About Munga-Thirri

Park features

Venture through Munga-Thirri National Park following the QAA Line west to Poeppels Corner—the junction of Queensland, 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

At one million hectares, Munga-Thirri National Park is Queensland's largest protected area. Everything in the national park is protected including plants, animals, heritage sites and artifacts. 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 by following these guidelines.

• Leave everything as you find it. Avoid disturbing animals and plants, historical ruins and cultural artefacts.
• Manage your waste. Pack your rubbish in a sturdy rubbish bag in a sealable animal-proof container for disposing at off-park waste disposal sites. Never bury rubbish as animals will dig it up. Rubbish bins are not provided in the national park.
• Toilets are not provided—bury faecal matter (and paper) at least 15cm deep and 100m away from camp sites, tracks and watercourses. Bag all personal hygiene products including disposable nappies and wet wipes for disposal off-park.  Consider packing out your poo.
• Bring your own clean firewood such as untreated, mill off-cuts.  Collecting firewood and using chainsaws in the national park is prohibited.Use a previous camp fire site or off the ground fire container, preferably use a portable fuel stove. Please follow camp fires and cooking guidelines.
• Stop the spread of weeds, insect pests and soil pathogens. New introductions can spread and displace resident species and alter the local ecology. Soil from your vehicle, camping gear and footwear can contain weed seeds, ants (and their eggs) and foreign plant pathogens. Before you arrive clean all vehicles (especially the tyres and undercarriage), all camping equipment and gear. If available, use a washdown facility provided in a local town. Follow the come clean, go clean guidelines.
• Never drive on rain affected tracks. Even if you make it through, your vehicle will damage the track surface and make it dangerous for other vehicles.
• Keep to the QAA Line. Driving off-track damages vegetation, causes erosion and creates confusing new tracks. The Simpson Desert landscape is fragile, plants grow extremely slowly while tyre tracks will remain for decades.
• Camping is only permitted within 100m of the QAA Line in Munga-Thirri National Park.
• Domestic animals are not permitted in the national park. Please observe the before you visit guidelines for dog and pets.

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, Qld 4482
ph 1300 794 257
email info@diamantina.qld.gov.au

Diamantina Shire Council
www.diamantina.qld.gov.au
17 Herbert Street, Bedourie, Qld 4829
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) 8207 7700

Also see Desert Parks Bulletin and Desert Parks Pass.

Desert Parks Passes are also available in Birdsville from:

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

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.