Macquarie Marshes Nature Reserve
Overview
Macquarie Marshes Nature Reserve was created in January 1971. It covers an area of 23141.29ha. View the detailed park and fire management documents.
Macquarie Marshes Nature Reserve is located in central north-west NSW, around 80km north of Warren and 30km west of Quambone. The Macquarie Marshes is part of the traditional land of the Wailwan People who continue to maintain connections to Country.
Access and visitation
Recognised for its important wetlands, access to this nature reserve is limited to management and research staff.
While there are no visitor facilities, you can visit on a NSW National Parks guided walking tour in late September and early October each year. Please contact Pilliga Forest Discovery Centre before you visit to get information on tours, road conditions and access.
You can also arrange to visit with Macquarie Marshes guided kayak tours.
Conservation
The Macquarie Marshes is one of the largest remaining inland semi-permanent wetlands in south-eastern Australia. It includes extensive areas of Phragmites reeds, River Red Gum woodlands and mixed marsh floodplains, and was listed as a Ramsar wetland of international importance in 1986.
The Marshes is particularly outstanding for its value as one of the most important nesting sites for waterbirds in Australia. A total of 77 waterbird species can be found in the Macquarie Marshes, including the threatened brolga, magpie goose, Australasian bittern and painted snipe. It also provides important habitat for 156 species of woodland bird and many other species of fish, turtles, frogs, snakes and mammals.
Download the Macquarie Marshes Nature Reserve brochure (2.75MB pdf).
These maps give a basic overview of park attractions and facilities, and may not be detailed enough for some activities. We recommend that you buy a topographic map before you go exploring.
Contact
- in the Outback NSW and Country NSW regions
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Pilliga Forest Discovery Centre
02 6843 4011
Contact hours: 9am to 4pm daily. Closed Christmas Day. - 50-58 Wellington St, Baradine NSW 2396
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Email: pfdc@environment.nsw.gov.au
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Pilliga Forest Discovery Centre