Mallee Adventure Loop
- OTG Crew
- Dec 2, 2024
- 5 min read
Updated: 5 days ago
The Mallee Adventure Loop (Mallee Drive) is a thrilling 4WD journey through Victoria's captivating Mallee, where wildlife, vibrant woodlands, and colorful wildflowers create a nature lover's paradise. The route winds through dry lakebeds, sweeping dune fields, and dramatic lookouts like O’Sullivan’s and Mt Crozier. Highlights include the stunning Pink Lakes and endless chances to explore by day and marvel at the stars by night.
Photo Credit: Explore Outdoors Victoria, Parks Victoria
Route Overview
Trip Length & Season
Adventure Rating: Epic Trip Length: 755 km, 4-6 days Season: Fall, winter and spring are the best times to visit. Wyperfeld and Murray-Sunset National Parks may close during periods of high fire danger, when a Code Red Fire Danger has been forecasted. The fire season typically lasts from November - April, and campfires may not be permitted during periods of increased fire danger.
Digital Maps & GPX Files
Download Digital Mapping Files
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Technical Ratings & Terrain
Avg Technical Rating: 2-3
Peak Technical Rating: 4
Typical Terrain: You'll be driving through A LOT of sand. This is by far the most challenging aspect of the route, especially sections that entail climbing hills and dunes. There are some hard packed dirt roads, but the majority of the tracks traverse through sand. The track can incredibly challenging in wet conditions.
Recommended Vehicle / Moto / Adventure Vans
Recommended Vehicle: Stock 4x4
Recommended Moto: A dual sport bike is recommended for the numerous sandy sections along the track.
Adventure Vans: This track includes a lot of sand. So while a Sprinter 4x4 can technically manage it, it may struggle with some of the deeper sand and dunes. We'll leave it up to you if you'd like to take the route on, but you've been warned! You must have a true 4x4 Sprinter with center-locking differential (no AWD versions).
Fuel, Provisions, and Recommended Gear
Fuel: The drive from Nhil to Underbool is 330 km, from Underbool to Murrayville is 350 km, and from Murrayville back to Nhil is 85 km. Provisions: Provisions can be obtained in the same general vicinity as fuel. Gear: Be sure to carry recovery gear for this route.
Alternative Routes
n/a
Camping Recommendations
Dispersed camping is not permitted in Purnululu National Park and campgrounds are limited within the park. It's recommended that you secure your camping reservations well in advance of your planned visit. If you plan to camp in the park you must camp at Walardi Campground , Kurrajong Campground, or Bellburn Campground (operated by APT Wilderness Lodges), which offers safari style tents and permenent facilities within the National Park. Outside of the park, there are four nearby campgrounds along the Great North Highway. Our favorite of the four is Violet Valley Campground (13km access road), which is Aboriginal-owned and operated.
Discovery Points
Wyperfeld National Park
Milmed Rock
Lookout Dune
Hermie Strauss Garden
Lake Albacutya
Lake Albacutya dunes
Wonga Hut
Mt Mattingly Lookout
Lone Dune
Lake Agness
White sand dunes
O'Sullivan's Lookout
Lake Crosbie & Pink Lakes
Mt Crozier Lookout
Murray-Sunset National Park
Pink Lakes Salt Outdoor Museum
Mount Crozier Lookout
Rocket Lake
Old Nowingi Gypsum Mine Hopper
Shearers' Quarters
The Crater
Dune Ridge Track
Big Dune viewpoint
Land Managers & Other Resources
Land Managers
Other Resources
Permits & Papers
You only need to pay a fee if you stay at certain campgrounds within the National Park, like Wonga Hut. The vast majority of campgrounds within each park are totally free. Neither park currently requires entrance fees for entering the parks using a 4WD vehicle.
Adventure BadgeÂ
OTG has partnered with All Roads Taken to offer an adventure badge for this route.
>> Buy your adventure badge today!
Route Details
The Mallee is a vast, semi-arid ecosystem shaped by fire and dominated by plains, salt pans, low hills, and expansive dune fields. It stretches across southeastern Australia, encompassing parts of northwestern Victoria, southwestern New South Wales, and South Australia. The name comes from the distinctive Mallee eucalypt trees that are unique to the region. But what exactly is a mallee? Unlike typical eucalypts, which grow as single-trunked trees, mallee eucalypts are shrubs with multiple slender trunks sprouting from a lignotuber—a woody lump underground. This lignotuber enables the plant to recover quickly after fires, making it perfectly adapted to the dry, fire-prone environment. These iconic trees, with their twisted trunks, grow in sandy, nutrient-poor soils and are often surrounded by drought-tolerant shrubs like saltbush. Despite the harsh environment, the Mallee is alive with wildlife, including kangaroos, emus, and wallabies.
The Mallee Adventure Loop, also known as Mallee Drive, is a 755km circuit through the heart of Victoria's Mallee region. The loop can be driven in either direction, beginning with a journey north into Wyperfeld National Park. Your first stop should be Milmed Rock (discovery point), a sacred rock outcropping of deep cultural significance to the Watjobaluk people, the traditional custodians of these lands. As you travel deeper into the park, the landscape transforms, with dunes growing taller and more prominent. Be sure to drive up Lookout Dune (discovery point) for panoramic views of the park and the surrounding Mallee wilderness.
Heading east, you'll arrive at Lake Albacutya (discovery point), one of many ephemeral lakes that only fill after heavy, sustained rains. To continue around Lake Albacutya, navigate through the dune fields on its western edge before following a sealed road to the Wonga Hut. Built in the 1930s for settlers and travelers, this humble structure offers a glimpse into the challenges faced by early inhabitants of the Mallee's unforgiving environment. Across the road is the Wyperfeld National Park Information Centre, where you can learn more about the area's history and ecology. The route then winds through additional dunes and around ephemeral lakes of varying sizes. Be cautious when crossing any dry lakebeds, as conditions can be treacherous outside of the dry season.
North of Wyperfeld National Park, you'll reach the small outpost of Underbool. This is a good place to refuel, restock supplies, and mingle with the locals before continuing your journey. Heading further north, you'll encounter Lake Crosbie and the Pink Lakes (discovery point), marking your entry into Murray-Sunset National Park. The Pink Lakes are famous for their vivid hues, created by a mix of salt, algae, and specialized bacteria. Continue north to Rocket Lake (discovery point), the last sizable ephemeral lake on the park's northern edge, and take a worthwhile detour to visit the Old Nowingi Gypsum Mine Hopper (discovery point), an impressive relic of the area's mining history. From there, the route stretches west through remote wilderness, offering an awe-inspiring sense of isolation, until you reach the Shearers' Quarters (discovery point), a historic building once home to sheep shearers working in the area.
From the Shearers' Quarters, follow the Millewa South Bore Track to the outpost of Murrayville. Here, you can resupply and refuel before tackling some of the track's most challenging terrain. South of the Mallee Highway, you'll navigate towering sand dunes, including Dune Ridge Track (discovery point) and Big Dune Viewpoint (discovery point). This final stretch is dotted with excellent camping spots, ideal for an overnight stay. As you make your way past the dunes and south of Big Billy Camp, you'll officially complete the Mallee Adventure Loop!
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