Loading ...Little Desert Lodge. Private Wild Life Sanctuary, specializing in Mallee Fowl, run by a conservationist known as “Wimpy”. The Lodge conducts excursions in old land rovers into the Little Dessert National Park. A packed lunch is provided. Wimpy is very conscious of f the patrons’ safety and runs these safaris almost along military lines, keeping in touch from headquarters by two way- radio. In springtime there are is a variety of rare and beautiful wild flowers to be found and the knowledgeable tour guides know where to find them. A photographers’ paradise! There are many species of bird and small animal within the Lodge boundaries and the friendly staff point them out. Basic motel style accommodation and meals are provided at very cheap rates. They hold their own wildflower display in spring.
Suggested by: Roslyn Nataprawira
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A wonderful, easily accessible area where one can share peace and quietness with many species of birds among diverse plant life.
The Little Desert National Park, encompassing the Little Desert Lodge is a wonderful facility and an outstanding respresentation of what Nhill and district has to offer. The National Park is lovingly maintained and the Lodge facilities provide comfortable accommodation which enables visitors to experience the beauty of the Little Desert. The school camps are fantastic fun and allow the students to see and do a great range of activities such as 4WD tours, night walks to see many nocturnal animals feeding and seeing the rare and beautiful Mallee Fowls.
Little Desert Nature Lodge is one of Victorias best examples of combining good quality, nature based tourism and best practice, on ground conservation. The knowledge and the ability of the staff to deliver a wonderful, educational experience in natures class room is exceptional. If we did not have Whimpey and his team I can only guess where the plight of the malleefowl would be. Its nice to know that by visiting and staying at the Lodge you are also supporting the conservation efforts.
A Gem in the little Desert.
The Little Desert Lodge - An environmental Wonder!
The Flora and Fauna tours are outstanding. Such a dedicated team, happy to share the fruits of their labour, expert knowledge and comentary of tours.
It was a great educational experience !!!
We loved every aspect of our brief stay. We will definitely be back.
You are on a winner Wimpey and the staff at Little Desert Lodge.
I took a group of students to the Little Desert Nature Lodge this year. It was by far the best and well organised camp our students and I have ever been on. The staff, accommodation, food and activities were brilliant. I will be going back again as this is a fantastic experience for anyone and they are really helping our endangered Mallee fowl population with education and breeding programs. Well done guys you are fantastic!
I have visited the little desert lodge on several occasions and find that Whinpey and his team are great people to visit, share a lot of great stories and make your feel welcome, the love looking after the Mallee fowl and all creatures great and small, even humans!!!
We have had many functions at the Lodge and they always excel.
Venue is comfortable’
Staff are caring
Environment is relaxing
Keep up the great work folks !!!
Annie Bothe
Nestled between the Little and Big Deserts the Little Desert Lodge is an ideal venue to be able to experience the Flora and Fauna of typical “Mallee Country”.
A must see for city cousins !
The “Whimpy and Fletch ” factor, giving knowledge and experience in a well run sanctuary. Well worth a visit.
A peaceful,unspoilt & unique part of Victoria where you can completely relax with the sounds of nature !
I think that for a district of this size to have such an amazing facility on it’s doorstep drawing vistitors from all around the country and world is totally great.
We had an enjoyable weekend - taking in the wild life and four wheel driving.
See the mallee fowl, bushwalking, native orchids, wild flowers, birds and native animals. Also great clear skies fir star gazing.
national park tours
The Little Desert National Park encompasses some of the most beautiful and diverse bushland I have travelled, and the friendly folk around the district are also very knowledgable about this region. This ‘desert’ is situated 375 km north-west of Melbourne and consists of predominately low scrubland vegetation with almost 600 km of tracks criss-crossing the three blocks of the park. The Eastern block is the most accessible, (by 4WD vehicle). Reaching from Dimboola at its Eastern edge through to the South Australian border in the west , flats of box and river red gums once provided food for Aboriginal hunters and for the stock brought in by the first European settlers
The best time to visit the park is between late winter and early summer when the temperatures are comfortable and the park is full of native blossoms and wildflowers. The first area of the Little Desert to be reserved was the Kiata Lowan Sanctuary, created in 1955. The addition of the central and western blocks to the existing eastern block in 1988, increased the size of the Little Desert National Park to an area of 132,000 hectares; Now that the park extends from the Wimmera River in the east to the South Australian border, you’ve got a huge space of Australia’s natural flora ‘n’ fauna to explore in the Little Desest. ((The largest echidna I’ve ever seen in my life lives just south of Kaniva, near the ‘School Block’ - He’s a WHOPPER))
Peace, quiet, the smell of eucalyptus, birds singing and wildlife lazily wandering around. Good recipe fro stress! Have a round of golf at a nearby golf course - best country course outside of Melbourne. Clean air, great walks, great wholsome country cooking (with fresh ingrediants and all cooked on the premise) and what a night sky…stars that go on forever…dream what life used to be like in the cities
The name Little Desert does not tell you about the amazing Australian native flora and fauna that inhabit this wonderful National Park. It certainly is not just a sandy ‘desert’. A must see!
The Little Desert National Park one of Victorias best kept secrets. Bush walking, camping, bird watching, four wheel drive and trail bike tracks, amazing flora and fauna. Well worth a visit at any time of the year.
A great place to visit. City folk find the area a great place to take the family - Wimpy’s Little Desert Lodge is a must to visit - Very educational with the widlife to view and wildflowers to see.
Great place to avoid the crowds, sand driving, heaps of camping and very picturesque in late Spring.
Many hidden treasures all through this region. Quiet achievers!
Wonderful place to visit, it has everything - 4 wheel drives, flora and fauna, great family fun
Camping, fishing, four-wheel-driving, a diverse environment to explore from Dimboola to the border. It has everything!
Apart from the four-wheel drive adventures at Whimpey’s LIttle Desert Lodge there are also great opportunities for bushwalking and camping. And the Big Desert Wilderness Area and Wyperfeld National Park are around the corner. There are the most stunning sunsets, some of Australia’s most unique wildlife, wide open plains and heaps of historic and indigenous sites.
(The Wimmera Mallee Pioneer Museum at Jeparit has a remarkable collection of farming history with millions of dollars of vintage farming equipment, old jails and turn of the century school houses and shops. Then there is Lake Hindmarsh, just out of town - a popular camping spot wet or dry. Further north is Rainbow and historic Yurunga homestead. While you are there don’t forget to check out the beautiful old stone Pella Church with its wonderful pipe organ. And while you are driving to the Little Desert make sure to stop at Ebenezer Mission at Antwerp.)
One of the most beautiful spots, very tranquil and so much variety in the vegetation. Lots of wildlife to see too.
Some great day walks and overnight stuff and the Wimmera River at Dimboola to swim in
Walk in the scrub,camp at Broughtons waterhole and enjoy nature. From the South Australian border Kaniva to Dimboola what a great thing for a family to do….
Yes I agree great place to camp or cabin it….