Macquarie Marshes Nature Reserve
Overview
Macquarie Marshes Nature Reserve was created in January 1971. It covers an area of 23141.29ha. View the detailed park and fire management documents.
Macquarie Marshes Nature Reserve is located in central north-west NSW, around 80km north of Warren and 30km west of Quambone.
Recognised for its important wetlands, access to this nature reserve is limited to management and research staff. There are no visitor facilities, but you can visit on NSW National Parks guided tours that run in late September and early October each year. Please contact Pilliga Forest Discovery Centre before you visit for more information on tours, road conditions and access.
The Macquarie Marshes is one of the largest remaining inland semi-permanent wetlands in south-eastern Australia. It includes extensive areas of Phragmites reeds, River Red Gum woodlands and mixed marsh floodplains, and was listed as a Ramsar wetland of international importance in 1986.
The Macquarie Marshes is part of the traditional land of the Wailwan People who continue to maintain connections to country. The Marshes is particularly outstanding for its value as one of the most important nesting sites for waterbirds in Australia. A total of 77 waterbird species can be found in the Macquarie Marshes, including the threatened brolga, magpie goose, Australasian bittern and painted snipe. It also provides important habitat for 156 species of woodland bird and many other species of fish, turtles, frogs, snakes and mammals.
Download the Macquarie Marshes Nature Reserve brochure (2.75MB pdf).
These maps give a basic overview of park attractions and facilities, and may not be detailed enough for some activities. We recommend that you buy a topographic map before you go exploring.