Munga-Thirri National Park Outback Queensland

Photo credit: © Tourism and Events Queensland

About Munga-Thirri

    Image of Munga-Thirri National Park.

    Munga-Thirri National Park.

    Photo credit: John Augusteyn © Queensland Government

    Park features

    At one million hectares, Munga-Thirri National Park is Queensland's largest protected area. At Poeppels Corner the park meets South Australia and the Northern Territory. The entire Simpson Desert covers more than 17 million hectares of Central Australia.

    Across the Simpson, parallel dunes rising to 30–40m run south-east to north-west, the dominant wind direction when they formed during the Pleistocene epoch about 80,000 years ago. Spaced about 1km apart, dunes can extend 200km.

    Bare windswept crests stand atop slopes secured by spinifex and cane grass. In the easterly and westerly areas of the desert, the flat plains between dunes can be wind-polished gibber pebbles, here at Munga-Thirri the plains are usually shallow sands or mineral encrusted claypans. These plains surprisingly support open shrub lands of acacias, hakeas and grevilleas.

    Read more about the nature, culture and history of Central West Queensland parks.

    Looking after the park

    Everything in Munga-Thirri National Park is protected, including plants, animals and heritage sites and artefacts. Please appreciate, respect and help care for Munga-Thirri's outstanding natural and cultural values by leaving things as you find them, and encouraging others to do the same.

    Please read looking after parks in Central West Queensland.

    Park management

    The department is responsible for managing the Munga-Thirri National Park, which has unique attributes. It is managed to conserve the park's natural condition and protect its cultural resources and values.

    Tourism information links

    Wirrarri Visitor Information Centre
    www.thediamantina.com.au
    29 Burt Street, Birdsville, Diamantina Area
    ph (07) 4564 2000
    email info@diamantina.qld.gov.au

    Diamantina Shire Council
    www.diamantina.qld.gov.au
    17 Herbert Street, Bedourie
    ph (07) 4746 1600
    email admin@diamantina.qld.gov.au

    Or visit www.visitbirdsville.com

    For Desert Parks Passes contact:

    National Parks and Wildlife Service, South Australia
    www.parks.sa.gov.au
    ph (08) 8648 5328
    email desertparks@sa.gov.au

    Also see Desert Parks Bulletin.

    Desert Parks Passes are also available in Birdsville from:

    Birdsville Fuel Service
    9 Adelaide Street, Birdsville
    ph (07) 4656 3236
    fax (07) 4656 3263

    The Birdsville Roadhouse
    Frew Street, Birdsville
    ph (07) 4636 3226

    Wirrarri Visitor Information Centre (details above)

    For information on road conditions contact:

    Queensland Transport
    Phone 13 19 40 for 24-hour road reports.

    For tourism information for all regions in Queensland see Queensland Holidays.