Murray - Sunset National Park National Park

Website: https://www.parks.vic.gov.au/places-to-see/parks/murray-sunset-national-park

Hours: Daily sunrise-sunset

Admission: Vehicle entry or camping fees may apply; check Parks Victoria for up-to-date information

Murray-Sunset National Park is a protected area in northwest Victoria, Australia, covering a large area of semi-arid mallee country and salt pans. It is best known for the distinctive Pink Lakes salt pans found within the park.

The park offers extensive dryland mallee vegetation, saltpans that can appear pink under the right conditions, and remote routes used for backcountry driving, walking and basic camping. Birdwatching and observing semi-arid flora are common reasons people visit.

The reserve was proclaimed and is managed by the State of Victoria for conservation and recreation. Management focuses on protecting native mallee ecosystems and saline lake systems while permitting low-intensity recreation.

Geographically the park sits in northwest Victoria, in a flat, semi-arid zone of the state. It lies inland from the southern Murray River corridor and is accessed from small regional towns in the state’s northwest.

• Pink Lakes: The park contains the Pink Lakes salt pans, whose shallow saline lakes can take on a pink hue when halophilic algae and bacteria are active.
• Access and management: Managed by Parks Victoria, the reserve protects extensive mallee and semi-arid landscapes and supports remote four-wheel-drive tracks and basic camping facilities.

Access from towns such as Mildura or Hopetoun; long unsealed roads traverse the park-4WD recommended for some routes. Check Parks Victoria for seasonal road conditions and permits.

• Roads into parts of the park are long and unsealed-plan fuel and supplies accordingly.
• Visit during cooler months for comfortable walking; early morning gives the best light for photography.
• Look for Mallee and saltbush vegetation-this park is known for desert-adapted ecosystems.