Coorong National Park visitor timing guide for South Australia’s seasons

Coastal lagoon wilderness and longest beach in Australia

Coorong National Park

Coorong National Park protects one of South Australia's most ecologically significant coastal environments, encompassing both the linear lagoon system known as The Coorong and the narrow Younghusband Peninsula that forms a natural barrier between the lagoon and the Southern Ocean. The western end of the lagoon system begins at the Murray Mouth near Hindmarsh Island and extends approximately 130 kilometres southeastward, varying in width from just a few hundred metres to several kilometres. The park's establishment in 1967 was driven by the need to protect the extraordinary birdlife and unique wetland habitats that characterize this coastal environment. The Coorong has been hydrologically altered since the construction of the Goolwa Barrages in the late 1930s, which cut off the lagoon from Lake Alexandrina and fundamentally changed the flow patterns that once connected the Murray River system to this coastal wetland. Despite these modifications, the Coorong remains a vital refuge for wildlife, particularly during drought periods when inland waterways dry up and birds and other animals concentrate in the remaining wet areas. The park provides sanctuary for both resident species and migratory birds that travel the East Asian Australasian flyway, making it internationally significant for waterbird conservation.