National and state parks – The Murray
The Murray region is home to unique and diverse national parks. Visit Mungo National Park near Mildura to see sculpted sandhills, the Pink Lakes at Murray-Sunset National Park, and kangaroos and teeming bird life at Hattah-Kulkyne National Park. Explore the stands of giant river red gum in the world heritage-listed Barmah State Park and Forest near Echuca-Moama, and one of Australia's largest monoliths at the Burrowa-Pine National Park, near Albury Wodonga.
Take a day trip to explore the area by car or on foot or set up camp and overnight in a park. A great way to experience these parks is to join a tour guided by an Aboriginal expert to gain a new insight into the significance of the area to indigenous people.
Here are a few parks not to be missed. For more information on other state parks and forests such as the Nyah and Vinifera State Forests and the Mt Granya and Mt Lawson State Parks, contact a local Visitor Information Centre.
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Aboriginal campsites dating back nearly 40,000 years, sculpted sandhills, stone outcrops and the buried bones of giant extinct marsupials are some of the features of this ancient dry lakebed.
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Murray-Sunset National Park, in Victoria's far north-west corner, is the State's second largest national park and one of the few remaining semi-arid regions in the world where the environment is relatively untouched. Experience the parks famed Pink Lakes, its wide open landscapes, sunsets and starry nights, and spring wildflowers.
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The Murray River and Hattah Lakes that are seasonally filled by creeks flowing from the Murray make this area a haven for waterbirds and fish. Flooding on average occurs once every two years.
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The central feature of this huge park is a chain of lake beds connected by Outlet Creek, the northern extension of the Wimmera River. The lakes only fill when Lake Hindmarsh overflows with water fed from the Wimmera River. When it rains the semi-arid landscape is transformed by tiny desert plants that form a carpet of flowers.
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The Big Desert is home to a wide variety of birds, reptiles and mammals. It offers visitors an opportunity to experience a landscape which has remained unaffected by human beings and provides a challenge for the experienced hiker.
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The Barmah Millewa Forest is the largest red gum forest in the world. It is located on the floodplain of the Murray River between Tocumwal, Deniliquin and Echuca-Moama. The Barmah Wetlands are home to almost 900 species of wildlife and are also wetlands of international importance. The Barmah Millewa Forest is home to more than 180 Aboriginal sacred sites.
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The two mountains in this park provide excellent and diverse opportunities for bushwalkers, campers, climbers, birdwatchers and nature lovers. Pine Mountain, one of Australia's largest monoliths, has a dry climate that supports many rare plants. Mount Burrowa, an area of higher rainfall, supports wet forest plants and is more heavily timbered.
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