McDonald's sign teases tourists in Australian desert

A sign for McDonald's. Photo / Karen Bleier / AFP / Getty Images

Would you like fries with your outback road trip? Some enterprising pranksters recently teased tourists placing a "McDonald's opening soon" sign in South Australia's Simpson Desert in the middle of a national park.

A ranger was tasked with the 24-hour round trip to remove the sign amid concerns it might prompt some intrepid travellers to go searching further for the proposed location.

But Environment Minister Ian Hunter said the government could still appreciate the joke.

"We do see the funny side of the McDonald's sign in the middle of nowhere," he said.

"But we must remind people that our national parks are here for everyone to enjoy and to appreciate their unspoiled values."

The sign has since been relocated to outside the Mungerannie Hotel at the request of the operator who called it an example of "quirky outback humour".

For the record, Maccas' fans can't get their fix there either.

For that they'll have to travel another 600km further south to Port Augusta, the location of the nearest McDonald's restaurant.

- AAP