Australia’s first World Heritage-listed national park, Mungo National Park in the outback New South Wales is one of the most amazing of Australian national parks.
Here is some information on what's there, and in the end of the page is a map of the park.
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Geological History The parks’ most obvious feature is the 33km-long eroded sand dune, called the Walls of China, which spectacularly changes colours between yellow to orange and deep-red in sunrises and sunsets. The area used to be an ancient lake bed, a part of a chain of lakes between Willandra Creek and Lachlan River. Since the lakes dried up about 14,000 years ago, wind has been eroding the fragile sand dunes and left behind some crinkled outcrops.
Mungo Archaeological Sites Mungo National Park is also one of the most significant archaeological sites in the world. In 1969 the remains of a cremated skeleton of a woman was found, and six years later of a man, both skeletons were 40,000 years old. The so-called Mungo Man is the oldest human remains ever fround in Australia. The Mungo Lady is the oldest known person to have been cremated ritually. Both were found near the Walls of China. They were living here while the lakes were still full of water.
Ancient Megafauna and Aboriginal History The area was obviously inhabited by Aboriginal people. There are ancient fireplaces with shells and fish bones, and stone flake tools are scattered around, as are bones of long-extinct animals such as giant wombats and kangaroos. Some animals found in the park today are echidnas and kangaroos - it is one of the rare places where all three - Red Kangaroo, Eastern Gray Kangaroo and Western Grey Kangaroo coexist. Other mammals are bats, possums and dunnarts. Some birds include Wedge Tailed Eagle, Mallee Ring-neck parrots, crested pigeons, zebra finches, galahs, bonnetts, budgerigars, cockatoos, bronzewings and emus. Reptiles include bearded dragons, shinglebacks; the harmless carpet python, and the dangerous king, western and eastern brown snakes.
Tours with Aboriginal Guides You can take a tour with an Aboriginal ranger, or join the Harry Nanya Tours. You will be taken around by Aboriginal People who can tell you about aboriginal art and culture, and all sorts of facts about australian indigenous people, such as aboriginal food (bush tucker), bush medicine and aboriginal mythology, aboriginal religion, aboriginal weapons and aboriginal hunting. There are different tours, like foreshore tour, Walls of China, and evening activities tour, they are all cheap and excellent. It's a great way to experience and learn about the park's history from Australian indigenous people.
European History of Mungo National Park There is also some European history in the park. Pastoralists who roamed the area in 1860s left behind a homestead and a woolshed, where today you can pay your camping fee and pick up a self-guided drive brochure. You can camp at Main camp near the visitors centre or Belah Camp east of the dunes. There is also hostel-type accommodation at the Shearers’ Quarters near the visitors centre.
NOTE: This website is written in British English, which is the English we use in Australia. You will find words like "traveller", "harbour" and "realise", and they are all correct in the language used in Australia.
