Big Desert Wilderness Park
Big Desert Wilderness Complex is comprised of Big Desert Wilderness Park, part of Wyperfeld National Park, Big Desert State Forest (managed by the Department of Sustainability and Environment) and Ngarkat Conservation Park (managed by the Department of Environment and Heritage, South Australia).
These parks and forest are the four biggest of five continuous reserves that together form the largest remnant of uncleared native vegetation in the agricultural areas of south-eastern Australia. One of the most remote and least disturbed areas in Victoria, this park protects 142,300 hectares of the Mallee.
The Big Desert is Victoria's first declared wilderness area, and is considered to be the best single area in Victoria for reptiles, with over 50 species of lizards and snakes recorded. Nearly 100 species of birds have been recorded in Big Desert including the extremely rare Western Whipbird.
The Big Desert offers visitors an opportunity to experience true wilderness that is unaffected by European settlement, and which provides a challenge for experienced hikers. Ngarkat is also a largely undisturbed park and is used for many ongoing research projects.
Flora
There are about 450 species of plants native to the parks. They occur in distinct communities, which can all be seen close to the campgrounds. Native vegetation is mainly heath, mallee heath and scrub mallee growing in infertile sands. The heath and mallee heath contain a wide variety of shrubs such as Desert Banksia, Scrub Cypress pine, grass tree, She-oak, tea-trees and heaths. The rolling sand plains of the western section are covered with heathland. Spring is the best time to see wildflowers.
Fauna
Look out for Mitchell's Hopping Mouse, Sand Goannas, Dragons, Emus and Western Grey Kangaroos. The region is considered to be the best single area in Victoria for reptiles with over fifty species of lizards and snakes recorded. Ninety-three species of birds have been recorded in the park including the extremely rare Western Whipbird. Mammals found in the area include the Silky Mouse, Western Pygmy Possum and Mitchell's Hopping-Mouse.
Activities
Walks - explore on foot
Explore the unique mallee environment on one of the many self-guided walks that traverse the edge of the park. Take a short walk to the top of Mount Rescue, Gosse Hill or Mount Shaugh for great views.
Camping
Camping is permitted at six sites within Ngarkat and fees apply. There are no facilities or water provided in the park, so you need to carry in your own supplies. There are also some bush campsites within the Big Desert State Forest at Big Billy Bore, the Springs, Moonlight Tank and within Broken Bucket Reserve along the Nhill-Murrayville Road and Red Bluff Reserve on the Border Track, south of the Big Desert Wilderness Park. Bore water is available at Big Billy Bore and Broken Bucket Reserve and these locations and Red Bluff Reserve also have toilets. Supplies may be obtained in Nhill, Yanac or Murrayville.
Precautions
The best times to visit are late autumn, winter and early spring. Summer is not recommended because of high temperatures and risk of fire.
How to get there
There are no tracks into the Big Desert Wilderness Park. Vehicles are not permitted, but the park can be explored on foot. The best approach is by walking from the Nhill-Murrayville Road, which is separated from the park by a three-kilometre strip of State Forest. The Nhill-Murrayville Road is a dry weather road only and may be rough in places. Four-wheel drive access through the Big Desert State Forest outside the Wilderness Park is via the Murrayville Track.
The roads in Ngarkat Conservation Reserve are sandy and mostly only suitable for 4WD vehicles.
Precautions
- You must carry your own water.
- Skill in using map and compass (and or GPS) are vital. The Danyo and Wallowa sheets in the NATMAP 1:100 000 series covers the area.
- Temperatures in summer are far too high for safe and comfortable walking.
- Before leaving on an overnight walk, please inform the ranger at Wyperfeld National Park.