Munga-Thirri National Park, formerly known as the Simpson Desert National Park, is the largest national park in Queensland, Australia, 1,495 km west of Brisbane. Most dunes are between 10 and 35 m in height. The longest sand ridge is 200 km in length. Other animals which may be seen include the red kangaroo, dingo, geckos and the Australian feral camel. With the falling of any significant rains comes a transformation of dormant wildflowers.
Tourism
Visitors are encouraged to visit from April to October to avoid extreme daytime temperatures and to travel within a two-vehicle party with long distance communications equipment. There are no roads in the park. The main track is called the QAA Line. Winter mornings can be freezing, while summer temperatures can be as hot as 50°. Increasing tourist numbers have been depleting wood supplies to the point that native fauna could be affected. This has led to authorities encouraging the use of gas camp stoves.
History
Aboriginal peoples have lived in the region for generations. They survived in the dry conditions by digging soaks in the depressions between dunes, some of which were deep.
David Lindsay was the first non-Aboriginal person to cross the central and southern areas of the Simpson Desert in 1886. The park was extended northwards in 1991. The expansion included arid lands with a more diverse range of vegetation.
See also
- Protected areas of Queensland
- Munga-Thirri—Simpson Desert Conservation Park
- Simpson Desert Important Bird Area
- Munga-Thirri–Simpson Desert Regional Reserve