Wildlife & Nature
Wetlands, river red gums and big skies
The best wildlife & nature in Riverland
Ramsar-listed wetlands, towering sandstone cliffs and floodplain forest alive with pelicans, regent parrots and the occasional echidna. This is some of the richest river habitat in the country.
The Riverland is wetland country at its richest. Where the Murray winds through South Australia it spills into a maze of lagoons, anabranch creeks and red-gum floodplains that rank among the most important inland wildlife habitats in the country - including the internationally recognised Riverland Ramsar wetland.
Paddle the canoe trails of Loch Luna or Katarapko Creek, watch waterbirds at restored Hart Lagoon, or lose yourself in the vast red-gum wilderness of Chowilla. Serious birders make the pilgrimage to Gluepot Reserve for malleefowl and rare mallee parrots.
Then there are the cliffs - sheer walls of ochre limestone glowing gold at dusk, like those above Headings Lookout and along the river's grandest bends. Combine wildlife with walking trails and you have endless ways to slow down and let this ancient floodplain reveal itself one quiet bend at a time.
Browse wildlife & nature by area
53 places
Maize Island Lagoon Conservation Park
An island and lagoon reserve on the Murray at Waikerie
Markaranka Flat
FreeSprawling private floodplain reserve near Waikerie, important for regent parrots and waterbirds.
Martins Bend Reserve
A popular riverside reserve and wetland just downstream of Berri, with camping, walking trails and birdlife.
Moorook Game Reserve
A patchwork of lagoons and red gum on the Murray floodplain
Morgan Cliffs Lookout
High cliffs above the old port of Morgan
Morgan Conservation Park
Floodplain wetlands at the river's bend
A wetland conservation park on the Murray floodplain near Morgan, rich in birdlife and laced with creeks and lagoons.
Murray River National Park
Floodplain forest and wetlands
A national park in three sections - Bulyong, Katarapko and Lyrup Flats - protecting some of the finest floodplain forest on the Murray.
Murtho Forest Landing
Riverside red gum camping above Paringa
New Residence Wetland
A restored floodplain wetland near Loxton
Ngak Indau Wetland Trail
FreeAn easy floodplain loop with a purpose-built bird hide
A gentle 2.6 km walk through restored wetlands in the Katarapko section of Murray River National Park, with a bird hide overlooking herons, egrets, ibis and cormorants.
North West Bend Reserve
Floodplain and lagoons where the Murray turns south
Overland Corner Wetlands
Floodplain wetlands and historic stock-route country around the old Overland Corner Hotel.
Paringa Cliffs Reserve
A clifftop reserve above the Murray at Paringa with sweeping river views and golden sunset light.
Pike River Wetlands
FreeA major floodplain and anabranch system near Paringa, recently reconnected for environmental flows.
Pooginook Conservation Park
Mallee scrub and woodland north of Waikerie
Ral Ral Creek
A quiet anabranch creek threading the Renmark floodplain
Ramco Point
FreeFree grassy camps on the river, five minutes from Waikerie
A free riverside camping and picnic reserve five kilometres west of Waikerie - grassy, shaded sites along the Murray with a boat ramp and toilets at the adjacent Apex park.
Renmark Apex Park
Shady riverbank lawns at the heart of Renmark
Riverland Houseboats
$$$Drive your own holiday on the Murray
Self-drive houseboats are the signature Riverland holiday - a floating home you pilot along the Murray at your own pace.
Rocky Gully Wetlands
A constructed wetland near Barmera with a walking trail and bird hide, treating water for Lake Bonney.
Ruston's Roses
$One of the largest rose gardens in the world
A vast rose garden near Renmark, one of the largest in the Southern Hemisphere, spectacular in spring and early summer.
Scotts Creek Conservation Park
FreeQuiet floodplain reserve of red gum and lignum loops along a backwater of the lower Murray.
Wachtels Lagoon Walk
A wetland walking trail through the Banrock Station floodplain, looping past lagoons and bird hides.
Waikerie Cliffs
Ochre cliffs above the Murray
The dramatic limestone river cliffs that rise behind Waikerie, best seen from the riverfront, ferry and clifftop walks.
Wildlife & Nature in Riverland - frequently asked questions
What is the Riverland known for when it comes to wildlife and nature?
The Riverland is wetland country, home to two Ramsar-listed wetlands of international importance - the Banrock Station Wetland Complex and the Riverland (Chowilla) wetland on the Murray floodplain. Expect towering sandstone cliffs, river red gum forest and a maze of lagoons and anabranch creeks alive with pelicans, regent parrots and waterbirds. The region also takes in vast mallee country that supports rare inland birds rarely seen elsewhere.
Where are the best places to see birds and wildlife in the Riverland?
Gluepot Reserve, a BirdLife Australia reserve north of Waikerie, sits in some of the largest intact mallee left in Australia and has recorded more than 180 bird species, including the endangered black-eared miner, malleefowl and scarlet-chested parrot. Along the river, the Murray River National Park, Loch Luna and the Katarapko Creek canoe trails are excellent for waterbirds and red-gum floodplain, while the Headings Cliffs and Big Bend lookouts give big-sky views over the valley.
Do I need to book or pay to visit places like Gluepot Reserve?
Gluepot Reserve charges a small per-vehicle day-visit fee and a per-vehicle camping fee, which can be paid online or at the visitor centre, and campsites do not need to be booked in advance. The reserve is reached via unsealed roads, has bush campgrounds with long-drop toilets only, and no pets, firearms or open fires are allowed, so you must be fully self-sufficient with your own water, food and fuel. Many national park sites in the Riverland are free to enter, though some camping areas require a permit.
When is the best time of year to visit for wildlife and nature?
Spring (roughly September to November) is a standout, when wildflowers bloom, wetlands are active and breeding birds are at their busiest. Summer can be excellent for birdwatching at the mallee reserves, where large flocks gather at watering points and regent parrots are often seen around January and February, though days are hot. For wildlife generally, dawn and dusk are the most rewarding times to be out.
Can I see nocturnal wildlife in the Riverland?
Yes - the Riverland is one of the best places in South Australia for after-dark wildlife. Big Bend by Night runs guided spotlighting tours near Swan Reach where you can see large mobs of grey and red kangaroos, wombats, owls and bats in the wild. The area also sits within the River Murray International Dark Sky Reserve, so clear nights here deliver brilliant stargazing over the Big Bend cliffs.