Mowantjie Willauwar Conservation Park
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Mowantjie Willauwar Conservation Park is located approximately six kilometres south-west of Tailem Bend and conserves 143 hectares of southern cypress pine forest. The forest is home to two nationally threatened orchid species, the vulnerable sandhill greenhood orchid and the endangered metallic sun-orchid, with the population of sandhill greenhood orchids being one of the nine remaining in our state.
Visitors wishing to escape the hustle can walk along the peaceful Murray Coorong Trail or River Bend Heritage Trail, which follow the same section through the south-west and north-east corners of the park. This part of the trail was once the Princes Highway, and now meanders through southern cypress pine forest, mallee box woodland, drooping sheoak woodland and scented irongrass grassland. If you have a keen eye, you may be rewarded with the sightings of the rare striped honeyeater or restless flycatcher. A variety of other species have been recorded in the park, including the white-browed babbler, variegated fairy-wren, yellow thornbill and red-capped robin.
The park was named in recognition of the Ngarrindjeri people. ‘Mowantjie’ is the name for the native pine found in the area, while ‘Willauwar’ is a plural word meaning ‘forest of species’. Therefore the name ‘Mowantjie Willauwar’ means ‘Native Pine Forest’, which accurately describes the park.
Open daily.
Closures and safety
This park is closed on days of Catastrophic Fire Danger and may also be closed on days of Extreme Fire Danger.
You can determine the current fire danger rating by checking the Fire Ban District map on the CFS website.
Check the CFS website or call the CFS Bushfire Information Hotline 1800 362 361 for:
- Information on fire bans and current fire conditions
- Current CFS warnings and incidents
- Information on what to do in the event of a fire.
Listen to your local area radio station for the latest updates and information on fire safety.
Visitor information, bookings and park management:
National Parks Wildlife Service South Australia Riverland and Murraylands Regional Office
28 Vaughan Tce, Berri
Phone: (+61 8) 8595 2111
Email: rm.npws@sa.gov.au
Booking enquiries please email
DEW.RMOnlineBookings@sa.gov.au
Emergency contacts:
Medical, fire (including bushfire) and police emergency situations
Phone: Triple Zero (000)
Police Assistance
Phone: 131 444 for non-urgent police assistance
National Parks and Wildlife Service SA – After-hours duty officer
Phone: 0417 192 335
Injured Wildlife:
Within the park
Please contact the Riverland and Murraylands Regional Office on (08) 8595 2111 or the after-hours duty officer on 0417 192 335 (outside of business hours).
Outside of the park
Please contact a local wildlife rescue group
You can visit this park all year round, but visiting in spring will give you the best chance of seeing orchids and native wildlife.
Mowantjie Willauwar is located approximately six kilometres south-west of Tailem Bend on the Princes Highway, between Tailem Bend and Meningie. The park can be accessed by foot from Princes Highway or Placid Estates Road, which bisects the park.
Dogs are welcome in this park.
Please ensure you:
- Keep your dog under control and on a lead no more than two metres in length.
- Stick to designated walking trails.
- Bring disposable bags to clean up your dog’s faeces (please be aware there are no bins in national parks).
Dogs are not permitted in other areas of the park.
Discover other parks you can walk your dog in on our find a park tool or read 17 dog-friendly walks in Adelaide Parks by Good Living for inspiration.
Please come prepared to be self-reliant as there are no facilities located in the park.
- Parks management plans
- Trails SA
- SA Marine Parks
- Important: Collection of firewood within National Parks is prohibited. Dead wood plays a vital role in providing shelter for many animals and is essential for adding nutrients to the soil.
The land comprising Mowantjie Willauwar Conservation Park forms part of Ngarrindjeri Country. For Ngarrindjeri people, land and waters have many interconnected complex meanings and values. The significance of land and waters is central to their lives: at birth, death, ceremonies and socially, whilst hunting, gathering, camping and travelling.
First Nations peoples have occupied, enjoyed and managed the lands and waters of this state for thousands of generations. For First Nations peoples, creation ancestors laid down the laws of the Country and bestowed a range of customary rights and obligations to the many Aboriginal Nations across our state.
There are many places across the state that have great spiritual significance to First Nations peoples. At some of these places, cultural protocols such as restricted access are promoted and visitors are asked to respect the wishes of Traditional Owners.
In places where protocols are not promoted visitors are asked to show respect by not touching or removing anything, and make sure you take all your rubbish with you when you leave.
Aboriginal peoples continue to play an active role in caring for their Country, including in parks across South Australia.
Mowantjie Willauwar Conservation Park was proclaimed on 2 June 2005 under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972. The park was previously constituted as the Tailem Bend Forest Reserve under the Forestry Act 1950.
The Princes Highway previously ran through the reserve and was re-routed during the 1990’s to bypass the reserve. Since then, work has been undertaken to rehabilitate the former Princes Highway route. The bare ground that remained was revegetated by the local schools in association with local naturalists.
It is understood that an old stone wall running along part of the Princes Highway boundary of the park was built by prisoners of war during World War II, although this has not been verified.
Visitors wishing to escape the hustle can walk along the peaceful Murray Coorong Trail or River Bend Heritage Trail, which follow the same section through the south-west and north-east corners of the park. This part of the trail was once the Princes Highway, and now meanders through southern cypress pine forest, mallee box woodland, drooping sheoak woodland and scented irongrass grassland. Keep an eye out for rare orchids, and walk quietly for the chance to see some of the native birds that call this park home.
The full Murray Coorong Trail stretches 450 kilometres parallel to the Murray River, Lakes and Coorong Waterways. The trail is divided into sections, beginning at Cadell in the Mid Murray. It will connect townships as it travels south through Mannum, Murray Bridge and Meningie before adventuring into the world-famous Coorong and ending at Salt Creek.
Please visit the Murray Coorong Trail for more information.
The full 25km circuit of the River Bend Heritage Trail extends between the ferry crossings at Tailem Bend and Wellington. Sites include the irrigation river flats of the famous Jervois dairying region, the Jervois Cheese Factory, the East Wellington Pangarinda Arboretum, historic Wellington and stunning river views.
There is no camping or accommodation available within this park.
The southern cypress pine forest in Mowantjie Willauwar is home to two nationally threatened orchid species, the vulnerable sandhill greenhood orchid and the endangered metallic sun-orchid. The population of sandhill greenhood orchids is one of the nine remaining in our state.
The park is also home to a variety of other significant flora and fauna species, including other rare orchids and native birds.
To download flora (plants) and fauna (animals) species lists for this park, use the ‘Create Simple Species List’ tab under ‘Flora Tools’ or ‘Fauna Tools’ in NatureMaps.
Want to help?
To find out how you can help in this park or nearby, please visit Murraylands and Riverland Landscape Board.
Want to join others and become a Park Friend?
To find out more about Friends of Parks groups please visit Friends of Parks South Australia.
You could join others to help look after a park. You can take part in working bees, training and other events.
Keen birdwatchers who visit Mowantjie Willauwar Conservation Park may be delighted with the abundance of native birds, as over 40 species have been recorded in the park. Bring your binoculars and walk quietly to be rewarded with sightings of the rare striped honeyeater or restless flycatcher. A variety of other species have been sighted, including the white-browed babbler, variegated fairy-wren, yellow thornbill, red-capped robin, black kite, whistling kite, rufous whistler, spotted pardalote and peaceful dove. Keep an eye out for tree hollows, as some of the native bird species use the hollows provided by the southern cypress pines as nesting sites.
Ensure that you:
- when hiking, wear sturdy shoes, a hat and sunscreen
- be aware of weather conditions and avoid walking during the hottest part of the day
- make sure you have appropriate weather proof clothing
- carry enough water to be self-sufficient
- please be respectful of other users at all times
- stay on the designated trails and connector tracks for your own safety, and prevent the spread of declared weeds to other areas in the park
- ensure someone knows your approximate location and expected time of return
- take appropriate maps.
- Walk, hike or trek — what’s the difference?
There is no camping or accommodation available within this park.
Can I have a fire or barbecue?
- Ensure you are familiar with the fire restrictions for this park.
- You must bring your own firewood, as the collection of firewood within national parks is prohibited.
- Gas fires and liquid fuel fires are permitted through the year, other than on days of total fire ban.
Closures and safety
This park is closed on days of Catastrophic Fire Danger and may also be closed on days of Extreme Fire Danger.
You can determine the current fire danger rating by checking the Fire Ban District map on the CFS website.
Check the CFS website or call the CFS Bushfire Information Hotline 1800 362 361 for:
- Information on fire bans and current fire conditions
- Current CFS warnings and incidents
- Information on what to do in the event of a fire.
Listen to your local area radio station for the latest updates and information on fire safety.
Every national park is different, each has its own unique environment, it is important to be responsible while enjoying all the park has to offer.
Please ensure that you:
- leave your pets at home
- do not feed birds or other animals, it promotes aggressive behaviour and an unbalanced ecology
- do not bring generators (except where permitted), chainsaws or firearms into the park
- leave the park as you found it — there are no bins in national parks, please come prepared to take your rubbish with you.
- abide by the road rules (maintain the speed limit)
- respect geological and heritage sites
- do not remove native plants
- are considerate of other park users.
- Important: Collection of firewood within National Parks is prohibited. Dead wood plays a vital role in providing shelter for animals and adding nutrients to the soil.
Park maps
Maps on your mobile
If you have a smartphone or tablet you can download the free Avenza Map app and have interactive national park maps on hand when you need them.
The app uses your device’s built-in GPS to plot your real-time location within the park onto a map. The app can be used without a network connection and without roaming charges. You can also measure area and distance, plot photos and drop placemark pins.
How to get it working on your device:
1. Download the Avenza Maps app from the app store (iOS/Android) whilst you are still in range (its free!).
2. Open up the app and click the shopping cart icon.
3. Click ‘Find’ and type the name of the national park or reserve you are looking for.
4. Click on the map you are after and install it (all our maps are free).
5. You will now find a list of your installed maps on the home page of the Avenza Maps app.
6. Use our maps through the Avenza Mapa app while in the park and never take a wrong turn again.
Come and enjoy this park for free.
This park is not included in the park pass system.
There is no camping or accommodation available within this park.