Murray Valley Regional Park

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Overview

Explore river red gum country in Murray Valley Regional Park, between the townships of Moama and Barooga. It’s dog friendly and has plenty of riverside campgrounds, walking tracks and waterways to explore by kayak or boat.

Read more about Murray Valley Regional Park

Murray Valley Regional Park is made up of many areas dotted along the Edward and Murray rivers, from Balranald all the way to Howlong. Dogs on leashes are welcome in the regional park.

Towering gums crowd its banks and provide the perfect backdrop for a kayaking or canoeing adventure. Murray Valley Regional Park and nearby Murray Valley National Park were established to protect the majestic river red gum forests of the Riverina’s Ramsar-listed wetland.

Experience all the camping on offer. You'll find sandy inland beaches at Barooga, Deniliquin and Mulwala and perfect fishing spots along the high banks of Mathoura and Moama. Edward River is a beautiful spot to enjoy a picnic lunch, swim or paddle if you have a canoe with you. Adventure seekers can get their thrills on the Five Mile mountain bike trail in Moama. If you’re in Denilliquin, try the Beach to Beach walk which links Willoughbys Beach to McLean Beach.

Visit the eastern pockets of the regional park that follow the Murray River from Barooga to Howlong. Stop off at Ski Beach for a barbecue or find your own slice of paradise at one of the campgrounds in Mulwala, Collendina or Quat Quatta East. 

Staying longer in the Murray-Riverina? The scenic Gulpa Island Drive takes you through parts of Murray Valley Regional Park and Murray Valley National Park. Please remember dogs aren’t allowed in the national park.

Current alerts in this area

There are no current alerts in this area.

Local alerts

For the latest updates on fires, closures and other alerts in this area, see https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/visit-a-park/parks/murray-valley-regional-park/local-alerts

Contact

See more visitor info

Visitor info

All the practical information you need to know about Murray Valley Regional Park.

Getting there and parking

From Moama township to the Moama Five Mile area and Benarca area:

  • Follow the signs to Moama Five Mile via Perricoota Road off the Cobb Highway
  • Travel along Perricoota Road for about 8mins and you will reach the entrance to Moama Five Mile
  • If you’re heading to Benarca, continue along the Perricoota Road past Moama Five Mile for another 8mins. You should come to the Benarca Forest Road sign.
  • Turn left and follow it until you reach the entrance to the Benarca area of Murray Valley Regional Park

From Mathoura to the Millewa area:

  • Follow the sign off the Cobb Highway in the township of Mathoura. Turn off to Picnic Point Road and cross over Pollys Bridge.
  • If you keep following the road you’ll come to the Reed Bed bird hide and turn off to Edward River campground and picnic area

From Barooga:

  • Follow the signs to Ski Beach on Vermont Street
  • Paradise and Wattle Tree Beach are also accessed via Vermont Street. If coming from Barooga, cross over the bridge and take the first track to the left into the reserve.
  • Turn left again then at the intersection turn/keep right and follow the road
  • Wattle Tree Beach is on the track you come to on the right, otherwise keep following the track until you come to Paradise Beach.

Parking Show more

Road quality

Some roads flood during spring and summer, especially within the Millewa and Gulpa Island areas. Check road conditions and alerts before you go.

  • Unsealed roads

Vehicle access

  • Most roads suitable for 2WD vehicles

Weather restrictions

  • Dry weather only

Best times to visit

Autumn

The perfect time for a camping holiday. The days are cooler, and the nights are not yet too chilly.

Spring

Spring brings a yellow burst of gold dust wattle, billy buttons and clustered everlasting daisies. Bring your binoculars, November is a good time of year to spot a superb parrot.

Summer

Hit the water and go river kayaking at these inland beach locations: Willoughbys Beach in Deniliquin, Paradise and Wattle Tree Beach at Barooga and Hinches Beach in Mulwala. Edward River picnic area has an all access canoe launch that allows everyone to enjoy the calm water of the Gulpa Creek.

Winter

The morning light sparkles on the river. Try your hand at fishing for Murray cray from 1 June to 31 August.

Facilities

Maps and downloads

Safety messages

Camping safety

Whether you're pitching your tent on the coast or up on the mountains, there are many things to consider when camping in NSW national parks. Find out how to stay safe when camping.

Fire safety

During periods of fire weather, the Commissioner of the NSW Rural Fire Service may declare a total fire ban for particular NSW fire areas, or statewide. Learn more about total fire bans and fire safety.

Mobile safety

Dial Triple Zero (000) in an emergency. Download the Emergency Plus app before you visit, it helps emergency services locate you using your smartphone's GPS. Please note there is limited mobile phone reception in this park and you’ll need mobile reception to call Triple Zero (000).

Outback safety

Safety is of high priority in outback areas. In summer, temperatures can reach up to 50°C in some places. Food, water and fuel supplies can be scarce. Before you head off, check for road closures and use our contacts to stay safe in the outback.

Water activities

Beaches, rivers and lakes in NSW national parks offer lots of opportunities for water activities. Please take care in the water and find out how to help your family and friends stay safe around water.

Wildlife safety

Keep yourself and our wildlife safe by understanding the risks of wildlife encounters and how to avoid them.

Permitted

Camping

Cycling

Fishing

A current NSW recreational fishing licence is required when fishing in all waters.

Gathering firewood

If you're camping you can gather firewood by hand only.

Pets

Dogs and domestic pets are permitted everywhere in Murray Valley Regional Park. But they are prohibited in Murray Valley National Park. You can walk and camp with your dog in Murray Valley Regional Park however you will need to keep them on a leash at all times and remember to pick up after them.

Prohibited

  • Victorian recreational registrations do not allow trailbikes on park roads
  • 4WD off road is prohibited
  • Recreational hunting in NSW national parks is an illegal activity and is a fineable offence

Horses

Smoking

NSW national parks are no smoking areas.

Nearby towns

Barooga (1 km)

Sandy beaches are dotted along the Murray River near Barooga with popular activities include bushwalking, camping, fishing, swimming and waterskiing.

www.visitnsw.com

Deniliquin (1 km)

Take time out to visit Murray Valley National Park, admire the serene wetlands and towering river red gums. Go for a walk or ride the Gulpa Creek track, bring your canoe or kayak along for a spot of paddling or head to Reed Beds bird hide for a spot of birdwatching.

www.visitnsw.com

Moama (8 km)

Part of the largest continuous red gum forest in the world, this region is an important place for Aboriginal people. Keep your eyes open for Aboriginal sites, especially middens, oven mounds and scarred trees, where bark has been removed from the tree to make canoes, coolamons and shields.

www.visitnsw.com

Learn more

Murray Valley Regional Park is a special place. Here are just some of the reasons why:

Plants and animals protected in this park

Animals

  • Bare-nosed wombat. Photo: Keith Gillett

    Bare-nosed wombat (Vombatus ursinus)

    A large, squat marsupial, the Australian bare-nosed wombat is a burrowing mammal found in coastal forests and mountain ranges across NSW and Victoria. The only other remaining species of wombat in NSW, the endangered southern hairy-nosed wombat, was considered extinct until relatively recently.

  • Eastern common ringtail possum. Photo: Ken Stepnell

    Common ringtail possum (Pseudocheirus peregrinus)

    Commonly found in forests, woodlands and leafy gardens across eastern NSW, the Australian ringtail possum is a tree-dwelling marsupial. With a powerful tail perfectly adapted to grasp objects, it forages in trees for eucalypt leaves, flowers and fruit.

  • Brush tail possum. Photo: Ken Stepnell

    Common brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula)

    One of the most widespread of Australian tree-dwelling marsupials, the common brushtail possum is found across most of NSW in woodlands, rainforests and urban areas. With strong claws, a prehensile tail and opposable digits, these native Australian animals are well-adapted for life amongst the trees.

  • Five pelicans stand at the beach shore in Bundjalung National Park as the sun rises. Photo: Nick Cubbin © DPE

    Australian pelican (Pelecanus conspicillatus)

    The curious pelican is Australia’s largest flying bird and has the longest bill of any bird in the world. These Australian birds are found throughout Australian waterways and the pelican uses its throat pouch to trawl for fish. Pelicans breed all year round, congregating in large colonies on secluded beaches and islands.

  •  Blue Tongue lizard. Photo: Rosie Nicolai

    Eastern blue-tongue lizard (Tiliqua scinciodes)

    The eastern blue-tongue lizard, one of the largest skinks in Australia, is found throughout most of NSW. When threatened, the eastern blue-tongue lizard displays its blue tongue in a wide-mouthed intimidating show. Not an agile animal, they feed on slow-moving beetles and snails.

  • Emu, Paroo Darling National Park. Photo: John Spencer

    Emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae)

    The largest of Australian birds, the emu stands up to 2m high and is the second largest bird in the world, after the ostrich. Emus live in pairs or family groups. The male emu incubates and rears the young, which will stay with the adult emus for up to 2 years.

  • Koala. Photo: Lucy Morrell

    Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus)

    One of the most renowned Australian animals, the tree-dwelling marsupial koala can be found in gum tree forests and woodlands across eastern NSW, Victoria and Queensland, as well as in isolated regions in South Australia. With a vice-like grip, this perhaps most iconic but endangered Australian animal lives in tall eucalypts within a home range of several hectares.

  • Closeup of a laughing kookaburra's head and body. Photo: Rosie Nicolai/OEH

    Kookaburra (Dacelo novaeguineae)

    Of the 2 species of kookaburra found in Australia, the laughing kookaburra is the best-known and the largest of the native kingfishers. With its distinctive riotous call, the laughing kookaburra is commonly heard in open woodlands and forests throughout NSW national parks, making these ideal spots for bird watching.

  • Lace monitor, Daleys Point walking track, Bouddi National Park. Photo: John Yurasek

    Lace monitor (Varanus varius)

    One of Australia’s largest lizards, the carnivorous tree-dwelling lace monitor, or tree goanna, can grow to 2m in length and is found in forests and coastal tablelands across eastern Australia. These Australian animals are typically dark blue in colour with whitish spots or blotches.

  • A juvenile platypus saved by National Parks and Wildlife staff. Photo: M Bannerman/OEH

    Platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus)

    One of the most fascinating and unusual Australian animals, the duck-billed platypus, along with the echidna, are the only known monotremes, or egg-laying mammals, in existence. The platypus is generally found in permanent river systems and lakes in southern and eastern NSW and east and west of the Great Dividing Range.

  • Echidna. Photo: Ken Stepnell

    Short-beaked echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus)

    One of only 2 egg-laying mammals in the world, the short-beaked echidna is one of the most widespread of Australian native animals. Covered in spines, or quills, they’re equipped with a keen sense of smell and a tube-like snout which they use to break apart termite mounds in search of ants.

  • Southern boobook. Photo: David Cook

    Southern boobook (Ninox novaeseelandiae)

    The southern boobook, also known as the mopoke, is the smallest and most common native owl in Australia. With a musical 'boo-book' call that echoes through forests and woodlands, the southern boobook is a great one to look out for while bird watching.

  • Sugar glider. Photo: Jeff Betteridge

    Sugar glider (Petaurus breviceps)

    The sugar glider is a tree-dwelling Australian native marsupial, found in tall eucalypt forests and woodlands along eastern NSW. The nocturnal sugar glider feeds on insects and birds, and satisfies its sweet tooth with nectar and pollens.

  • Superb fairy wren. Photo: Rosie Nicolai

    Superb fairy wren (Malurus cyaneus)

    The striking blue and black plumage of the adult male superb fairy wren makes for colourful bird watching across south-eastern Australia. The sociable superb fairy wrens, or blue wrens, are Australian birds living in groups consisting of a dominant male, mouse-brown female ‘jenny wrens’ and several tawny-brown juveniles.

  • Swamp wallaby in Murramarang National Park. Photo: David Finnegan

    Swamp wallaby (Wallabia bicolor)

    The swamp wallaby, also known as the black wallaby or black pademelon, lives in the dense understorey of rainforests, woodlands and dry sclerophyll forest along eastern Australia. This unique Australian macropod has a dark black-grey coat with a distinctive light-coloured cheek stripe.

  • Tawny frogmouth. Photo: Rosie Nicolai

    Tawny frogmouth (Podargus strigoides)

    Found throughout Australia, the tawny frogmouth is often mistaken for an owl due to its wide, powerful beak, large head and nocturnal hunting habits. The ‘oom oom oom’ call of this native bird can be heard echoing throughout a range of habitats including heath, woodlands and urban areas.

  • Wedge-tailed eagle. Photo: Kelly Nowak

    Wedge-tailed eagle (Aquila audax)

    With a wingspan of up to 2.5m, the wedge-tailed eagle is Australia’s largest bird of prey. These Australian animals are found in woodlands across NSW, and have the ability to soar to heights of over 2km. If you’re bird watching, look out for the distinctive diamond-shaped tail of the eagle.

  • White-bellied sea eagle. Photo: John Turbill

    White-bellied sea eagle (Haliaeetus leucogaster)

    White-bellied sea eagles can be easily identified by their white tail and dark grey wings. These raptors are often spotted cruising the coastal breezes throughout Australia, and make for some scenic bird watching. Powerful Australian birds of prey, they are known to mate for life, and return each year to the same nest to breed.

Plants

  • Billy Button flowers at Peery Lake picnic area. Photo: Dinitee Haskard OEH

    Billy buttons (Craspedia spp. )

    Billy buttons are attractive Australian native plants that are widespread throughout eastern NSW in dry forest, grassland and alpine regions such as Kosciuszko National Park. The golden-yellow globe-shaped flowers are also known as woollyheads. Related to the daisy, billy buttons are an erect herb growing to a height of 50cm.

  •  Black sheoak. Photo: Barry Collier

    Black sheoak (Allocasuarina littoralis)

    The black sheoak is one of a number of casuarina species found across the east coast of Australia and nearby tablelands. Growing to a height of 5-15m, these hardy Australian native plants can survive in poor or sandy soils. The barrel-shaped cone of the black sheoak grows to 10-30mm long.

  • Coachwood flower. Photo: Michael Van Ewijk

    Coachwood (Ceratopetalum apetalum)

    Coachwood trees are Australian native plants that grow in warm temperate rainforests along coastal NSW. Also known as scented satinwood, the mottled grey bark of the coachwood has horizontal markings and a delicate fragrance.

  • Flannel flowers in Wollemi National Park. Photo: © Rosie Nicolai

    Flannel flower (Actinotus helianthi)

    The delicate flannel flower is so named because of the soft woolly feel of the plant. Growing in the NSW south coast region, extending to Narrabri in the Central West and up to south-east Queensland, its white or pink flowers bloom all year long, with an extra burst of colour in the spring.

  • Mulga. Photo: Jaime Plaza

    Mulga (Acacia aneura)

    Mulga are hardy Australian native plants found throughout inland Australia. With an unusually long tap root, the mulga is able to withstand long periods of drought.

  • River red gum, Murrumbidgee Valley National Park. Photo: Paul Childs

    River red gum (Eucalpytus camaldulensis)

    Australian native plants, majestic river red gum trees are widespread across Australian inland river systems. The river red gum is a dominant tree species of the Murray-Darling basin which spans NSW, Queensland and Victoria. This iconic native eucalypt grows to a height of 30m and is thought to have a lifespan up to 500-1000 years.

  • Saltbush. Photo: Jaime Plaza

    Saltbush (Atriplex nummularia)

    A hardy Australian native plant, the saltbush is a small spreading shrub that can withstand dry salty soils such as those found in the desert plains of western NSW. It is grey-white in colour and has small spear-shaped succulent leaves. It flowers from December to April.

Environments in this park

What we're doing

Murray Valley Regional Park has management strategies in place to protect and conserve the values of this park. View the detailed park and fire management documents.