Macquarie Marshes Nature Reserve

Visit the Macquarie Marshes Nature Reserve in northwestern New South Wales to witness the untouched beauty of an Australian wetland.

Located along the lower Macquarie River, the reserve is approximately 600 kilometres northwest of Sydney and 100 kilometres north of Warren. The reserve, which is the core of the Macquarie Marshes, showcases a variety of habitats from meandering channels to wetlands and floodplains. Surprisingly, there are also large wetland areas outside the nature reserve, including vast river red gum areas and some of the largest rookeries in the Marshes.

The wetlands in Macquarie Marshes Nature Reserve cover an area of almost 20,000 hectares, approximately 10% of the floodplain. They consist of two main reserves, the North and South Marsh, and a third small reserve. In 1986, the North and South Marsh Nature Reserves were officially listed as a wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention of 1971. Additionally, the Macquarie Marshes Nature Reserve is listed on the Register of the National Estate, the Register of the National Trust of Australia, and the Directory of Important Wetlands in Australia. It is also part of the Macquarie Marshes Important Bird Area, recognized by BirdLife International for its significance as a breeding site for waterbirds.

The wetlands in the reserve are formed by irregular flooding of the flat lands along the river, creating a unique and precious ecosystem for both flora and fauna. When visiting the Macquarie Marshes Nature Reserve, you can expect to see a variety of bird species, including the rare Australasian Bittern, as well as wetland species such as frogs, turtles, and fish.