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PHOTOGRAPHING + VISITING MUNGO NATIONAL PARK, NSW
The place lunettes kind a chiselled panorama of rugged formations and Australian wildlife and Aboriginal tradition take centre stage, Mungo Nationwide Park is one location to place in your images wish-list.
The glow of dawn illuminates dry lakebeds the place kangaroo and emu are slowly beginning their day, whereas golden sunsets and pastel skies create a surprising palette when photographing the other-worldly panorama.
Carved and formed over hundreds of thousands of years, Mungo Nationwide Park has so many tales to inform and on a current go to, I used to be blown away by simply how a lot I didn’t find out about not solely Australian landscapes, however our tradition, folks and historical past. Do your self a favour, should you get an opportunity to go to Mungo, spend a couple of days right here to actually take in the sweetness and magic of this photogenic and vital a part of Outback New South Wales.
The place is Mungo Nationwide Park?
Situated in Outback NSW, Mungo Nationwide Park is roughly an 11hour drive west of Sydney or 7hours north-west of Melbourne. Resting close to the centre of the Murray Basin, Mungo Nationwide Park contains of 19 related lakes (now dry), dunefields, sandplains, lunettes (extra on these within the images part under) and lakebeds which might be thriving with native Australian wildlife.
Damaged Hill, NSW, is a 3-4hour drive north-west whereas Mildura, Victoria, is a 90minute drive south-west from the Mungo Customer Centre.
What makes it so vital?
Thick layers of sand and clay discovered inside Mungo Nationwide Park reveal indicators of how the local weather and panorama has modified over the past 100,000 years. Not solely is the earth vital, discoveries made throughout the area have allowed particulars of the previous to be voiced.
Three Aboriginal tribal teams stroll within the footsteps of their ancestors immediately, the Paakantji, Ngyiampaa and Mutthi Mutthi folks care and proceed the tradition and data of Nation.
A timeline of how the panorama was shaped (useful resource: NMA)
- 32 million years in the past the ocean flooded the Murray Basin through which the Willandra Lakes and Mungo Nationwide Park are positioned.
- 150,000 years in the past the Willandra Lakes shaped as low-lying basins stuffed with water from the mountains to the east.
- 40,000 years in the past the local weather turned persistently drier and the world plunged into a chilly, glacial section from 22,000 years in the past.
- 10,000 years in the past the final Ice Age was over and a comparatively steady, semi-arid local weather settled over the world.
Maybe most individuals know Mungo Nationwide Park as the placement for the place essentially the most vital human stays ever to be found in Australia, have been discovered. Named Mungo Man and Mungo Girl, the stays date again 42,000+ years and are among the oldest stays of recent people, discovered exterior Africa.
Geologist Jim Bowler found the bones of Mungo Woman in 1968 and located that they had been ritually buried, making her stays the oldest identified cremation on the earth. They’re additionally a illustration of the early emergence of humanity’s non secular beliefs.
Learn extra in regards to the folks and and tradition on the Go to Mungo web site.
*Data additionally resourced from the Nationwide Museum of Australia.
What and the place to {photograph} at Mungo Nationwide Park?
The very first thing that shocked me throughout my go to to Mungo Nationwide Park was the abundance of wildlife. When researching and scouting places by way of Google Maps, I had famous the large Lake Mungo, Lake Leaghur as potential places for panorama images, nevertheless in individual, they’re expansive, dry lakebeds that are actually dwelling to an unimaginable quantity of kangaroos and emu. Inside minutes of arriving at Mungo we noticed a mob of 15 emus huddled collectively and kangaroos stood and watched as we drove (waving like we’d by no means seen a kangaroo) by them.
For many panorama photographers nevertheless, it’s going to little doubt be the Partitions of China that drew you to Mungo Nationwide Park. Stretching alongside a ridge on the japanese aspect of Lake Mungo, this panorama is other-worldly. Made up of lunettes, shaped over hundreds of years, they’re a chiselled assortment of sandy clay formations.
My favorite location of the park is the Purple Prime Lookout which is the spot you’ll see in a lot of the Mungo imagery on Instagram/social media. It’s a viewing platform that’s perched in one of many highest places throughout the park and appears down into the lunettes and throughout the Partitions of China to the north. From Purple Prime Lookout you possibly can {photograph} dawn, sundown and likewise watch in anticipation for a full moon to rise (verify dates for the perfect viewing!).
Options of the panorama are highlighted throughout the golden hour as shadows assist to boost the patterned and textured formations, significantly alongside the Partitions of China and from Purple Prime Lookout.
When to go to Mungo?
You may go to and {photograph} Mungo Nationwide park year-round, nevertheless be aware that in winter it’s going to get fairly chilly, and in summer time the warmth can be fairly intense! I visited in mid-February and we had 41degrees at some point, then 27degrees the subsequent, which I can let you know was much more snug to {photograph} in!
You may plan your go to round a full moon to {photograph} this lovely scene from Purple Prime Lookout.
This exhibits the distant haze while wanting towards the Partitions of China, created by the 41 diploma warmth inside Lake Mungo.
Winds have been so robust (you possibly can see within the distance behind me), sand was whipping up throughout however the wind was additionally serving to to chill the air slightly!
What gear to make use of?
It may be windy, sandy and gusty out right here so having a digital camera that may deal with a little bit of sand/mud is important. My OM SYSTEM OM-1 and Olympus E-M1 MKIII cameras have been such a terrific companions for this journey!
Right here’s an inventory of the gear I used whereas photographing Mungo Nationwide Park:
OM SYSTEM OM-1 Digital camera (learn all about this unimaginable digital camera by way of the OM SYSTEM website right here)
OM-D EM-1 MKIII Digital camera
40-150mm f2.8 professional M.Zuiko lens (learn my article about this lens right here)
12-40mm f2.8 professional M.Zuiko lens
7-14mm f2.8 professional M.Zuiko lens
MC-20 x teleconverter
As I ventured on to the Partitions of China with a neighborhood information, I used to be capable of stand up good and near the lunette formations and therefore, use my wide-angle 7-14mm lens to get some shut particulars of the rugged formations. I did discover although, my favorite lens to make use of was the 40-150mm as I actually loved zooming in to carry the panorama nearer and reveal the layers of carved sand and clay.
At instances I additionally connected the MC-20 2 x teleconverter to get near the distant dunes I wasn’t capable of entry as a result of self-guided street being closed. Whereas the street closure was a disappointment, I used to be actually proud of the photographs I captured of the dunes from a distinct angle and was actually glad to have the MC-20 in my digital camera bag, increasing the 40-150mm lens to 80-300mm (approx. 160-600mm full body equal).
I opted to have the 40-150mm lens on the digital camera more often than not not just for landscapes, however for the wildlife too. They’re so near the street and viewpoints nevertheless as soon as they’ve noticed you, can bounce away and watch from afar, so having that additional focal size allowed me to seize the cuties even slightly additional away.
Drones will not be permitted inside Mungo Nationwide Park except you’ve obtained written permission from the Park Workplace previous to arrival, and you’ll require an endorsement from the normal house owners.
The best way to get to Mungo Nationwide Park?
There are a variety of the way you possibly can drive to Mungo Nationwide Park, most require some dust roads which change in situation relying on the climate. My finest recommendation is to drive to the situations, depart early to keep away from driving at evening and go as gradual as you’re feeling snug. As somebody who isn’t an off-road driver, I used to be nervous previous to arriving that the roads could be slightly too tough for me, nevertheless, they have been completely superb and as soon as I relaxed slightly, I had a lot enjoyable driving alongside them! You do want to observe for kangaroos, emus and the odd deeper sandy patch on the street that may seize the wheels.
An essential be aware – there are not any petrol/gasoline amenities when you enter Mungo Nationwide Park so it is advisable to be full (replenish in Mildura, Wentworth or Balranald and able to be self-sufficient for the drive there and again! There are additionally no shops throughout the park, so carry meals, water and no matter you want at some stage in your go to.
Driving from Sydney or Melbourne, you’ll most certainly drive by way of certainly one of two primary centres, Mildura or Balranald.
Driving from Mildura: From Mildura you possibly can take Arumpo Street which has 20km sealed and 88km of unsealed roads that lead straight to Mungo Lodge (see extra within the ‘The place to Keep part’, which is 5minutes away from the Mungo Customer Centre.
This street is nicely maintained and will be pushed in a 2WD automobile, nevertheless, it’s a dust street, there are patches of sand and if it’s been raining, the situations could also be difficult. At all times verify street situations with the native customer centre if it’s been raining otherwise you’re travelling in summer time when storms and rain could also be extra seemingly. That mentioned, we had a terrific drive in February with my AWD Hyundai Sante Fe and no points on account of dry climate. *Though I drove overly cautious and really gradual the complete means!
From Damaged Hill: Observe the indicators to Menindee after which on to Pooncarie. Proceed 20km south past Pooncarie till you see Prime Hut Street which has an indication indicating Mungo Nationwide Park. Observe this till the T-junction after which flip proper.
From Balranald: Google Maps is aware of the way in which so merely sort ‘Mungo Customer Centre’ or ‘Mungo Lodge’ into your GPS for the route earlier than departing Balranald as you could lose sign alongside the way in which at numerous factors. The street begins alongside Ivanhoe Street, then turns off, following Marma Field Creek Street. It consists of about 150km of unsealed roads and relying on situations, there are two routes out there to you when approaching from the south-east.
I discovered the street from Balranald slightly tougher to drive than the street from Mildura, however it’s going to rely upon the time of yr you go to and situations. Each roads are maintained so situations may also rely upon when it was final graded. They’re lovely drives although with loads of open areas, attractive outback surroundings and also you’ll barely see one other soul!
Verify street situations with any of those three customer centres, relying on the place you’re driving by way of –
Balranald Customer Data Centre – 1800 444 043
81 Market Avenue, Balranald, NSW
Mildura Customer Data Centre – 1800 039 043
180-190 Deakin Avenue, Mildura, VIC
Wentworth Customer Data Centre – (03)5027 3624
66 Darling Avenue, Wentworth, NSW
E mail [email protected]
Are you able to do a day journey to Mungo Nationwide Park?
In the event you’re simply hoping to have a fast look and tick it off your record of issues to see, then sure, by all means, should you depart early you possibly can drive from Mildura for the day and be again earlier than sundown. Nonetheless, should you’re aiming to {photograph} the attractive lunette formations at dawn/sundown and really take in the magic of this particular a part of Australia, I’d say no.
I counsel you spend no less than two nights right here to benefit from your go to and to expertise a dawn, sundown and {photograph} the altering colors of this spectacular panorama. Taking one of many guided sundown excursions is a good way to stroll amongst the lunettes and pay attention as a neighborhood information talks about this vital location.
Accessing Mungo Nationwide Park
To remain, go to or drive inside Mungo Nationwide Park, you’ll want a customer move which prices $8 per day and is payable on the Mungo Customer Centre. It’s price noting, that as of April 2022, solely a small part of the self-drive street is open.
You may entry the Wall of China viewing level however might want to e book a guided tour to stroll amongst the lunettes. This may be performed by way of the Mungo Customer Centre or instantly by way of Mungo Lodge should you’re staying there.
Regardless of a portion of the self-guided tour being closed, you possibly can nonetheless additionally entry the Purple Prime Lookout which was my private favorite! The viewing platform seems down into the rugged panorama and lunette formations, making it the perfect spot for dawn and sundown images!
Updated customer info will be discovered on the Nationwide Parks of NSW web site right here.
With out a guided tour, that is so far as you possibly can go when viewing the Partitions of China. A guided tour will get you entry to stroll up amongst the lunettes and interesting formations.
The view from Purple Prime Lookout viewing platform.
The place to remain in Mungo Nationwide Park
I opted to remain at Mungo Lodge and had such a beautiful expertise there, not sponsored, I paid full worth and I can’t suggest it extremely sufficient as you’ve obtained a snug mattress on the finish of an extended day trip exploring, plus their restaurant dishes out scrumptious meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner, bookings are important. They’ll even pack a picnic lunch should you like! The explanation that is so essential, is that there are not any retailers at Mungo Nationwide Park, it is advisable to both arrive absolutely ready with meals and water, or keep at Mungo Lodge the place you’ll be sorted in luxurious.
I beloved listening to the birds waking within the morning and listening to the desert winds whipping throughout the panorama from my mattress at Mungo Lodge! The workers are additionally so pretty and useful, prepared to supply recommendation on the place to go, counsel timings for sundown, full moon places and now have some free emu meals should you’re courageous sufficient to enterprise over to their resident emus or goats and provides them some treats.
In the event you’re eager to discover the Partitions of China, Mungo Lodge additionally affords guided excursions which grant you entry to the restricted space through the day, and even sundown excursions on numerous days. Verify with Mungo Lodge reception for out there tour dates.
Alternatively, you possibly can keep on the Mungo Shearer’ Quarters which is positioned inside Mungo Nationwide Park beside the Customer Centre. There are 5 rooms with bunks, shared amenities and you’ll e book on-line or search availability by way of this hyperlink.
A brand new choice should you’re searching for one thing slightly extra thrilling is the Mungo Roo Bunkhouse and Glamping. You may e book and see photos right here by way of Reserving.com, I personally haven’t stayed right here however the photographs of the glamping particularly look good and it’s positioned proper beside Mungo Lodge.
Pictures of Mungo Landscapes + Particulars
*All photos have been taken on the OM SYSTEM OM-1 or OM-D EM-1 MKIII
Journey and panorama photographer from Australia who is much extra snug in a pair of flippers than heels! Having labored for publications comparable to Lonely Planet, Wanderlust and the Sunday Instances, Lisa based The Wandering Lens to share vacation spot guides to the worlds most photogenic locations and out of doors experiences.
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