The Murray River, Mallee Wilderness, and Australia’s Greatest Waterway
| Region | Murraylands |
| Trails Available | 11 trails |
| Activities | Walking, Canoeing |
| Key Areas | Ngarkat Conservation Park, Murray River, Katarapko, Tailem Bend |
| Distance from Adelaide | 1–4 hours east and southeast |
| Accommodation | Camping, mid-range and houseboat options — See accommodation options |
Where Australia’s Greatest River Meets the Mallee Wilderness
The Murraylands encompass a vast swathe of South Australia’s interior, stretching from the pastoral country east of Adelaide to the mallee wilderness of the Victorian border, and centred on the Murray River — Australia’s greatest waterway, flowing 2,520 kilometres from the Australian Alps to the sea at the Murray Mouth near Goolwa. This is a region of contrasts: the lush river red gum forests and wetlands that line the Murray, and the dry, sandy mallee bushland that stretches endlessly in every direction beyond the river’s influence. The trails of the Murraylands explore both worlds — the water-dependent ecosystems of the riverine landscape and the vast, arid conservation parks of the mallee.
The Murray River defines the region’s character. River towns like Mannum, Murray Bridge, Swan Reach, and Tailem Bend grew up around the paddle steamer trade of the nineteenth century, and many still operate ferries and historic vessels. Houseboats cruise the river between limestone cliffs, and the wetlands and floodplain forests support extraordinary birdlife. Inland, Ngarkat Conservation Park — at 270,000 hectares one of South Australia’s largest protected areas — preserves a vast expanse of mallee vegetation, sand dunes, and rare wildlife including the endangered malleefowl.
Ngarkat Conservation Park
Ngarkat is one of the great wilderness areas of southern Australia — 270,000 hectares of mallee woodland, sand dunes, and claypan wetlands stretching across the Murraylands near the Victorian border. The park’s walking trails range from short interpretive walks that explain the ecology of mallee vegetation to extended wilderness treks through some of the most remote and least-visited country in the state. The mallee here supports over 120 bird species, western grey kangaroos, emus, and the rare malleefowl, which builds enormous nest mounds from leaf litter and soil.
• Pertendi Hike — 2 km — Interpretive mallee vegetation walk
• Box Flat Walk — Easy walk through box woodland habitat
• Gosse Hill Hike — Hill walk with views across the mallee landscape
• Mount Rescue Hike — Climb to elevated views in the conservation park
• Tyms Lookout Hike — Lookout walk over the Ngarkat wilderness
• Pine Hut Soak to Fishponds Hike — 11 km return — Walk to hidden claypan wetlands
• Pine Hut Soak to Scorpion Springs Hike — 8.1 km — Difficult wilderness trek through stringybark mallee
Murray River Trails
The Murray River’s floodplain forests and wetlands provide walking and paddling opportunities that reveal the ecology of Australia’s most important river system. At Katarapko, within the Riverland and Murray River National Park, the Ngak Indau Wetland Trail explores the riverine wetlands that support some of the most biodiverse habitats in the region. The River Bend Heritage Trail at Tailem Bend tells the story of the river towns that grew up around the paddle steamer trade.
• Ngak Indau Wetland Trail — Katarapko — Wetland trail through Murray River floodplain
• River Bend Heritage Trail — Tailem Bend — Heritage walk along the Murray River
• Karte Walking Trail — Murray River region walking
Multi-Region Trails
• Kidman Trail — Multi-region trail passing through the Murraylands
The Murraylands offer two distinct trail experiences — the water-rich world of the Murray River, with its floodplain forests, wetland habitats, and heritage river towns, and the vast, dry wilderness of Ngarkat, where the mallee stretches to the horizon and the walks lead through some of the most remote and ecologically significant country in the state. Together, they reveal the Murraylands as a region of profound contrast, where the presence and absence of water shapes everything.