Come and enjoy a peaceful retreat at the Little Desert Nature Lodge. Located on the edge of the pristine Little Desert National Park, the Lodge offers comfortable facilities, warm hospitality and a memorable environmental experience.

Managed since 1976 by local “living treasure” Whimpey Reichelt OAM, share in his knowledge and passion for the Little Desert including highlights such as:

• Whimpey’s 4WD Tours
• The rare and elusive Malleefowl or ‘Lowan’ bird
• Stunning Wildflowers
• Abundant Birds & Wildlife
• Bushwalking & Nature Trails
• Excellent Accommodation & Camping Facilities
• A Unique School's Environmental Education Program

Little Desert Nature Lodge is an accredited tourism operator. This means that when you visit the lodge you are entitled to expect:

professional customer service
accuracy in advertising
sound environmental practices
compliance with health and safety standards
an appropriately licensed and qualified operator
Accredited operators have a commitment to professionalism and ethical conduct in all areas of their business. You can choose an accredited operator with confidence.

**PLEASE NOTE**
Although we do have ccommodation, the Lodge is not a Motel, but an Environmental Centre created for education about the Little Desert Region and the Endangered Malleefowl.

The Little Desert Nature Lodge is located on the edge of the Little Desert National Park in western Victoria. Access is from the sealed Nhill-Harrow road, approximately 16 km south of the town of Nhill. Being situated roughly halfway between Melbourne and Adelaide, it is an ideal stop-over point for road-weary travellers. The lodge is also an excellent base from which to explore the surrounding region’s many attractions including world class rock-climbing at Mount Arapiles, the spectacular scenery of the Grampians, Coonawarra wineries, Naracoorte Caves, Wyperfeld National Park and so much more.

Native Flora Garden

A major project being undertaken at the Little Desert Nature Lodge is the development of a Native Flora Garden. The garden is an area of about 30 hectares of natural and planted bushland, which has been fenced off to exclude grazing animals (like rabbits). We are licensed to collect seeds, cuttings and whole plants from the Little Desert National Park to enable propagation of a range of indigenous plant species. This includes a number of the beautiful orchids as well as endangered species such as Westringia crassifolia, found in only two sites in Victoria.

The garden includes an 11 ha area that was revegetated in 1992 by direct seeding. This area was originally a cleared paddock covered mainly with Evening Primrose (an exotic weed from South Africa). The plant species that have been revegetated include typical food plants of the Malleefowl (acacia spp.), and therefore provides an enriched habitat for this endangered bird species. In 2002 some of our captively bred Malleefowl were introduced into the area.

Wildflowers
The Little Desert abounds with native flora, with over 670 species recorded. Different species of plants can be found flowering throughout the year.

In Autumn, honeyeaters and other nectar feeding birds are attracted to flowering banksias:
Desert Banksia
Silver Banksia

During Winter, low heath plants proliferate:
Flame Heath
Brush Heath
Cranberry Heath
Pink Heath
Common Correa

Highlights of a spring wildflower tour include:
Blue Tinsel Lily
Fringe-myrtle
Golden Pennants
Phebalium
Violet Honey-Myrtle
Golden Wattle
Scarlet Bottlebrush

Wonderful winter and spring orchids can also be found, just to name a few:
Waxlip Orchid
Banded Greenhood
Heart-lipped Spider-orchid
Green-comb Spider-orchid
Daddy Long Legs
Hooded Caladenia
Pink Fingers
Blue Fairies
Slaty Helmet-Orchid
Leopard Orchid
Scented Sun-orchid

Australia Camps Association - Accredited
Tourism Alliance of Victoria
Member of the Victorian Tourism Operators Association

Accept MasterCard, Accept VISA, Air conditioning, Bar, Bath, BBQ - Gas, Camping, Conference facilities, Continental Breakfast Available, Cooked Breakfast Available, Ensuite, Fans, Games room, Highchair, Linen supplied, Meeting/Banquet facilities, No smoking, Pets not allowed, Tea/Coffee Making Facilities, Telephone, Wheelchair accessible facilities

Set in natural bushland of 117 hectares, the Little Desert Nature Lodge offers a range of accommodation and camping options for organised groups as well as independent travellers:

24 Rooms with en-suite bathroom facilities (accommodating up to 51 people).6 x double, 18 x twin share

16 Bunk Rooms sleeping 4 each, serviced by a shared amenities block
Powered and un-powered camping sites