Belah Campground – Mungo National Park Outback Camping

Prepare for a journey into the deep past with a stay at Belah Campground, a remote and captivating campsite in the heart of the World Heritage-listed Willandra Lakes Region. Located within the magnificent Mungo National Park, this campground offers an unparalleled outback experience, immersing you in a landscape of profound Aboriginal history and dramatic, ancient beauty. The campground is a peaceful, secluded clearing set amongst a beautiful woodland of belah and rosewood trees, providing a wonderfully authentic setting for self-sufficient campers. The unpowered sites are perfect for tents and off-road camper trailers, offering a true sense of isolation under the vast outback sky.

Belah Campground serves as an ideal, quiet base for exploring the park’s wonders. It’s situated along the famous 70km Mungo Loop Track, placing you in a prime position to discover the park’s main attractions, including the incredible ‘Walls of China’. This spectacular 33km-long lunette of sand and clay formations is the park’s centrepiece, and watching the sunset light it up in brilliant shades of orange and pink is an experience you will never forget. This is a classic, remote national park experience, and self-sufficiency is absolutely essential. The campground has basic non-flush toilets and fire pits, but you must bring all your own supplies, especially every drop of drinking water, and be prepared to take all rubbish with you. The rewards are immense: incredible wildlife sightings of red kangaroos and emus, some of the best stargazing in the country, and a deep, tangible connection to a landscape that holds over 40,000 years of human history.

• Website: nationalparks.nsw.gov.au
• Phone Number: 1300 072 757 (NPWS Bookings)
• GPS Coordinates: -33.71236, 143.1772

Site Information

• Location: Mungo National Park, Willandra Lakes Region World Heritage Area.
• Site suitable for: Tents, off-road camper trailers.
• Road access: Long, unsealed outback roads. 2WD is possible in dry weather with high clearance, but 4WD is strongly recommended. Roads are impassable when wet.
• Site surface: Dirt and sand.
• Camping permitted: Yes, bookings and park entry fees are essential via the NSW National Parks website.
• Maximum overnight stays: Check booking details.
• Number of un-powered sites: 12 unmarked sites.
• Facilities: Non-flush (long-drop) toilets, wood barbecues/fire pits, picnic tables.
• Picnic tables: Yes.
• Potable water: No. You must bring all your own water.
• Mobile phone coverage: None. A personal locator beacon (PLB) is highly recommended.
• TV reception: None.
• Onsite public toilets: Yes.
• Rubbish bins: No. All rubbish must be carried out.
• Open fires: Permitted in designated fire pits, subject to fire bans. Bring your own firewood.
• Generator use: Not permitted.
• Number of sites available: 12 sites.

Essentials to Bring

• A well-prepared vehicle with multiple spare tyres.
• All drinking water for your entire stay (at least 5L per person, per day).
• Extra fuel.
• Rubbish bags to take all waste with you.
• Your own firewood.
• A satellite phone or PLB for emergencies.

Activities

• Pet friendly: No. Pets are not permitted in National Parks.
• Fishing: Not applicable.
• Short walks: Explore the Mungo Loop Track and the iconic Walls of China.

Local Amenities

• Local Pubs:
  • Pooncarie Hotel, Pooncarie (~130 km)
  • Balranald Club, Balranald (~150 km)
• Places to Eat:
  • A cafe at the Mungo Lodge (~15 km)
  • Basic supplies and meals in Pooncarie (~130 km) or Balranald (~150 km).
• Local Attractions:
  • Mungo Woolshed and Visitor Centre (~15 km)
  • The Walls of China Lookout and Boardwalk (~20 km)
  • The Mungo Loop driving tour (on site)
• Nearest Caravan Parks:
  • Main Campground, Mungo National Park (~15 km)
  • Balranald Caravan Park (~150 km)
• Next Free Camps:
  • There are no free camps in this remote area.
• Nearest Dump Points:
  • Balranald (~150 km).
• Nearest Petrol Station:
  • Pooncarie (~130 km) or Balranald (~150 km). It is absolutely essential to arrive with full tanks of fuel.
• Drinking Water Resupply:
  • Balranald or Mildura. You must arrive at the park with all the water you need for your entire stay.
• Public Toilets:
  • Onsite. Also at the Mungo Visitor Centre (~15 km).

Seasonal Weather Forecast: Outback NSW (Arid)

• Summer (December – February): Extremely hot. Temperatures consistently exceed 40°C. Travel is strongly discouraged.
• Autumn (March – May): Warm to mild sunny days and cool nights. This is the prime time to visit. Temperatures range from 12°C to 29°C.
• Winter (June – August): Cool, clear, and sunny days with very cold nights that can drop below freezing. Ideal for hiking. Temperatures range from 4°C to 18°C.
• Spring (September – November): Mild to warm days with cool nights. The landscape can be spectacular with wildflowers after rain. Temperatures range from 10°C to 28°C.