Gwydir Wetlands State Conservation Area Moree

Located approximately 60 kilometres northwest of Moree, these remarkable wetlands form one of the most significant inland wetland systems in New South Wales. Since records began in the 1920s, at least 75 species of waterbirds—50 of which are breeding species—have been recorded in the Gwydir Wetlands.

Historically, the wetlands once covered more than 100,000 hectares, stretching west from Moree to the Barwon–Darling River. Today, only around 15 per cent of this vast system remains.

In an effort to halt ongoing wetland loss, four local landowners listed portions of their wetlands under the International Ramsar Wetlands Agreement in 1998. These areas are now protected as the Gwydir Wetlands State Conservation Area (SCA).

Visitors can observe the rich birdlife from a simple bird hide at Waterbird Lagoon, where keen observers may spot threatened, endangered, and migratory species. The shallow lagoon varies in depth, reaching up to 90 centimetres, and a lightweight canoe is an ideal way to explore the area.

The National Parks and Wildlife Service provides a toilet and shaded seating area for visitor comfort. This trip is best undertaken in dry weather.