Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Arapiles Mountain Shop
( 03-5387 1529; 67 Main St, Natimuk)
sells and hires climbing equipment.
If you want to learn to climb or hire a guide, the
Natimuk Climbing Company
( 03-5387 1329;
www.climbco.com.au
;
6 Jory St, Natimuk)
and
Arapiles Climbing Guides
( 03-5384 0376;
www.arapiles.com.au
;
Natimuk)
are two professional outfits offering instruction and group courses. Most climbers
head for the popular
Pines Camping Ground
(Centenary Park; camp sites $5)
at the base of the moun-
tain.
Duffholme Cabins
( 03-5387 4246; Natimuk-Goroke Rd; d $48, extra adult $15)
comprises a self-con-
tained cottage sleeping seven. Call to make a booking (it's not staffed).
National Hotel
(
03-5387 1300; 65 Main St, Natimuk; d $70-80)
has tidy motel-style units at the back and pub rooms
upstairs, plus good counter meals.
TOP OF CHAPTER
Little Desert
National Park
Don't expect rolling sand dunes, but this arid park is rich in flora and fauna that thrive in
the dry environment. There are over 670 indigenous plant species here, and in spring and
early summer the landscape is transformed into a colourful wonderland of wildflowers.
The best-known resident is the mallee fowl, an industrious bird that can be seen in an avi-
ary at the Little Desert Nature Lodge.
The park covers a huge 132,000 hectares, and the vegetation varies substantially due to
the different soil types, climate and rainfall in each of its three blocks (central, eastern and
western). The rainfall often reaches 600mm per year, but summers are dry and very hot.
The Nhill-Harrow Rd through the park is sealed and the road from Dimboola is gravel,
but in the park the tracks are mostly sand and only suitable for 4WD vehicles or walking.
Some are closed to 4WDs in the wet season (July to October).
If you want a brief introduction to the park there are several well-signposted walks:
south of Dimboola is the
Pomponderoo Hill Nature Walk
, south of Nhill is the
Stringybark Nature
Walk
and south of Kiata is the
Sanctuary Nature Walk
. Other longer walks leave from the
camping ground south of Kiata, including a 12km trek south to the Salt Lake.
Sleeping
