IDALIA NP: HOME OF THE SUPER WALLABY

By Unsealed 4X4 7 Min Read

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Watching the form of the Yellow-Footed Rock Wallaby, you could easily be mistaken and think that the Wallabies rugby team might have looked at these little macropods for inspiration. Once plentiful, but now listed as vulnerable to extinction, Idalia NP is one of the few places that you are likely to see them in the wild (the wallabies, not the footballers).

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The Wallabies

These colourful little wallabies were so wanted for the pelts in the 1880s that they were almost hunted to extinction until the early 1920s. They are social animals and stay together in small colonies along cliff tops and gorges. You’ll need a long lens to capture them, along with a little luck. There are nine species of macropods (roos and wallabies) that live in the region and seven of these reside in Idalia – which is an unusually large collection for the same area. The Bridled Nailtail Wallaby was thought to be extinct for 35 years until one was spotted. Idalia is one of only two places you may see the elusive Nailtail in the wild.

 

There are currently estimated to be less than 1,100 mature individuals in total. They are nocturnal, and with the small numbers they’re more difficult to spot than the Rock Wallaby. Idalia is a great spot to visit and look for the elusive wildlife. Interestingly enough, when we were there a high-profile footballer had also been spotted camping at Monks Tank campground on the way to the Big Red Bash. Sometimes you never know who or what you might find in the bush.

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Tough Country

Originally home of the Bidjara tribe, the area of Idalia became part of the huge Terrick Terrick property in 1896. It was broken down into smaller properties in 1919 when Herbert Golding and his wife bought Collabara which forms the southern portion of Idalia NP. It was certainly tough country with Herbert never doing particularly well until his death 11 years later in an accident. His son George took it over but had to sell in 1940. The new owners had to resort to eating bush tucker to survive at times. If it ever comes up for sale again, maybe give it a miss. As a National Park though, it’s a great spot where the many animals and birds thrive.

 

It hosts the headwaters of the Bulloo River which runs south past Quiplie and Thargomindah. This is really a river to nowhere as it stops at its lowest point north of Tibooburra in a series of ephemeral lakes that are normally dry, and only fill in times of flood. The Bulloo River is similar, as it is normally just a series of waterholes. Remnant cattle from the property days can still be seen peering out of the mulga bushland as you travel through the plateau areas of Idalia. They take refuge in the mulga in much the same way as the wildlife. Reminders of its pastoral days are dotted about the park and make for some nice photographs.

 

What to do in Idalia

The description of the area is rather bleak, but amongst its mulga and brigalow forests there is life and interest if you look for it. The view from Emmet Pocket Lookout is over the worn-down mesa of ancient sea floor and river beds. Bullock Gorge is where you should head if you want to catch a glimpse of the Rock Wallabies.

 

Murphy’s Rockhole is just that – a lot of rock and the start of a small gorge lined by large red river gums. There is normally a pool of water which attracts many birds and animals when water is scarce elsewhere. Tread quietly as you approach and you may catch some Plum-Head Finches or Mulga Parrots.

 

Wave Rock is a 1.2km return walk from Old Idalia. Monks Tank is a pleasant campground amongst the mulga. It has a toilet but no potable water, so bring all your own supplies. A 4WD is the best option for access – especially if it rains while you are there.

 

Photographic gear and settings required to capture the wallabies

A long lens is essential with a minimum of 200mm or 300mm for a DSLR. That’s around 5 to 6 times zoom if you have a compact camera. Set your shutter speed for at least 250th of a second, higher if you can; and set your ISO at around 800. You will probably only get one chance to photograph the wallabies as they are shy and wary animals, likely to seek shelter as soon as they see you. Good luck!

 

Who is Idalia for?

If you are looking for spectacular scenery or large expanses of water, Idalia is not the place. Idalia NP is a remote National Park and doesn’t see the same number of visitors that some well-known parks do. As such, it can be a great place to escape the crowds and enjoy some peace. Time can be spent spotting birds and animals, and enjoying the views from the outlooks. If you need to connect with the outside world, we were able to get Telstra coverage at Emmet Pocket Lookout.  


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