Wyperfeld National Park Visitor Guide “Welcome to the Mallee. Many visitors to Victoria's outback, including Wyperfeld National Park, fall in love with its beauty and wide-open spaces. The park is best visited in autumn, winter or spring when Emus and Western Grey Kangaroos can be seen grazing at dawn and dusk in the usually dry lakebeds and creeks.” - Ranger In Charge, Kym Schramm Facilities and accommodation Campground facilities include picnic tables, fireplaces, pit toilets, and limited water for drinking and hand washing. General supplies and accommodation are available in Hopetoun, Rainbow, Patchewollock, Walpeup, Underbool and O’Sullivans Pine Plain Lodge. Camping fees n o t e s apply only at Wonga Campground. Nankeen Kestrel Wonga Campground in the southern end of the The park is of interest to naturalists, particularly park is spacious and has a Visitor Information birdwatchers. Ornithologist Arthur Mattingly describes it as “paradise for nature lovers”. It is a place of Centre, three self - guided interpretive walks, a tranquillity and inspiration for everyone. scenic nature drive and basic camping facilities. Things to see and do Casuarina Campground in the northern Pine Plains area of the park is set amid Pine - Buloke Parks provide a multitude of activities for visitors woodlands and vast open lakebeds surrounded to enjoy. Camping, fishing, touring, bushwalking, by Mallee sand dunes and a circular-walking mountain biking, or 4WD , there’s something for track to Bracky Well. Snowdrift Day Visitors area everyone. is 4WD access only and is set alongside one of the largest white sand dunes in the area. Fireplaces, toilet and tables are available. Driving 2WD and 4WD vehicles can use the park. Day Location and access p a r k visitors and campers can enjoy the Eastern The park is 450 km north-west of Melbourne and Lookout Nature Drive in the south, while 4WDs may be reached; may enjoy a visit to the snow - white sand dunes of Snowdrift in the north at Pine Plains area. • via Patchewollock off the Sunraysia Highway. • via Hopetoun on the Henty Highway • via Underbool on the Mallee Highway Remote Area Access • via Rainbow from the Western Highway at Looking for 4WD opportunities? Call in at the Dimboola. park office to check routes and track conditions. A sealed road gives access from Rainbow or Access to the remote western park areas is via Hopetoun to Wonga Campground in the Murrayville-Nhill Road, but check with rangers southern park area - the main camping and for current track conditions, especially after wet picnic area. weather and during high fire danger periods. Casuarina Campground, in the northern park Caution: On the following tracks, vehicles must area, is reached from Patchewollock by 2WD or have good ground clearance, as tracks are deep Underbool along Gunners Track or Wonga by sand and narrow. Smaller 4WD vehicles may 4WD. have difficulty: North South Access, Milmed 4WD access from Wonga Campground to Pine Rock, Chinamans Well, Dattuck, Ginap Track, Plains area - Check with Rangers about current Moonah Track, Gunners and North Callitris track conditions, call 13 1963. Track. Please Note: No vans or trailers. Access via Wyperfeld Information Centre Dattuck Track is for 4WD vehicles with high ground clearance only. A visit to the Centre at Wonga Campground helps to ensure that you get the most from your stay. Displays include insights into the industrious Malleefowl, along with general natural and cultural history. For more information call the Parks Victoria Information Centre on 13 1963 or visit our website at www.parkweb.vic.gov.au WARNING! During dry, hot weather feral To Underbool To Wyperfeld's facts and figures bees may be present and Wyperfeld National Park To Ouyen B220 GUNNERS Walpeup (4WD) l Size 361,000 ha persistent around any source of 01020 TK l Over 200 native bird species moisture, eg. drinking/washing ã KILOMETRES l Around 450 native plant species water, food, perspiration. N O'Sullivans Lookout l Baring Patchewollock l 1909 3,900 ha temporarily reserved Be prepared for discomfort and To Speed l Proclaimed National Park 1921 bee stings! Casuarina Campground C248 To Murrayville MURRAYVILLE Lake Agnes Quail To Underbool Dry Lakesl 15 km Yarto l Hopping NORTH WYPERFELD Mouse Hill WILDERNESS Kellys ZONE Lookout Mount l MILMED HOPPING C247 l Observatory MOUSE ROCK TRACK HILL Big River PLAIN TRACK NHILL REMOTE Redgum Weather NATURAL AREA SEE INSET BIG DESERT SOUTH WYPERFELD (4WD) WILDERNESS PARK WILDERNESS OSullivans JENKINS ZONE Hopetoun Lookout & Well CHINAMAN WELL Round Swamp LAKE ALBACUTYA Only REGIONAL PARK Nature Walk WIRRENGREN TRACK B200 ROAD Yaapeet GUNNERS Albacutya (4W C227 l D) 7 Historical CHINAMAN FLAT loggers RED BLUFF TRACK RACECOURSE WILDERNESS (4WD) Rainbow camp ZONE Lake Albacutya Wirrengren TK C243 To Nhill HENTY HWY To Dimboola To Warracknabeal Plain TRACK PELLA (Dry Lake bed) To Walpeup Millers CK To Ouyen MILLERS Racecourse LO ROAD Tank HEWOL Baring Flat TC C248 TRACK A TRACK P To Patchewollock ROAD WIRRENGREN Outlet Historical Be Safe, Be Prepared TRACK Rabbiters Mount Jenkins l Creek Hut Carry adequate drinking water, a compass OUTLET l CREEK and topographic maps (walkers), puncture kit MOLONEY ROAD TRACK WOOL Snowdrift for bicycles and a small first aid kit Picnic Area Beware of falling limbs when camping OSullivans TK l Pine Plains l Wear strong, comfortable shoes and a shady Lodge HULLANDS Lake Agnes Casuarina hat INNER WIRRENGREN (Dry) Campground PLAIN TRACK l Take a warm jumper and/or waterproof jacket PLAIN NORTH 8 l Stay on the tracks - don't wander off TK Well BARING WIRRENGREN Outlet MERIDIAN Historical PLAIN TRACK RACECOURSERACECOURSE TRACK Soak RED Wyperfeld - Australias First Mallee National Park CALLITRIS TRACK Be sure to read this fascinating book for an insight Callitris HILL Clearing into the park's rich human and natural history, Nature Walks published by the Friends of Wyperfeld, Creek TRACK 1 Discovery Walk 8 Geoff Durham. TRACK TK MOONAH Total return time 2 hours - Distance 4km (return) Bracky EAGLE Start: Wonga Campground - Eastern Toilet Block. TRACK Historical Well Remote Camp Dog leg TRACK Follow the on-site signs lifting the lid on the mallee fence environment. TRACK NINE MILE SQUARE Dingo Swamp 2 Tyakil Total return time 2 hours - Distance 4.4km (return) Day Visitors ... Start: Black Flat carpark, 4 km from the western end of the Wonga Lost Lake Picnic on the free gas barbecue at the Campground. Interpretive signs along the track help you in your discovery Visitor Centre and Picnic Shelter of the Mallee. THE Drive along the Eastern Lookout Nature 3 Desert Walk FRE Drive- 11km, 1.2hrs, or Total return time 2 5 hours - Distance 6km (return) EW Start: Black Flat carpark, 4 km from the western end of the Wonga Picnic on the free gas barbecue at the Campground. Interpretive signs along the track help you in your discovery Visitor Centre and Picnic Shelter of the Mallee. THE Drive along the Eastern Lookout Nature 3 Desert Walk FREEWAY Drive- 11km, 1.2hrs, or Total return time 2.5 hours - Distance 6km (return) Start: Nine Mile Square carpark, west of the entrance road. (4.5 km from Walk on one of the many walks, or Wonga Campground) Walk west along the track from the carpark for 450 Cycle along Black Flat, Entrance Road, metres, then turn left along the Desert Walk. The track eventually loops Lake Wonga TRACK Outlet Creek Track or the nature drive. back near the start of the Nine Mile Square Track. Excellent views across to Big Desert and Outlet Creek. A good loop walk on a sandy track to experience the mallee environment. HOPPING MOUSE HILL REMOTE NATURAL AREA TRACK Lake Plagianth Half-day walks GINAP NORTH 4 Discovery Walk -Loop including Everard, The Freeway and Lake Jerriwirrup Wentworth Mildura TRACK l Eastern Lookout Tracks l New South Total return time 3.5 hours - Distance 8km (return) STURT HWY Wales Robinvale CALDER Start: Wonga Campground - Eastern Toilet Block. Follow the first 1.5 km of Victoria'sSouth National Parksl the Discovery Walk to Devils Pools. Crossing sand dunes and passing ExplorersAustralia Guide EVERARD9 10 Big Desert SOUTH Lake through mallee tea-tree into the Redgum woodland surrounding Lake Wilderness Park Ouyen TRACK Brambruk This new comprehensive guidebookHWY is Brambruk. Return along The Freeway Track. Rubble Lake MERIDIAN Underbool l HWY SUNRAYSIA l a must for allMALLEE outdoor enthusiasts - call 9 Weedy Lake TRACK l Sea Round Lake Creek 13 1963 toMurrayville order your copy. Lake 5 Nine Mile Square Track - Frews Plain 4 l Total return time 2 hours - Distance 4km (return) CAMERONDiscovery TK Walk TRACK Tyakil Nature Walk HWY Start: Nine Mile Square carpark, on the western side of the entrance road 2 Black Flat Lake Devils Pools WYPERFELD about 5.5 km from Wonga Campground. After crossing a soft sandy dune, Black Flat NATIONAL PARK FREEWAY l 1 this track firms and goes through Black Box woodland and stands of ekaL Outlet Mount Mattingley l THE lHWY eko l uB l mallee and tea-tree. Return by the same route. Western Lookout Dune Little Flagstaff Nhilll WES lDonaca Wonga ORUNGNTY Black Hut l Hill Flat Maiden Bee Rack Hill l Swamp 11 l Lake Brimin Eastern 6 Eastern Lookout via Lignum Track Lookout TRACK Total return time 4 hours - Distance 10km (return) DESERT WALK BLACK FLAT EASTERN 6 CARPARK TRACK TRACK 10 LIGNUM Start: At the Information Centre. 200 metres along the Eastern Lookout TRACK DATTUCK OUTLET CK ROAD Nature Drive Track, turn left along Lignum Track. Travel about 2 km to a TRACK TRACK Lignum Swamp track junction, then turn left. When you reach Eastern Lookout Nature LOOKOUT MAIN Drive Track again, turn right to Eastern Lookout.