TUESDAY 16 MARCH

 We were staying very close to the river in Mildura. It was an easy drive to the Weir and Lock. 

We did not go around to the Weir, instead we checked out the lock. We heard a whistle and sure enough a riverboat was coming around the bend. The Lockmaster arrived to manage the boat through the lock. Always a fascinating operation. On this occasion the boat had to be lowered to the upstream river level.

As we had planned a walk along the river, we followed the riverboat along for a short way. It went up a side tributary, then continued upstream. We continued on our walk.

On our return a smaller houseboat was navigating the lock.

We sat by the lock and had our sandwiches. The riverboat then came by on its return journey. So all in all we experienced plenty of activity at the lock.

Speaking with the Lockmaster, all the infrastructure is removable. It is taken away to safety, such is the power of flood water. The power for the lock is situated safely on a pole which is higher than the 1956 flood.

After our morning along the river, we returned to our accommodation to prepare for our Sunset Tour to Mungo Mungo National Park.

Our bus arrived promptly and with all other passengers picked up we numbered eight.

The drive out to Mungo is half sealed and half dirt road. This was why we did not wish to drive in ourselves. Particularly as coming out at night would be a little nerve wracking on unfamiliar roads with plenty of wildlife potentially crossing.

Mungo Mungo is a park like no other in Australia. It is known for the so-called China Walls which are spectacular at sunset as the colours change.

We arrived at the Mungo Lodge and had dinner first up. After a short trip to the Visitor Centre and old shearers' shed, we drove out to the dunes.

This ancient landscape has been sculpted by wind over centuries. The dunes constantly shift. So much of the crust has hardened it is almost rock.

It was an altogether magical evening.

The riverboat caught us up on our walk, heading upstream

On our way to Mungo Mungo, we called into this private property where a very large Wedge-tailed Eagle has built a nest

This is quite a large example. The eagles build several nests in their area and choose which one they will use each season

Mungo Visitor Centre

The old shearers' shed. The land was gifted by the original pastoral family

Lookout at the Visitor Centre

The vegetated land is considered fragile, hence the board walk

Heading up into the dunes. The Walls of China in the background

The sand has hardened over time to almost form rock. It breaks up quite easily.

A lizard, which is expertly camouflaged 

As fragile as a daisy seems, it can grow in this desert environment

In moments, the colour changes from this ....

... to this