Big Desert

Big Desert Wilderness Park, Victoria's first declared wilderness area, spans 13,500 hectares along the South Australian border. This remote region features sandstone ridges, sand dunes, mallee scrub, and heath, offering a pristine environment for 4WD enthusiasts, hikers, nature lovers, and bird watchers. Home to over 300 bird species, including the malleefowl, as well as reptiles and small mammals, the park provides a unique opportunity to experience untouched wilderness. Access is via the Nhill-Murrayville Road, suitable for 2WD vehicles in dry conditions; however, vehicular entry into the park is prohibited, requiring visitors to embark on a hike from the road through a strip of public land into the Big Desert. Only experienced and entirely self-sufficient campers and walkers with a map and compass should attempt this journey, and even then, there are times when it is definitely too hot for walking.