Kinchega National Park

Kinchega National Park is a national park in the Far West region of Outback New South Wales.

Understand

Flora and fauna

Some of the wildlife that inhabit the area include the lace monitor, Peron's tree frog, pink and black cockatoos, kultarr and others, including the typical Australian wildlife.

Climate

The climate of the park is mostly hot and dry all year around, with little to no rainfall.

Visitor information centre

• 1 Kinchega Visitor Centre, 673 Woolshed Drive, Menindee. It's more than just another visitor information centre, as this place also gives an insight into the history of both its pastoral and indigenous history inside a 1950s-era building. No visit to Kinchega National Park is ever complete without visiting this visitor centre. (updated Nov 2021)

Get in

Kinchega National Park is not too far from civilization, and the closest point of the park via car is only a mere 4 km (2.5 mi) drive from Menindee town centre. There aren't any transportation services from Menindee to the park though, so you will need to drive from there.

Fees and permits

There is a fee of $8 in the park, and it has a pay and display envelope payment system, so make sure to bring correct coins.

NSW Parks passes are valid in the park, which provide unlimited access to the park for a year. The passes also provides faster entry and is valid for 12 months (or 24 if you purchase a two year pass) from date of purchase. The fees per vehicle (as at 2021) as follows:

• All Parks Pass – includes all parks in New South Wales, including Kosciuszko National Park ($195 for one year, $335 for two years)
• Multi Park Pass – includes all parks in New South Wales, excluding Kosciuszko National Park ($65 for one year, $115 for two years)
• Country Parks Pass – includes all parks in Country New South Wales, excluding Kosciuszko National Park ($45 for one year, $75 for two years)

All three parks passes are valid in Kinchega National Park. There is also a fourth pass; the Single Park Pass, worth $22 for one year and $40 for two. This is just if you want to revisit this park again and again, in which to pay the fees off, you'll need to visit this park at least three times.

Get around

The choice of whether you want to walk or get around by car is up to you, as the roads in the park are well maintained and there are also good walking trails within the park.

See

• 1 Kinchega Woolshed, 673 Woolshed Drive, Menindee. This 1875 historic woolshed contains some wool presses and tables as well as a machinery room and some other machinery used for sheep shearing, and can be seen today. Free. (updated Nov 2021)
• 2 PS Providence historic site, River Dr, Menindee. Location of the historic site of the explosion of the PS Providence, hence the name of the place after in 1872, the boiler on PS Providence boat had exploded, killing everyone on board except one person. However, little is known for what caused this explosion. (updated Nov 2021)
• 3 Old Kinchega Homestead, Old Kinchega Homestead Walkway, Menindee. (updated Nov 2021)

Eat and drink

There are no restaurants, cafes, bars, kiosks etc. Bring your own food, or head up to Menindee.

Sleep

Lodging

• 1 Kinchega Shearers' Quarters, 673 Woolshed Dr, Menindee. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: 10AM. (updated Nov 2021)

Camping

• 2 Emu Lake campground, Woolshed Drive, Menindee. The campground is not too far from shower facilities, and what it truly looks like out in the bush. (updated Nov 2021)
• 3 Darling River campground, 319 Little Menindee Creek Rd, Menindee. Has picnic tables, barbecue facilities, and toilets, but you will need to bring drinking water, cooking water, and firewood. Can accommodate 34 tents, and the campground is not too far from the Darling River. (updated Nov 2021)
• 4 Cawndilla campground, Lake Dr, Menindee. (updated Nov 2021)

Go next

• Either head down to the World Heritage Mungo National Park or head up to Menindee or Broken Hill.