TRAILS & WALKS
A Walk for Everyone
Trails & Walks
Things to do
A WALK FOR EVERYONE
Balranald and surrounds have a wonderful variety of walks and trails for all the family, from spectacular nature walks to heritage and military trails.
Many of the walks are in wonderous settings and landscapes be it along a river, along a lake, in Red Gum bushland or on the sands of Mungo National Park. You can be sure there is an ideal walk for everyone.
Pop into the Balranald Visitor Information Centre and the friendly and informative staff will let you know of some of the most popular walks within the shire.
TRAILS & WALKS
At Yanga NP
At Mungo NP
At Balranald
At Euston
YANGA NATIONAL PARK
Yanga Lake Walk
Location: From Balranald, travel east along Sturt Highway for 7km. Turn right into Yanga picnic area just over Yanga Creek. Turn left at the Yanga National Park sign and drive 2km along unsealed road to Yanga Homestead & access to The Yanga Lake Viewing Deck and the track down to the Yanga Lake Walking Track & Bird Hide
Phone: Yanga Park Office: 03 5020 1764
Phone: Yanga Park Office: 03 5020 1764
Yanga Lake Walking Track
For a beautiful lakeside walk that combines impressive scenic views and superb birdwatching, head for Yanga Lake walking track. This short track traces part of the eastern shoreline to link some of the most scenic features of Yanga National Park. Near Yanga Homestead, it’s an ideal introduction to the tranquil beauty of the wetlands for families, school groups and nature lovers.
The track descends from Yanga Lake viewing deck through majestic river red gums and river coobas to the very shores of the immense lake. Enjoy a leisurely picnic as you soak in the natural beauty and serenity.
For a beautiful lakeside walk that combines impressive scenic views and superb birdwatching, head for Yanga Lake walking track. This short track traces part of the eastern shoreline to link some of the most scenic features of Yanga National Park. Near Yanga Homestead, it’s an ideal introduction to the tranquil beauty of the wetlands for families, school groups and nature lovers.
The track descends from Yanga Lake viewing deck through majestic river red gums and river coobas to the very shores of the immense lake. Enjoy a leisurely picnic as you soak in the natural beauty and serenity.
Yanga Lake Bird Hide
Attracting over 150 species of birds, Yanga Lake Red Gum bird hide offers some of the most spectacular birdwatching in NSW. Accessed along Yanga Lake walking track, it’s a great destination for families and nature-lovers alike. Located near Balranald, Yanga National Park, which is part of Murrumbidgee Valley National Park, is the perfect spot to have a picnic, unwind and get away from it all.
Nestled amongst the river red gums and old man saltbush, the hide is a great spot to watch the pelicans and black swans as they forage for food and bring up their young in these majestic waterways. Spring and autumn are great times for birdwatching as the lakes fill with birds such as white-bellied sea eagles and great crested grebes.
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MUNGO NATIONAL PARK
Walk the Walls of China with a liscenced guide
Location: From Balranald follow the signs to Ivanhoe (Ivanhoe Road) for 53km. Turn left 3km after Box Creek Bridge (signposted) and follow this road until you reach the park. The Walls of China starts at Mungo Visitor Centre in the south western precinct of Mungo National Park
Opening Times: Mungo National Park is always open but may have to close at times due to weather conditons. Mungo Visitor Centre is not permanently staffed.
Phone: Buronga Park Office: 03 5021 8900
Opening Times: Mungo National Park is always open but may have to close at times due to weather conditons. Mungo Visitor Centre is not permanently staffed.
Phone: Buronga Park Office: 03 5021 8900 After the lake dried up, winds swept storms of sand up from the lake floor, dumping it on the shoreline and creating the famous Mungo lunette. This is the site of the spectacular Great Walls of China, which have been carved from layers of the lunette. As the lunette erodes it reveals remains and fossils. ​The ancient dunes at Mungo are known as the "Walls of China". As the sands shift, ancient and extremely well preserved campfires, cooking hearths and burials as well as the remains of long extinct animals have been uncovered.
Seeing the Walls of China up close is best undertaken with a liscenced tour guide or a Parks' Ranger who can explain the significance of the lunette and its history. Outback Geo Adventures, National Parks and Mungo Lodge Tours all do both day and sunset tours, and
Outback Geo Adventures
run tours from Balranald.
Redtop Boardwalk & Lookout
Location: From Balranald follow the signs to Ivanhoe (Ivanhoe Road) for 53km. Turn left 3km after Box Creek Bridge (signposted) and follow this road until you reach the park. From the Visitor Centre in the south western precinct of the park you can access the Redtop Lookout & Boardwalk via the self-guided drive (Mungo Loop Track)
Opening Times: Mungo National Park is always open but may have to close at times due to weather conditons. Mungo Visitor Centre is not permanently staffed.
Phone: Buronga Park Office: 03 5021 8900
Opening Times: Mungo National Park is always open but may have to close at times due to weather conditons. Mungo Visitor Centre is not permanently staffed.
Phone: Buronga Park Office: 03 5021 8900 Mungo is one of a handful of places where you can see the extraordinary effects of erosion on the landscape. Red Top lookout and boardwalk is an unbeatable vantage point, offering bird's eye views of the park's remarkable deep ravines, rippling patterns and rich textures.
This short walk along a boardwalk takes in the views to the north along the Mungo lunette and to the west across the bed of Lake Mungo. The deeply eroded ravines cut through the layers of windblown sediment and can be spectacular at sunset. Informative signs explain some of the human and environmental history held within those sediments.
From Mungo Visitor Centre, it's an easy half-hour drive to the lookout via the Mungo Self-guided Drive tour (Mungo TracK).
Tracks, Trails & Walks
Locations:
Grasslands Nature Walk Trail: The walk starts and finishes from the southern end of Main Camp
Mallee Stop Walking Track: The track starts from the Mallee Stop, around the eastern side of Lake Mungo on the Mungo Track
Zanci Pastoral Heritage Loop: Commences behind the Visitor Centre
Foreshore Walk: Starts behind the Meeting Place at the Visitor Centre and follows markers across the ancient shoreline of Lake Mungo
Opening Times: Mungo National Park is always open but may have to close at times due to weather conditons. Mungo Visitor Centre is not permanently staffed.
‹Phone: Buronga Park Office: 03 5021 8900
Locations:
Grasslands Nature Walk Trail: The walk starts and finishes from the southern end of Main Camp
Mallee Stop Walking Track: The track starts from the Mallee Stop, around the eastern side of Lake Mungo on the Mungo Track
Zanci Pastoral Heritage Loop: Commences behind the Visitor Centre
Foreshore Walk: Starts behind the Meeting Place at the Visitor Centre and follows markers across the ancient shoreline of Lake Mungo
Opening Times: Mungo National Park is always open but may have to close at times due to weather conditons. Mungo Visitor Centre is not permanently staffed.
‹Phone: Buronga Park Office: 03 5021 8900
Grasslands Nature Walk Trail
Mallee Stop Walking Track
Zanci Pastoral Heritage Loop
Foreshore Walk
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AT BALRANALD
The Military Commemorative Trail
Location: Commence at the Discovery Centre precinct and see the Visitor Information Centre Staff who will provide further details of the trail. The plaques run along River Street, Court Street & Market Street Balranald
Phone: Visitor Information Centre: 1800 444 043
Balranald has a wonderful Military Commemorative Trail which chronicles and honours the lives and diversity of contributions made by Balranald Shire residents during times of international conflict.
The Heritage & Historical Trail
Location: Commence at the Discovery Centre precinct and see the Visitor Information Centre Staff who will provide further details of the trail
Phone: Visitor Information Centre: 1800 444 043
From the Balranald Discovery Centre follow the town's Heritage Trail. This 1 1/2 hour walking tour takes in several of Balranald's most significant historical building and points of interest. A series of plaques leads you on a fascinating journey through the town's history.
The Ben Scott Memorial Bird Trail
Location: Start on River Street at the corner of Market Street and follow the signs to the Bird Trail. It is three kilometres north east of the township of Balranald. See the Visitor Information Centre for more details - THE TRAIL IS SEASONAL - Contact the Information Centre for more details.
The Ben Scott Memorial Bird Trail is the perfect place to begin your bird-watching experience. Collect a list of Balranald’s bird species from the Visitor Information Centre then set off on the 4.5km walk to the trail. A system of boardwalks and tracks will take you through the miniature wetland to the birdhides. The trail itself takes 45 minutes. Keep an eye out for Spotted Harriers, Rainbow Bee-eaters, Yellow Throated Miners, the Striated Pardalote and more.
The Balranald Swing Bridge & Bidgee Nature Walk
Funky Frog trail
Location: Commence at the Discovery Centre precinct and see the Visitor Information Centre Staff who will provide further details of the trail.
Phone: Visitor Information Centre: 1800 444 043
WHAT'S THE CONNECTION with BALRANALD & FROGS?
When you visit Balranald, you will see the FUNKY FROG SCULPTURES dotted around town, the Welcoming Frog at the Discovery Centre and the frog merchandise at the Visitor Information Centre and in certain shops in town.
So what is the connection?.....Its because of the endangered SOUTHERN BELL FROG also known as the Growling Grass Frog which lives in semi-permanent wetlands in south eastern Australia and is known to live in the wetlands of the BALRANALD SHIRE.
So what is the connection?.....Its because of the endangered SOUTHERN BELL FROG also known as the Growling Grass Frog which lives in semi-permanent wetlands in south eastern Australia and is known to live in the wetlands of the BALRANALD SHIRE.
It's a large handsome frog and is bright green in colour with splotches of gold, bronze and black along its back. Unfortunately it has disappeared from over 50% of its former range over the past 20 years. Scientists are unsure why it began to disappear, but disease, habitat loss, farm chemicals and exotic species may be likely causes.
Next time you visit BALRANALD stop by the Visitor Information Centre and the friendly staff will tell you all about the Southern Bell Frog and about the FUNKY FROG TRAIL you can walk to see all the frog sculptures around the town!
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AT EUSTON
Euston Walking and Bike Trail
Location: Access to bikes, prams and wheelchairs is available by parking under the bridge on the Euston side of the Murray River
This leisurely and peaceful 2.5km path links Robinvale and Euston on each side of the Murray River and provides an alternative view of Euston Weir and Lock 15.
Access for bikes, prams and wheelchairs is available by parking your vehicle under the bridge on the Euston side of the River and starting your walk from there. Alternately start from Robinvale by crossing over the bridge and take in the spectacle of the Murray from up high before walking.
The sealed surface of the track makes the path easy for walkers, cyclists and joggers and is shaded for most of the distance. Billabongs along the way provide a natural wetland environment for frogs, which croak loudly even throughout the day including the endangered Southern Bell Frog.
A pergola has been constructed approximately half way along the path to offer a perfect vantage point for an upclose, wide view of the river with flocks of pelicans and black swans in evidence. You may even see the occasional kangaroo.
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THINGS TO DO
At Yanga NP
At Mungo NP
At Balranald
At Euston
AT YANGA NATIONAL PARK
- From the viewing deck behind Yanga Homestead you will enjoy panoramic views of the lake and skies above. You can then follow the walking trail along the lakes edge to the birdhide where you might catch sight of a Sacred Kingfisher or Great Crested Grebe.
AT MUNGO NATIONAL PARK
- Start your experience with a tour of the Mungo Visitor Centre. Here you can learn about the history and cultural significance of the site and learn more about the aalking Tracks and trails you can walk.
- Choose from a range of self-guided walking tours starting at the Meeting Place. The walks vary from an easy 10 minute stroll along the Mungo Lookout trail to a more challenging Foreshore Walk.
- One of the parkbest known attractions is a series of lunettes known as the ˜Walls of China™. You can walk the Walls a China with a liscenced Guide. From Balranald you can book a guided tour with
Outback Geo Adventures.
- As an option to the guided tour you can follow the Redtop boardwalk for a self-guided walking and viewing experience.
- Learn about local plants and animals with a walk along the Grassland Nature Trail or trek the Zanci Pastoral Heritage Loop.
- For a walk across the ancient shoreline of Lake Mungo, take the Forshore Walk
AT BALRANALD
- The Ben Scott Memorial Bird Trail is the perfect place to begin your bird-watching experience. Collect a list of Balranald bird species from the Visitor Information Centre then set off on the 4.5km walk to the trail.
- A system of boardwalks and tracks will take you through the miniature wetland to the birdhides. The trail itself takes 45 minutes. Keep an eye out for Spotted Harriers, Rainbow Bee-eaters, Yellow Throated Miners, the Striated Pardalote and more.
- Hike the Bidgee Nature Trail through local River Red Gum forest. From Court St, cross the swing-bridge and follow the 2.4km track along the Murrumbidgee River. Keep an eye out for Yellow Rosellas, kookaburras and the occasional echidna, not forgetting kangaroos and emus.Take the Bidgee Nature Trail, starting in Court St. Here you can see Red-rumped Parrots, Pied Butcherbirds and White-plumed Honeyeaters just to name a few.
- Take time to honour the lives of the those who made a diversity of contributions during times of international conflict by walking the Military Commemorative Trail and paying your respects to these honourable individuals.
- Pop into the Visitor Information Centre and pick up your guide before taking off on your History & Heritage Trail and step back in time and learn about the town's history.
AT EUSTON
- If you head to Euston park your your vehicle under the bridge on the Euston side of the River and start your walk on the Euston Walking & Bike Trail. This leisurely and peaceful 2.5km path links Robinvale and Euston on each side of the Murray River and provides an alternative view of Euston Weir and Lock 15.
‹For more information about the range of Things to Do, contact the Balranald Visitor Information Centre on 1800 444 043
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Balranald Visitor Information Centre
Balranald Visitor Information Centre
Phone: 1800 444 043
Address: Balranald Discovery Centre
83 Market Street, Balranald
Email: infocentrestaff@balranald.nsw.gov.au
