Little Desert National Park, Victoria

The Little Desert National Park sits on the very west of Victoria just shy of the South Australian Border. The national park spans over 132,647 hectares with a variety of flora and fauna that survive well on the almost infertile deep sandy soil. Pure Mallee, Cypress Pine and Casuarina flourish through the region depending on location and climate. Brush Tailed Possums, Grey Kangaroos, Lizards and over 200 species of birds are the local wildlife residents of this unique landscape.
 
We took a 4-hour drive from Geelong brushing past the Grampians National Park. We pulled in at the Big Koala at Dadswells Bridge to get our “Australian big things” fix. We pitched our tent at Horseshoe Bend, just outside of Dimboola, and then set off for a walk around Pomponderoo Hill, just about 4 kilometres from the campsite. The half hour walk took us through the sandy vegetation of the area in amongst the occasional Grey Kangaroo. The track takes you up to a hill giving you stunning views across the arid landscape, which glowed wonderfully in the afternoon sun.
 
We took a walk down the four-wheel drive track near by, and spotted a mob of emus running across the country, it’s always quite a spectacle so see them on the move. As the sun was setting, we got back to camp to cook a feed and listen to the change of wildlife soundtrack as the day wildlife go to sleep and the nightlife of the wild rises. The highest definition cinema comes to life in the clear night sky with countless stars, and a glowing moon that leaves you wondering about other life out there. We went off to sleep being surrounded by Grey Kangaroos and Possums doing their work through the night. We woke with the sun and enjoyed breakfast in the nature, after packing our camp; we went back to the Grampians National Park to look for some walking tracks. 

Hollow Mountain Walk at The Grampians

​We pulled into Hollow Mountain, which is on the Northern outskirts of the Grampians. In the book we read, it was “a great walk for kids because they can scramble over the rocks”. We got to a point where we had to “scramble” which is fine, but the no railings and 4-metre drop off was far from tame. We got to a point past it where it was getting windy and drops of rain were setting in so we took a few snaps and got off the rocks before it got slippery. Thoughts would still honestly be reserved if it was dry and sunny with no wind at all, we rate anyone getting up there as pretty courageous. Even though we didn’t get all the way up we were still awed by the stunning backdrop of the Grampians, it’s just a beautiful place. 

​We took another walk along the Gulgurn Manja track, which means ‘hands of the young people’, this is a natural rock shelter with paintings of bars, emu tracks and hand prints that were stories from the Jardwadjali people. 

---

Check out our other adventure to the Grampians

Wonderland

---

We had an awesome trip out to Little Desert, it’s the perfect place to go if you are trying to get as far away from the city as you possibly can without hearing another human soul. The peace and tranquillity was something that just stuck with us when we were there, being amongst the nature here felt like your batteries were constantly recharged. No drainage out here, just living.