Indigenous rangers from the River Murray and Mallee Aboriginal Corporation are playing a central role in efforts to preserve and promote the health of the Murray River ecosystem. Their work recently became part of a new partnership launched this year with Murray River Trails, aiming to deepen cultural awareness alongside environmental conservation.

Visitors to the region have the opportunity to engage with Indigenous land and wetland rangers during guided cultural bushwalks along the riverbanks. Senior land ranger Adam Giles highlights features such as scar trees—trees whose bark was traditionally removed to craft shields and canoes—while senior wetland ranger Nicolas Sumner points out middens containing remnants of ancient fires and freshwater mussel shells. Sumner also identifies stone artifacts that indicate historical trade networks, including rocks not native to the immediate area.

One particularly notable cultural feature described by the rangers are “ring trees” found among river red gums. These trees, with branches intentionally fused into circular formations using vine or kangaroo sinew centuries ago, are believed to mark areas of cultural significance such as boundaries or burial sites. The rangers emphasize that their ongoing work facilitates reconnection with these ancestral sites, underscoring the deep spiritual and historical ties Indigenous communities maintain with the Murray River.

Environmental appreciation extends beyond the daytime excursions. At dawn, visitors accompanied by rangers ascend to Headings Cliff to witness the river valley bathed in morning light amid vibrant wildlife sounds, including magpies, whistlers, and pied butcherbirds. Later in the day, secluded river backwaters are explored by kayak, providing opportunities to observe native species such as grey kangaroos and royal spoonbills in peaceful surroundings, although muddy conditions can present unexpected challenges.

The itinerary often includes a tour of the Chowilla Game Reserve, a former pastoral station now dedicated to conservation. Here, visitors witness ephemeral lakes that fill during Murray River floods, attracting swans and wading birds to the remaining water while wildflowers bloom along dry margins. Native fauna such as grey, red, and euro kangaroos and emus inhabit the surrounding mallee and saltbush vegetation.

The experience concludes aboard a houseboat moored near the distinctive orange cliffs of Bunyip Reach, reflecting in the river’s calm surface. Local cuisine complements the natural setting, featuring sustainably farmed Murray cod prepared with native ingredients like lemon myrtle. Rangers involved in the program express hope that ongoing conservation efforts will allow future generations to consume fish sourced directly from the Murray, reflecting a balance between ecological health and cultural connection.