April 11-12 Lake Mungo

April 11-12 Lake Mungo National Park

Travelled from Wentworth towards Pooncarie. Turned east onto the dirt road to take us into Mungo. We camped at “Main Camp” and have a great site with a covered table and seats.  So the camp set up is great. Went for a walk to the Lookout where you can see over the expanse of Lake Mungo. It actually looks circular.

It was here that evidence of human occupation was found – Mungo Woman and Mungo Man. This evidence points to occupation 40 000 years ago. Fossils have also been found of giant kangaroos that were carnivores and a giant wombat that was an herbivore. In fact, the whole surface seems to have fossils exposed or under one of the three layers that form the lunette. 

It is for this reason that visitors are only allowed on the Walls of china if they are accompanied by a guide. We did the tag-along tour this morning and it was led by two Aboriginal guides called, Earnest. They were also cousins. We were able to walk on the walls and the three layers that form the lunette were quite apparent.

After the guided tour, we drove around the Lake. Had a picnic lunch at Belah Camp before continuing on our way to Vigar’s Well. This was a stopping off point for the Cobb & Co coaches and the water still seeps out into a pond. Here the dunes are mobile and are white. People can climb these. Reminds me of the dunes on Moreton Island.

We then stopped off at Zanci Station old deserted homestead. They had built an underground cellar where they would go when the heat was too much. It was surprisingly cool down in the cellar. Apparently they watched the wombats and modelled it on that.

This morning, some parrots? Rosellas? Came near the camp. I managed to get a couple of photos but not sure what they are. They have a red cross across their front. Asked the Rangers but they were not sure either. Have decided that they are Yellow Rosellas.