Murray River National Park is a protected area in South Australia located between 180 kilometres (110 mi) and 240 km (150 mi) north east of the Adelaide city centre, lying along the Murray River. The national park is classified as an IUCN Category VI protected area.[1] As of 2022^[update] the park comprises more than 14,879 ha (36,770 acres), and includes a vast network of Murray River wetlands and floodplains.[5]

Murray River National Park South Australia
IUCN category VI (protected area with sustainable use of natural resources)[1]
Murray River, Murray River National Park, March 2010
Murray River National Park
Nearest town or city	Berri
Coordinates	34°23′13″S 140°32′23″E
Established	20 June 1991 (1991-06-20)[2][3]
Area	135.92 km2 (52.5 sq mi)[4]
Managing authorities	Department for Environment and Water
Website	Murray River National Park
See also	Protected areas of South Australia

The national park was proclaimed on 20 June 1991 under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972,[6] "to conserve a significant proportion of South Australia’s floodplain environments which are not represented widely in other reserve systems".[7]

The national park originally consisted of the first three sections listed below,[6] with the following three in existence (six in total) as of 2022^[update]. All of the sections adjoin the Murray River, extending from near Loxton in the south west to near Renmark in the north-east.[8][5]

• Katarapko (9,500 ha (23,000 acres)), on the north side of the river between Loxton in the south and Berri in the north
• Lyrup Flats (2,000 ha (4,900 acres)), on the north side of the river midway between Berri and Loxton
• Bulyong, or Bulyong Island, on the west side of the river upstream from Renmark, accessible only by boat
• Paringa Paddock (1,161 ha (2,870 acres)), including Goat Island, between Renmark and Paringa
• Gurra Gurra (520.8 ha (1,287 acres)), just across the river south of Berri, directly opposite Katarapko
• Kingston-on-Murray (931 ha (2,300 acres)), next to the township of Kingston-on-Murray

Katarapko includes the Ngak Indau Wetland trail, with a bird hide;and the Rilli Island, Media Island, and Kapunda Island Conservation Parks are also part of Katarapko.[5]

The protected areas provide for a number recreational activities such as walking, bike riding, canoeing, bird-watching and bush camping. There are parking facilities, designated camping areas with some toilets, walking trails, and a self-guided drive trail.[5]

See also

• Katarapko Game Reserve, historical game reserve on Katarapko Island
• List of islands within the Murray River in South Australia
• Protected areas of South Australia
• Riverland Biosphere Reserve
• Riverland Mallee Important Bird Area

References

External links

• Murray River National Park official site
• Murray River National Park webpage on protected planet