Big Drift Walking Track

Big Drift Walking Track is a 4.5 km return walk from Stockyard Carpark to the northern edge of the Big Drift, a broad inland dune field. Most of the approach follows a mostly level management track along the park boundary through bush. Allow about two hours for the return trip. It is a compact walk on paper, but the last section changes the effort: you leave firm track for a steep climb in loose sand.

The dunes are the reason to come: pale ridges rise suddenly from the surrounding scrub, and wind keeps reshaping the surface. Sand shifts under every step, so the final rise can feel slower and harder than the distance suggests. Expect Grade 3 walking: the track approach is straightforward, then effort builds on the loose sand. The mapped route gains about 69 m in total, with much of the climbing concentrated near the dunes. The walk itself is an out-and-back to the dune edge. If you spend time wandering across the open sand, leave enough time to retrace your steps. For a photo, include a strip of low scrub against the pale dunes; it helps show the scale of this open landscape.

Start at Stockyard Carpark, beside Stockyard Campground. There is no water source along the route, so plan for the whole return trip without a refill. Dogs and other pets aren't allowed anywhere in the national park. Wind can blow sand across the exposed dunes, where it can be abrasive. The approach is straightforward, but this is a poor fit if loose sand or a steep, shifting surface is a problem for you.