otherwise you’re travelling in summer time when storms and rain could also be extra probably. That stated, we had an amazing drive in February with my AWD Hyundai Sante Fe and no points on account of dry climate. *Though I drove overly cautious and really gradual your complete method!
From Damaged Hill: Comply with the indicators to Menindee after which on to Pooncarie. Proceed 20km south past Pooncarie till you see Prime Hut Street which has an indication indicating Mungo Nationwide Park. Comply with this till the T-junction after which flip proper.
From Balranald: Google Maps is aware of the best way so merely sort ‘Mungo Customer Centre’ or ‘Mungo Lodge’ into your GPS for the route earlier than departing Balranald as chances are you’ll lose sign alongside the best way at varied factors. The street begins alongside Ivanhoe Street, then turns off, following Marma Field Creek Street. It contains about 150km of unsealed roads and relying on circumstances, there are two routes accessible to you when approaching from the south-east.
I discovered the street from Balranald somewhat tougher to drive than the street from Mildura, however it would depend upon the time of yr you go to and circumstances. Each roads are maintained so circumstances may also depend upon when it was final graded. They’re lovely drives although with loads of open areas, attractive outback surroundings and also you’ll barely see one other soul!
Test street circumstances with any of those three customer centres, relying on the place you’re driving by –
Balranald Customer Info Centre – 1800 444 043
81 Market Avenue, Balranald, NSW
Mildura Customer Info Centre – 1800 039 043
180-190 Deakin Avenue, Mildura, VIC
Wentworth Customer Info Centre – (03)5027 3624
66 Darling Avenue, Wentworth, NSW
E mail tourism@wentworth.nsw.gov.au
Are you able to do a day journey to Mungo Nationwide Park?
If you happen to’re simply hoping to have a fast look and tick it off your listing of issues to see, then sure, by all means, in case you depart early you may drive from Mildura for the day and be again earlier than sundown. Nonetheless, in case you’re aiming to {photograph} the attractive lunette formations at dawn/sundown and really take in the magic of this particular a part of Australia, I’d say no.
I recommend you spend not less than two nights right here to take advantage of your go to and to expertise a dawn, sundown and {photograph} the altering colors of this spectacular panorama. Taking one of many guided sundown excursions is a good way to stroll amongst the lunettes and hear as a neighborhood information talks about this vital location.
Accessing Mungo Nationwide Park
To remain, go to or drive inside Mungo Nationwide Park, you’ll want a customer cross which prices $8 per day and is payable on the Mungo Customer Centre. It’s value noting, that as of April 2022, solely a small part of the self-drive street is open.
You may entry the Wall of China viewing level however might want to guide a guided tour to stroll amongst the lunettes. This may be achieved through the Mungo Customer Centre or instantly through Mungo Lodge in case you’re staying there.
Regardless of a portion of the self-guided tour being closed, you may nonetheless additionally entry the Pink Prime Lookout which was my private favorite! The viewing platform seems to be down into the rugged panorama and lunette formations, making it the perfect spot for dawn and sundown images!
Updated customer info may be discovered on the Nationwide Parks of NSW web site right here.
With no guided tour, that is so far as you may go when viewing the Partitions of China. A guided tour will get you entry to stroll up amongst the lunettes and interesting formations.
The view from Pink Prime Lookout viewing platform.
The place to remain in Mungo Nationwide Park
I opted to remain at Mungo Lodge and had such a beautiful expertise there, not sponsored, I paid full worth and I can’t advocate it extremely sufficient as you’ve bought a cushty mattress on the finish of an extended day trip exploring, plus their restaurant dishes out scrumptious meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner, bookings are important. They’ll even pack a picnic lunch in case you like! The rationale that is so necessary, is that there are not any outlets at Mungo Nationwide Park, it is advisable both arrive totally ready with meals and water, or keep at Mungo Lodge the place you’ll be taken care of in luxurious.
I cherished listening to the birds waking within the morning and listening to the desert winds whipping throughout the panorama from my mattress at Mungo Lodge! The workers are additionally so pretty and useful, prepared to supply recommendation on the place to go, recommend timings for sundown, full moon places and now have some free emu meals in case you’re courageous sufficient to enterprise over to their resident emus or goats and provides them some treats.
If you happen to’re eager to discover the Partitions of China, Mungo Lodge additionally gives guided excursions which grant you entry to the restricted space through the day, and even sundown excursions on varied days. Test with Mungo Lodge reception for accessible tour dates.
Alternatively, you may keep on the Mungo Shearer’ Quarters which is positioned inside Mungo Nationwide Park beside the Customer Centre. There are 5 rooms with bunks, shared services and you may guide on-line or search availability through this hyperlink.
A brand new choice in case you’re in search of one thing somewhat extra thrilling is the Mungo Roo Bunkhouse and Glamping. You may guide and see pictures right here through Reserving.com, I personally haven’t stayed right here however the pictures of the glamping particularly look good and it’s positioned proper beside Mungo Lodge.
Photos of Mungo Landscapes + Particulars
*All pictures have been taken on the OM SYSTEM OM-1 or OM-D EM-1 MKIII
Hey! I’m the founder and photographer behind The Wandering Lens.
With 17+yrs expertise as knowledgeable journey and panorama photographer, all recommendation discovered on this web site is from my private expertise on the street. I hope it’s helpful to your personal travels and would love to listen to within the feedback about your journeys and experiences all over the world.
