Barmah National Park, together with the adjoining Millewa forest in New South Wales, forms the largest River Red Gum forest in the world. The complex ecology of the forest is closely linked to the Murray River and its flooding regime, creating a diverse natural habitat for a variety of wildlife, particularly waterbirds.

Barmah is a great spot for camping. Days can be easily filled with fishing, horse riding, bushwalking, swimming and canoeing.

How to get there
Barmah National Park lies along the Murray River between the towns of Barmah and Strathmerton, about 225km north of Melbourne. Access to the 12 major entrance gates is available from the Moira Lakes Road, Barmah-Picola Road, and the Murray Valley Highway.

Before you go
Conditions can change in parks for many reasons. For the latest information on changes to local conditions, please visit the relevant park page on the Parks Victoria website.

Be bushfire ready in the great outdoors. Refer to the Bushfire Safety section on the Parks Victoria website for tips on how to stay safe.

Local directions

Barmah State Park is between Barmah and Strathmerton in north central Victoria, 220 km from Melbourne. Access the park from the Moira Lakes Road or Barmah-Picola Road, or via the Murray Valley Highway from Echuca and/or Strathmerton.

Facilities

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Fauna
The varied environment supports 219 species of birds as well as numerous mammals, reptiles and amphibians. The forest is on a major flightpath for migratory birds as well as being an internationally significant wetland breeding ground for waterbirds. Platypuses can sometimes be spotted in quiet backwaters.

Heritage
The rich environment along the Murray River supported large numbers of Aboriginal people over many thousands of years. Descendants of these people still live in the area and are involved in recovering their heritage and in managing the natural environment. Heavy cutting of trees began in the 1860s with the building of the railway line from Bendigo to Echuca. The durability of River Red Gum and its resistance to termites made it suitable for railway sleepers, building foundations, fencing, wharves and mine timbers. It was also used to fuel river boats. Some 2000 workers fed the sawmills, devastating the forest until regulations in 1877 introduced more controlled logging. Settlers began grazing their stock in the forest, and this practice continues. The forest evolved in conditions of regular winter and spring flooding but modern water management has altered this. Water control subjects some parts of the forest to long and unseasonable flooding, and this has led to speculation about the future of the red gums.

Vegetation
The oldest River Red Gums in Barmah Forest are probably over 500 years old. They often grow to 30 metres, some reaching 45 metres. More than 80% of the forest is covered by these sturdy trees, whose trunks develop a gnarled, rock-like character. They tend to grow out and branch more heavily than other trees. Old rotted limbs and hollows in the trees are nesting places for birds and animals.