Little Desert National Park
Visitor Guide
Dalkaiana Wartaty Welcome. The Traditional Owners of this land; the Wotjobaluk, Wergaia, Jadawadjali,
Jaadwa and Jupagalk people welcome you to country. Little Desert National Park is more than a desert.
Camp beside the Wimmera River fringed with River Red Gums, or hike the rolling dunes of the desert. Open
spaces and peaceful campgrounds make this park a natural treasure.
Co-operative management of the park
In 2005, the Barengi Gadjin Land Council Aboriginal Corporation
entered into the first Indigenous Land Use Agreement (ILUA) in
Victoria with the Victorian and Australian Governments.
A co-operative agreement that includes this park ensures that the
traditional owners will be able to continue to care for country by
being involved in the management of the areas where their native
title rights have been recognised.
Getting there
The park is 375kms west of Melbourne, between the Wimmera
River and the South Australian border. A number of sealed roads
lead to the park from the Western Hwy and a gravel road leads from
Dimboola to the eastern part of the park.
Once you leave the bitumen, most tracks are very sandy and are
suitable for experienced drivers of four wheel drive vehicles only
(not suitable for All-wheel Drive vehicles).
Things to see and do
Walking
Self Guided nature walks
Stringybark Walk 30 minutes 1 hour return
Located on the Harrow - Nhill Rd, this walk showcases the diversity
of Little Desert. A brochure at the start of the walk will guide you.
Sanctuary-Keith Hately Nature Walk 30 minutes
return
Start in the picnic area, 10km south of Kiata. A brochure explains the
plant and bird life in this area, including the rare Malleefowl.
Pomponderoo Hill Nature Walk 30 minutes return
This walk is on the parks northern boundary, 4km south of
Dimboola. It loops around typical desert vegetation. A lookout gives
great views of the park, Wimmera River and the surrounding area.
Campground walks
Several walking tracks start from the Kiata Campground. Brochures
are available at the start of these walks.
Parks Victoria
Phone 13 1963
www.parks.vic.gov.au
A short walk from the Horseshoe Bend and Ackle Bend
campgrounds leads to the river and provides great views of the
desert, particularly at sunset. Walkers can continue past Ackle Bend
and follow the track a further 1km to the river before returning to
the campgrounds.
Long distance walking
The Desert Discovery walk is a great opportunity to experience some
of the parks diversity on foot, and is especially colourful in spring.
Long distance walkers can tackle all or part of the 84 km Desert
Discovery Walk. Options of one to four days duration are possible.
Please contact Parks Victorias local park office for further
information on this walk. Overnight walkers are asked to register
their details in advance at the Park Office. There are two overnight
camps along the way, accessible only by walkers.
Camping
Camping is available at Ackle Bend, Horseshoe Bend, Broughtons
Waterhole, Kiata, Mallee Walkers Camp and Yellow Gum Walkers
Camp. The campgrounds all have toilets, fireplaces and tables, apart
from Broughtons Waterhole which does not have toilets.
Camping fees apply at Ackle Bend and Horseshoe Bend. To book go
to www.parks.vic.gov.au/stay.
Bush camping away from the park campgrounds is permitted in the
central and western blocks of the desert.
Ackle Bend
Ackle Bend camping area is located on the Wimmera River, south of
Dimboola. There are 10 unpowered sites available with a maximum
of 6 people per site. Generators are not permitted.
Horseshoe Bend
This campground is located south of Dimboola and is surrounded by
an impressive bend of the Wimmera River. Access is via a gravel
road. There are 10 unpowered sites available with a maximum of 6
people per site. Generators are not permitted.
Broughtons Waterhole
This campground is set in among Yellow Gum woodland and is
accessible off the McDonald Highway on a road suitable for four
wheel drive vehicles only. Camping here is very basic only.
2
3
Kiata
This campground is set in among Yellow Gum and Black Box
woodland and is located 10km south of the Kiata township on the
Western Highway. Basic bush camping sites are available which are
for hike-in walkers only.
Mallee Walkers Camp
Mallee Walkers Camp is located on the northern loop of the Little
Desert Discovery Walk, halfway between Kiata and Horseshoe Bend
camping areas. Basic bush camping sites are available for hike-in
walkers only.
Yellow Gums Walkers Camp
Yellow Gums walkers camp is located on the southern loop of the
Little Desert Discovery Walk, between Kiata and Horseshoe Bend
camping areas. Basic bush camping sites are available for hike-in
walkers only.
Four-wheel driving
There are a number of four-wheel drive tracks that traverse the
park, many which are sandy or become boggy when wet. In the
eastern section of the park the Salt Lake Track starts at the Kiata
campsite, which is surrounded by wildowers in early spring.
More experienced drivers may wish to explore the western section
of the desert near the South Australian border.
A separate brochure is available on 4x4 driving from
www.wimmeramalleetourism.com.au
Seasonal track closures may apply to prevent damage during wet
conditions refer to www.parks.vic.gov.au for changed conditions
prior to your visit.
Facilities
Visitors should bring their own drinking water as water supplies are
limited. Please take all rubbish away for disposal or recycling.
Be prepared and stay safe
Little Desert National Park is in the Wimmera fire district. Bushfire
safety is a personal responsibility. Anyone entering parks and forests
during the bushfire season needs to stay aware of forecast weather
conditions. Check the Fire Danger Rating and for days of Total Fire
Ban at www.cfa.vic.gov.au or call the VicEmergency Hotline on
1800 226 226. No fires may be lit on Total Fire Ban days. On Code
Red Fire Danger Rating days this park will be closed for public safety.
Closure signs will be erected but do not expect an official warning.
Check the latest conditions at www.parks.vic.gov.au or by calling
13 1963. For emergency assistance call Triple Zero (000). If there is a
green emergency marker sign near you, read the information on the
marker to the operator.