Riverland and Murraylands Relax by the River Murray or see a spectacular mallee sunset. Whichever you choose, both regions offer the perfect escape. Riverland towns such as Berri and Main road Barmera are a little over two Minor road National Park 0 km 20 40 hours drive east of Adelaide, while Conservation Park Mannum, in the Murraylands, is a Game Reserve 90-minute drive from Adelaide via Regional Reserve the South Eastern Freeway. The river meanders its way past sandstone cliffs, majestic River Red ES L Gums, wetlands and vast tracts of 2 Danggali CP WA mallee country. Aborigines used To Burra the river for over 40 000 years before T H U European settlers introduced the SO 1 Chowilla RR paddlesteamers that transformed the and GR W river into a busy national trade route. 5 Morgan CP NE Loch Luna and Moorook game Morgan reserves, 20 kilometres west of Berri, 3 Loch Luna GR feature meandering creeks and Overland Corner Murray Renmark shallow swamps. Both are important Waikerie habitats for aquatic birds and Barmera Berri animals. Near Renmark, Chowilla Blanchetown Moorook Regional Reserve stretching from To Adelaide 3 Moorook GR 4 Murray River NP the flood plain through to Danggali River Loxton Conservation Park in the north, Sedan Swan Reach comprises vast stands of mallee woodland, Black Oak and bluebush shrublands. The reserve includes Alawoona Paruna over 18 000 hectares of flood plain and wetland areas that support Purnong Malleefowl, multi-coloured parrots, Mannum and many other birds. At Loxton, Murray River National Park Karoonda A Murray I is an important breeding ground for Bridge OR most of Southern Australia's waterfowl, CT To Adelaide I and a great spot for fishing, camping V Tailem Bend and birdwatching. Pinnaroo This park, together with Chowilla, form Lameroo part of the internationally recognised Lake Bookmark Biosphere Reserve – one of Alexandrina 6 Ngarkat CP only 12 UNESCO Biosphere Reserves in Australia. Guided tours are available. Lake Visitor­Information­Centres Albert Berri­Visitor­Information­Centre Meningie (08) 8582 5511 Murray­Bridge­­ Visitor­Information­Centre To Keith (08) 8539 1142 Renmark-Paringa­­ Visitor­Information­Centre (08) 8586 6704 ­45 Riverland and Murraylands Loch Luna Game Reserve 1­Chowilla­Game­Reserve­and­ 2­Danggali­Conservation­Park 3­Loch­Luna­and­Moorook­ ­ Regional­Reserve Game­Reserves Location Location 350 km north-east of Adelaide Location 280 km north-east of Adelaide off off Old Wentworth Road 180 km north-east of Adelaide Old Wentworth Road Size off Sturt Highway Size 252 079 hectares Size 18 082 hectares (game reserve) Contact 2070 hectares 75 036 hectares (regional reserve) (08) 8595 2111 (Loch Luna Game Reserve) Contact Australia’s first Biosphere Reserve, 1249 hectares (08) 8595 2111 Danggali Conservation Park is an area (Moorook Game Reserve) Chowilla Regional Reserve comprises known for its vastness and wilderness Contact (08) 8595 2111 vast stands of mallee woodland, appeal. The ecosystem is the overlap mixed with majestic River Red Gums, between the mallee land system and These two Riverland reserves include Black Oak and bluebush shrublands the arid land system. Dominated by large areas of permanent water, that stretches from the flood plain mallee woodland, the park provides wandering creeks and shallow through to Danggali Conservation visitors with opportunities to enjoy swamps that are important habitats Park in the north. The various creeks remote camping, birdwatching and for many aquatic birds and animals in Chowilla support abundant bird the chance to explore relics of its Wachtels Lagoon dominates life and provide great opportunities pastoral history. There are also historic Moorook Game Reserve, while Loch for canoeing, four-wheel driving, shearers quarters available that have Luna features a network of small, photography and fishing. The a shower, cooking facilities and meandering creeks. Fishing and Aboriginal word for Chowilla means 32 volt power. Contact (08) 8595 8010 canoeing are popular recreational 'place of good spirits' or 'good for bookings. activities. Waterfowl hunting is camping place'. permitted on open days. The most popular riverside camping spots are located at Sugarloaf and Loch Luna. ­46­ Riverland and Murraylands 4 Murray­River­National­Park 5­Morgan­Conservation­Park 6­Ngarkat­Conservation­Park ­ ­ Location Location 150 km north-east of Adelaide 220 km south-east of Adelaide Location off the Morgan to Murbko Road off the Princes Highway 180 km north-east of Adelaide Size Size off the Sturt Highway 377 hectares 266 692 hectares Size Contact Contact 13 023 hectares (08) 8595 2111 (08) 8576 3690 Contact Morgan Conservation Park This park features a mixture of mallee (08) 8595 2111 conserves a system of lagoons, and heathlands covering a system Murray River National Park in anabranches and River Red Gum of remnant coastal dunes. The comprised of three seperate areas woodlands. It includes a section of park has a network of trails ranging of similar habitat – Katarapko, Bulyong the River Murray flood plain consisting from ten minute walks to five hour Island and Lyrup Flats. These areas of a system of lagoons, swamps and hikes. It is also home to an array of form an archipelago park, and are creeks. Be aware that there are wildlife, including echidnas, pygmy- important in conserving a number strong currents and care must be possums, dunnarts, kangaroos, lizards of flood plain environments, and taken when swimming. and abundant birdlife. Take one of as the breeding ground for most the clearly marked 4WD tracks to of southern Australia’s waterfowl experience the region’s vast terrain. and other waterbirds. Camping, Please drive responsibly and respect fishing, houseboating, canoeing, the environment so that future birdwatching and bushwalking are generations can enjoy everything it has all available. to offer. Most tracks are unsuitable for conventional vehicles. Wet­and­Dry­Cycles The natural flood cycle that occurs along­the­River­Murray­is­referred­to­ as­‘wetting­and­drying’.­Floodwaters­ from large upstream flows into South Australia­temporarily­cover­low-lying­ areas of flood plain and wetlands. This­regenerates­natural­wetland­ plant­species­such­as­River­Red­ Gums­and­causes­massive­breeding­ of­wetland­and­riverine­animals­ including­the­Southern­Bell­Frog.­The­ wetlands­then­slowly­dry­out­until­the­ cycle­is­repeated­with­the­next­ flood. In recent years, the impact of drought, river regulation and increased­water­usage­has­reduced­ the­frequency­and­size­of­these­ floods cycles. To ensure the ongoing breeding and regeneration of flood plains the natural flood cycle is now simulated, giving wetland habitats a helping­hand.­ Overlooking Ngarkat Conservation Park ­47.