Explore
Murray - Sunset National Park
Murray-Sunset National Park is home to the famous Pink Lakes. This remote and unspoilt corner of northwestern Victoria draws photographers from all over the world. Explore the islands of the Murray River by four-wheel drive in dry weather or by canoe after rain and camp under starry skies.
The park is well-named. Enjoy some of the finest sunsets in the world plus see the unique and world-famous Pink Lakes. Enjoy walks and camping nearby.
Salt mine relics and mounds of salt have lain abandoned on the edges of the Pink Lakes since operation ceased in 1979. Follow the interpretive signs to learn about the area's salt harvesting industry. Follow Pioneer Drive and take in the best of the Pink Lakes, from Lake Crosbie to Lake Kenyon and Lake Becking.
Murray-Sunset National Park is home to spectacular birdlife. Keep an eye out for the Malleefowl, Regent Parrot, Red-lored Whistler and Mallee Emu-Wren, which are all native to the area. Go canoeing, boating and fishing in the floodplains around Walpolla, Lindsay and Mulcra Island. This is an awesome place for wildlife. Spot goannas, emus, spotted bowerbird and colourful nectar-feeding birds.
Tours in the area
Bushwalking, four-wheel driving, horse riding, kayaking, rock climbing and mountain biking are just some of the many activities you can experience in Victoria's parks.
If you want to try something new or meet some like-minded people on your next visit to a park, contact a licensed tour operator.
Parks Victoria licenses tour operators who are experts in these activities and more. They will help you get the most out of your visit.
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How to get there
Murray - Sunset National Park
Murray-Sunset National Park is in northwest Victoria, between Ouyen and Mildura and the South Australian border. It is about 550kms from Melbourne and 400kms from Adelaide.
Access to the park from Melbourne is via the Calder Highway, and from South Australia via the Sturt Highway.
This large, diverse park was declared in 1991. It plays a unique role in protecting Australia’s biodiversity and contains four designated wilderness zones.
It is one of the last remaining semi-arid regions in the world where the environment remains relatively untouched.
When you're there
Camping & accommodation
Advance bookings and payment for camping are required year round for the Shearers Quarters. Fees no longer apply to other camping areas within Murray Sunset National Park
Need to know
Murray - Sunset National Park
Accessibility
Visiting a park can be more of a challenge for people with disabilities, however in Victoria there are a wide range of facilities to help people of all abilities enjoy our wonderful parks around the state.
Assistance dogs are welcome in Parks Victoria parks and reserves. Entry requirements apply for parks and reserves that are usually dog prohibited, such as national parks.
How we keep it special
The Management Plan for Mallee Parks, including Murray-Sunset National Park, directs all aspects of management in the park until the plan is reviewed.
The River Red Gum Parks Management Plan outlines the management of more than 100 parks and reserves covering more than 215000 ha along the Murray, Goulburn and Ovens river corridors between Wodonga and the South Australian border. This includes part of Murray-Sunset National Park, including Toupnein Creek and Lake Walla Walla reference areas.
Pink Lakes - Lake Hardy and Lake Crosbie
The Pink Lakes are so named because of their colour during late summer. A red pigment, carotene, is secreted from the algae - best seen early or late in the day or when it is cloudy. The lakes evaporate over summer leaving concentrated salt crusts over black mud. Commercial salt harvesting began in the Pink Lakes area in 1916, using shovels and wheel-barrows. For more than twenty years camel teams transported the salt away from the area. Today old salt stock piles and machinery used in harvesting can be seen on the edge of Lake Crosbie.
Pink Lakes are 60kms west of Ouyen along the Mallee Highway. Turn onto an all-weather gravel road for 13kms to the main camping areas at Lake Crosbie. Access further north into the park is recommended for four wheel drive only. Access is also possible by two wheel drive vehicles along a gravel road from Linga.
For those with limited time, a drive around the Pioneer Drive (Pink Lakes) is recommended. Otherwise take a four wheel drive trip to the Mount Crozier Lookout or old Mopoke Hut outstation.
It is important to check current road conditions with park staff before visiting. Some tracks become impassable in wet weather and others are recommended only for four wheel drive. Ensure you carry adequate water, food and fuel when four wheel driving.
The wildflower display during spring can be impressive. On a warm afternoon you may see Rainbow Bee-eaters chasing flying insects or Mallee and Bearded Dragons scurrying to the cover of a Triodia (Porcupine Grass) clump.
