Have you ever visited a destination where, when the wind died down, you could stand in the absence of sound? A visit to Mungo National Park with kids provides this opportunity. It’s a surreal place, an ancient place, a sacred place. It is a place that needs to be on your bucket list so you can step back in time.

Visit Mungo National Park with Kids

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Mungo National Park is part of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Willandra Lakes Region, in New South Wales. It is a unique place that should be on your bucket list.

World Heritage Mungo National Park is one of the oldest places outside the African continent to have been occupied by modern humans since ancient times. It is here that Mungo Man was unearthed, the oldest remains to be discovered in Australia at over 50,000 years. Mungo Lady was also discovered at Mungo National Park. Her remains are the oldest known remains to have been ritually cremated. Incredible, right?

These two ancient people were buried on the shore of Lake Mungo (now devoid of water), beneath the Walls of China. The Walls of China can be explored with a guide and is the place where you’ll need to go to feel that surreal absence of sound.

The History of Mungo

It is said that we can only truly understand our present if we understand the past. For this reason, Mungo National Park has become one of the most important places in Australia for studying the people and environment of the past. It is a rare place as here scientists can track how the people that occupied the land lived as the Lake Mungo and the Willandra Lakes environment changed.

Along with Mungo Man and Mungo Lady, this incredible place has revealed other marvels such as the only Pleistocene footprints in Australia, the most numerous anywhere else in the world, which show the tracks of the Willandra people over 20,000 years ago. What has been found here is a history that spans at least 2000 generations in time. Mind-blowing!

Today, the Paakantji, the Mutthi Mutthi, the Ngiyampaa and all Aboriginal people hold their Willandra ancestors and their story. At the visitor centre and through some of the tours you can book, some of the stories are shared with visitors. A visit to Mungo National Park with kids must include a walk into the Walls of China with a guide.

Our Trip to Mungo National Park with Kids

Mungo National Park has been on my bucket list for years. As we headed off on our Outback road trip to Broken Hill I knew we had a golden opportunity to visit. We decided to take the trip from Mildura as it seemed to be the most accessible route.

The first 20 kilometres or so was sealed, but a good 80+ kilometres was on dirt. We suspect that the road gets some traffic as it was rather hard for most of the way. Watch out for sheep, emus and kangaroos on your transit, they jump out when you least expect it.

Our mobile lost range shortly into our trip, but we were driving with friends and used our UHF handheld radios to communicate (a great buy if you are road tripping with friends). The road does stir up a lot of dust, so the radio was a great way of communicating hazards along the way to the car in the back of the line.

When you get to Mungo National Park, head to the visitor centre first. This location provides a good overview of the history of the park and has a great display that the kids can walk through and visualise their learnings. Head outside and you can explore the meeting place of the three Aboriginal groups who are custodians of the land. You can also see all of the ‘returned’ items people have sent back over time, from rocks to dirt that they took when they visited and now realise you are better leaving where you found them.

Explore the Walls of Chine with Google

We prebooked a tour of the Walls of China in advance. This is the only way to walk out into the area as it is closed to foot to preserve the area. I highly recommend that you book a tour so you can explore this lunette landscape yourself! It is incredible. You may even see some ancient features uncovered by the wind on your wanderings. The kids were in awe.

You will need a day to visit Mungo National Park – it is not a place to rush!

How to get to Mungo National Park

The easiest way to get to Mungo National Park is from Mildura. Whilst the road is not sealed, it is accessible by most 2WD during dry weather. Be mindful that it is remote and mobile coverage is limited to next to zero.

From Mildura

To get to Mungo National Park from Mildura, drive across the bridge to Buronga and follow the Silver City Highway towards Broken Hill. As you leave Buronga you’ll see Arumpo Road with a sign indicating Mungo National Park, follow this road to its end

From Broken Hill

From Broken Hill, follow the signs to Menindee and then to Pooncarie. Travel through Pooncarie and continue 20 km south. There, you’ll see Top Hut Road with a sign indicating Mungo National Park. Follow this road to its end and turn right at the T-junction.

Mungo National Park is always open, however, heavy rain can make many parts inaccessible. There is a national park fee of $8 per vehicle per day. Fees are payable at Mungo Visitor Centre, or through self-registration envelopes. Different fees apply for commercial tour operators and vehicles with 8 seats or more.

Accommodation Options at Mungo National Park

Mungo Shearers’ Quarters

Stay in unique heritage accommodation at Mungo Shearers’ Quarters in Mungo National Park. Discover the area’s pastoral and Aboriginal history and explore Lake Mungo.

Click for further details on the Mungo Shearer’s Quarters at Mungo National Park.

Main Camp Ground

With its caravan, trailer and tent sites, the well-equipped Main Camp is the ideal place to base yourself and soak up Willandra Lakes’ rich Aboriginal history.

Click for further details about the Main Camp Ground.

Mungo Lodge

Mungo Lodge offers to rest your mind and body. Right on our doorstep you can explore Mungo National Park and the World Heritage Willandra Lakes Region. With a full range of Mungo accommodation options from very comfortable deluxe king and twin cabins to a self contained cabin.

Click for further details about Mungo Lodge.

We self-funded our trip to Mungo National Park.

Planning an Australian Outback Adventure

Our Australian Outback Adventures covered over 3,000 kilometres in just under a fortnight. Our route covered:

First Leg: Sydney – Mudgee – Dubbo – Nyngan.
Distance: Approximately 555 kilometres or 6 1/2 hours.
Read about Nyngan with kids
Read about Dubbo with kids
Read about Bathurst with Kids (alternative route)
Mudgee with Kids coming soon

Second Leg: Nyngan – Cobar – Emmdale Roadhouse – Wilcannia – Little Topar – Broken Hill (with a trip to Silverton)

Read about Cobar with Kids
Read about Broken Hill with Kids

Distance: Approximately 590 Kilometres or 6 hours

Third Leg: Broken Hill – Wentworth – Mildura (with a trip to Mungo National Park)

Read about Mildura with kids

Distance: Approximately 300 Kilometres or 3 hours

Fourth Leg: Mildura – Swan Hill – Deniliquin – Jerilderie – Wagga Wagga

Distance: Approximately 630 Kilometres or 7 hours

Fifth Leg: Wagga Wagga – Coolamon – Junee – Gundagai – Canberra

Distance: Approximately 260 Kilometres or 3 hours

Final Leg: Canberra – Goulburn – Sydney

Distance: Approximately 286 Kilometres or 3 hours