Big Desert Wilderness Park

Big Desert Victoria
Big Desert Location in Rural City of Mildura
Coordinates	35°28′33″S 141°17′35″E / 35.47583°S 141.29306°E / -35.47583; 141.29306Coordinates: 35°28′33″S 141°17′35″E / 35.47583°S 141.29306°E / -35.47583; 141.29306
Postcode(s)	3418, 3490
LGA(s)	Rural City of Mildura Shire of West Wimmera Shire of Hindmarsh
State electorate(s)	Mildura
Federal Division(s)	Mallee
Localities around Big Desert: Panitya, Carina, Murrayville Cowangie, Tutye, Boinka, Linga Underbool, Torrita, Walpeup South Australia Big Desert Patchewollock, Yaapeet, Albacutya South Australia, Telopea Downs Yanac, Netherby Rainbow

The Big Desert Wilderness Park, on the western border of Victoria, Australia, is the oldest of Victoria's three wilderness parks. It is also a locality of the Rural City of Mildura.^[1]

The park is a protected area of 1,130 square kilometres (436 sq mi), with no vehicular access, and no defined walking tracks. Encompassing part of the Big Desert, it also adjoins Ninety Mile Desert across the border in South Australia. As the park is a dedicated wilderness area, there are no facilities of any kind, including toilets or campsites. However, hiking and small fuel stoves are permitted. The park is part of the Wyperfeld, Big Desert and Ngarkat Important Bird Area, identified as such by BirdLife International because of its importance for the conservation of malleefowl and other species of mallee birds.^[2]

A large bushfire was ignited by lightning in the park in 2002 then spread rapidly due to strong winds and dry fuel. The fire soon joined another in the adjoining Wyperfield National Park and an area of 1,814 square kilometres (700 sq mi) was burned out. The fire burned for two weeks resulting in the loss of an abandoned house and 400 hectares (988 acres) of private property.^[3]

See also

• Protected areas of Victoria (Australia)

External links

• Big Desert Wilderness Park, Parks Victoria

References