Sturt National Park

The park protects an enormous arid landscape of space and solitude. The rolling red-sand dunes of the Strzelecki desert ripple through the western section, graduating past surprising wetlands surrounded by white sands. Flat-topped mesas and fantastic views characterise the central Jump-Up country. Remnant gidgee woodland, the catchment system of the ephemeral Twelve-Mile Creek and gibber and grass-covered plains dominate the east, while 450 million year old granite tors surrounding Tibooburra form part of the southern boundary of the park. Activities: Enjoy the self-guided loop drives accessible by 2WD or go 4WD trekking along the Middle Road, passing through uniquely diverse landscape with lookouts along the way providing magnificent views. Explore the walks at Fort Grey, Olive Downs, Dead Horse Gully and to the Mt Wood summit - most are easy to moderate and allow for a short loop walk of 1 to 3 hours. The four 2WD-accessible campsites are equipped with free gas barbecues and toilets. But bring your own drinking water and please respect the 'no wood-fire' policy. Camping fees apply. Mt Wood Historic Homestead and Shearers' Quarters are available for accommodation; both have kitchen and bathroom facilities. Outdoor Pastoral Museum: A museum out in the open may seem a little unusual, but what better way to see how the early European settlers used to work on the land? The building blocks of early European bush life on display at the Outdoor Pastoral Museum are part of the historic Mount Wood homestead complex. The museum exhibits original and reconstructed artefacts that'll help you piece together the life of a pastoral worker. It includes numerous examples of equipment used by pastoral properties in the 19th and early 20th century. Learn how horses were used to draw water with the reconstructed walking beam and whim. See the original Mount Wood Station wool scour where sheep fleeces would've once been cleaned - there's even a partly excavated drying ground where fleece was bleached and dried in the sun. And don't forget to look inside the cane grass shed where there's a dredge, Tumbling Tommy scoop and well bucket.




The best time to visit is between April and October. The temperature sizzles to well above 40�� C in summer, but winter nights can drop to below zero!

Access: 335 km north of Broken Hill along the partly paved Silver City highway and 400 km west of Bourke (unpaved). Check the conditions after rain as roads may be closed.

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