Some parks, such as Mutawintji NP, offers year round culture experience with guided tours with Aboriginal custodians to the more significant and cultural areas while other parks such as Mungo, Paroo-Darling, Mungo, and Kinchega offer special Discovery programs during the School holidays.
Words might tell a story and a picture may tell a thousand stories, but the whole narrative cannot be comprehended until one visits these areas to gain an actual experience. It is when you visit these places that you get an understanding of what this great land is all about – and many elements of Aboriginal Culture and spirituality becomes apparent.
Gundabooka NP
Gundabooka National Park is located a short drive from Bourke and the Darling River boasts some magnificent examples of Aboriginal Rock Art in addition to three magnificent walks to access different sections of Mt Gundabooka. Easily accessible off the Kidman way the three main areas of the park provide great walks and picnic locations and the centrally located Dry Tank area provides the visitor with a wonderfully located camping area.
Kinchega NP
Located on the Darling River near Menindee, Kinchega National Park covers a large area incorporating several of the Menindee Lakes (originally names the Laidley Ponds) and some of the best vantage points for fishing and camping along the banks of the Darling River. The magnificent, and much photographed Kinchega Woolshed is also located within the park and is situated near the National Park Office.
Mungo NP
The best know of the National Parks of the Outback, Mungo National Park and its iconic ‘Walls of China’ is a ‘must see’ park not only for the shear beauty of the Lunette and the dunes which make up the ‘Walls’ but for the amazing and spiritually moving anthological significance of the area which has evidence of continual Indigenous habitation extending over 40,000 years.
Mutawintji NP
Mutawintji National Park and the Mutawintji Historic site is an extremely special place for the living culture and spirituality of Indigenous Australians The historic site has an extensive history as an Aboriginal ceremonial site relevant to many indigenous groups from the immediate and surrounding country. Its significance was further consolidated by a blockade in the 1980’s to regain traditional custodianship of the Historic Site. The park also provides the visitor with many wonderful walks through magnificent gorges and ephemeral streams in addition to wonderful art sites.
Paroo-Darling NP
One of the newer parks, The Paroo-Darling National Park is split into two regions covering the Paroo River and Perry Lake in the north and Wilga Station on the Darling River in the south of the Park near Wilcannia. Perry Lake is a haven for water birds and when full (as it is currently) will contain water for several years. Wilga Station provides some of the best camping along the whole of the Darling River.
Sturt NP
Located in the north-west corner of NSW and bordering South Australia to the West and Queensland to the north, this massive park provides the visitor with a great insight to the geomorphology of Outback Australia with ancient eroded mountain ranges and vast gibber plains easily illustrating the concept of the inland sea that early explorers believed covered the interior of Australia. The park also provides several vantage points to the Dingo Fence (at 5,000+ kms it is the world’s longest fence) which forms the north and western boundary of the park.
