Ngarkat Conservation Park
| Location | Ngarkat Conservation Park, Murraylands |
| Start/End Point | Pine Hut Soak, Ngarkat Conservation Park |
| Distance | 11 km return |
| Time | 4 hours |
| Difficulty | Intermediate |
| Activity | Walking |
| Region | Murraylands |
| Accommodation | Camping, mid-range and houseboat options — See accommodation options |
| Key Feature | Claypans locked between sand dunes, seasonal water |
Walking to Hidden Water in the Mallee Wilderness
In the vast mallee wilderness of Ngarkat Conservation Park, water is the great rarity — and the great reward. The Pine Hut Soak to Fishponds Hike is an extended eleven-kilometre return walk through the park’s sand dune and mallee landscape to the Fishponds — an area of claypans locked between sand dunes that fills with water throughout winter, creating ephemeral wetlands that attract wildlife to a landscape otherwise defined by its aridity.
The claypans of the Fishponds are one of Ngarkat’s hidden treasures. During winter and spring, when rainfall collects in the impermeable clay depressions between the sand dunes, these temporary wetlands come alive with waterbirds, frogs, and aquatic invertebrates — a burst of wetland ecology in the middle of a dryland landscape. By summer, the water recedes, leaving cracked clay surfaces that will wait for the next rains to bring them back to life.
The Walk
The trail leads through the characteristic mallee and sand dune landscape of Ngarkat, following tracks through vegetation that varies from tall mallee to low heath depending on the dune position and soil type. The walk is extended and requires preparation — four hours of walking in remote country with no facilities demands adequate water, sun protection, and sturdy footwear.
The highlight is the Fishponds themselves. If visiting during winter or spring when water is present, the transformation is remarkable — what was dry, cracked clay becomes a series of shallow pools reflecting the sky and supporting a sudden abundance of life. The contrast between the surrounding dry mallee and the water-filled claypans creates a landscape that feels almost surreal in its juxtaposition.
Planning Your Walk
This is a cool-weather-only walk — the combination of distance, exposure, and lack of shade makes summer hiking dangerous. Be well prepared with ample water, a hat, sunscreen, and sturdy shoes. The best time to see the Fishponds with water is during and immediately after winter. Combine with the Pine Hut Soak to Scorpion Springs Hike for a multi-day exploration of this remote section of the park.
The Pine Hut Soak to Fishponds Hike is a walk to hidden water in a dry landscape — eleven kilometres through mallee wilderness to claypans that fill with winter rain and bring a temporary burst of wetland life to one of South Australia’s largest conservation parks. It is a walk that rewards the prepared and the patient, and reveals the quiet dynamism of a landscape that most visitors never see.
Where to Stay
Planning an overnight trip? See our Murray River & Riverland Accommodation Guide for the best places to stay near this trail.