I got up at 6am to get ready and drive 120km to Lake Mungo. This visit has been on my bucket list for almost 10 years now. Mungo is a site of substantial archaeological and anthropological significance in Australia. Just over 90 km of the road is graded and sand. The road is surprisingly good, so one can drive at a decent clip. Unlike major roads, there are no stop-offs or ‘Rest areas’ along gravel roads. So I was amused to see the following rest area that had been built by someone with a sense of humor, see pic.
Outback Rest area
Reminder of how easily Skids happen on gravel roads
This place (Mungo) is World Heritage listed as being the oldest burial place of modern human man outside Africa. Mungo man walked the shores of Mungo Lake before man roamed Europe. The remains of several skeletons have been radio carbon dated at 41000 years ago. This includes the now famous Mungo Man and Mungo Lady. It was special for me to have our aboriginal tour guide speak to us about the customs and survival skills of his ancestors. Some of these skills and practises have survived to this day and had been passed on from one generation to the next. The trip back to Mildura happened faster that I had expected.
Sunrise over Lake Mungo
Lake Mungo centre
Back in Mildura, after mucking about at and in the river we decided to find some pizza in town. Boy did we find a great pizza place. At the Grand Hotel they have the Pizza Café that simply makes the best pizza I have eaten for many a year. They have a few great local brews as well.