Located in the flat, semi-arid north-western corner of Victoria, Wyperfeld is one of Australia's most fascinating national parks.
The central feature of this huge park is a chain of lake beds connected by Outlet Creek, the northern extension of the Wimmera River. The lakes only fill when the Wimmera River over-supplies Lake Hindmarsh to the south of Lake Albacutya. When it rains the semi-arid landscape is transformed by tiny desert plants that sprout from long-dormant seeds, carpeting the ground with clusters of flowers.
Desert Walk
The Desert Walk is a circuit that winds its way through the sand dunes of the Big Desert.
It is designed for walking in an anticlockwise direction.
Currently there are 5 information signs along the track that provide information on various features and points of interest.
Name plaques have been placed on many of the plant species along the way. However, due to ecological succession following the intense bushfire of 2014, many of the species that were previously common along the walk have now given way to the next series of species that colonise the dunes after fire - so do not rely on the names at this stage.
Road access to the start of the walking track is via the Park Entrance Road and then the 9 Mile Square Track.
The 9 Mile Square Track is located on the western side of the Park Entrance Road approximately 4 km from the park entrance and 5 km from the Wonga Campground.
The walking track starts and finishes at the car park on the 9 Mile Square Track, approximately 1.3 kms west of the Entrance Road.
The walking track is mainly comprised of loose sand on undulating dunes. Most of the track is gently undulating but there are some short steeper sections on taller dunes which provide spectacular views of the surrounding coutryside.
The walk is 7 km long and will take about 4 hrs to complete, walking at a leisurely pace.
Discovery Walk
The Discovery Walk is a nature walk with 38 information stations along the way indicating points of interest. It is designed for walking in an anticlockwise direction.
The walk commences between the dunes behind the eastern toilet block in the Wonga Campground.
The sandy track undulates over low dunes for the whole distance with one steeper section on the northern and western side of Mt Mattingley.
Distance and time: The walk is 4 km long and will take about 2 hours to complete walking at a leisurely pace. Add about 20 minutes if you take the option to explore the Devils Pools.
Malleefowl Walk
The Malleefowl Walk leads you through a patch of mallee to a malleefowl mound and a chance to see one of the birds if you are very lucky.
Take the James Barrett Nature Drive, which commences from the eastern end of the Wonga Campground, for 7 kms to the start of the walking track. The drive is on all-weather gravel road and is suitable for 2-wheel drive vehicles.
The track is flat and comprised of compacted sand for the whole distance.
The return walk to the mound viewing area and back is 1 km and will take around 20 minutes each way.
An alternative walk includes going to the mound viewing area and then following a northern loop back to the start - a distance of around 1.5 kms return which should take around 1 hr to complete.
The walk will take you through typical mallee vegetation of slender-trunked mallee eucalypts over a sparse understorey of low shrubs and occasional grasses.
Information signs are provided at the start of the walk and at the mound viewing area.
Tyakil Nature Walk
The Tyakil Nature Walk has 23 information stations along the way indicating points of interest.
It is designed for walking in an anticlockwise direction.
The walk commences at the Black Flat Car Park.
Take the Black Flat Road from the western end of the Wonga Campground, accessed from the bitumen Entrance Road. Drive for approximately 3.5km to the carpark.
The start of the walk is on the northern side of the carpark.
The track is comprised of loose sand for the whole distance. It is mainly flat to gentle grades,with some short steeper sections over dunes.
Distance and time: The walk is 4.5 km long and will take about 2hrs to complete walking at a leisurely pace.
The walk will take you through a River Red-gum woodland alongside the open lake bed of Black Flat and then into the gently undulating sand dunes with native pine trees and Teatree shrubs to the mysterious Round Lake. From Round Lake the track takes you up some taller dunes with lovely views over the eastern fringe of the Big Desert, and then back to the floodplain of Outlet Creek to return to the Black Flat car park
More information
Friends of Wyperfeld app
Parks Victoria website