Swanport Wetland Trail: Ron visits the Murraylands region of South Australia
The Paiwalla Wetland, near Murray Bridge is one of many wetlands, which fan out from the main Murray River Channel.
It gives you some idea of what the river would have been like before the locks and weirs went in. It would have been bone dry in times of drought and teeming with birdlife when the river level rose. We have landowner Peter Sellick to thank for all this. He moved his dairy herd off his sixty-four hectares of riverfront and handed it over to the birds.
Later in the year, migratory waders and waterfowl will arrive from far off places like Siberia, Japan and China. Some may even make it to this spot under the shadow of the Swanport Bridge. This 19-hectare oasis is in fact five kilometres from the centre of Murray Bridge and like the Paiwalla wetland, it represents an attempt by locals to give something back to the local flora and fauna. And in doing so they've also done their bit to clean up the environment.
"The boardwalk is actually made out of a hundred percent recycled plastic milk bottles," said Matt Rose of Natural State Tours.
On the Swanport Wetland trail you'll disappear into the lignum, a spiky tangled mess that's home to many small wrens and swallows. Out on the water the whistling kites and cormorants are on the lookout.
"He'd be after small fish. Circling the water, seeing the fish and diving down. The cormorant is a study in patience. He's probably after some of the small fish and even some of the yabbies as well."
Matt Rose takes regular childrens' tours into the Swanport Wetlands, bringing them up to speed on the many indigenous fish species to be found here and also some of the rare plants once common before the barrages went in.
The bull-rushes served the Narrandjerri aboriginal people well providing materials for baskets in which they'd collect the edible tubers found thoughout the wetland.
By the 1860s this wetland was changed forever when a causeway was built through the middle of the swamp. Its destination was the old redgum slabs of what was the old ferry landing. From here passengers would head off to Swanport on the other side of the main river channel. It's quiet now but give it another month or so and soon this wetland and all the others along the Murray and the Coorong will be teeming with life as the annual migration of waders hits our shores.
If you want to know where to find them, then ask a local like Pat O'Riley. She owns the Balcony Bed and Breakfast GuestHouse at Murray Bridge and is one of the driving forces behind the Meet the Waders Festival.
"We frequently get asked by tourists that have heard of it and others are amazed to know that there are wetlands in this part of Australia," she said.
The Balcony Bed and Breakfast GuestHouse in the main street of Murray Bridge is great place to base yourself during the Meet the Waders Festival. To book contact Pat O'Riley on 8531 1411. For a map of the Swanport Wetlands head to the Murray Bridge Visitor Centre in South Terrace or log on to Matt Rose's website. He also conducts tours of the wetlands. If you have any further questions please email info@postcards-sa.com.au
Swanport Wetlands Maps
Murray Bridge Visitor Centre
South Terrace
Murray BridgeNatural State Tours
Contact Matt Rose on 8572 3049
The Balcony B&B Guest House
Cnr Bridge & Sixth Streets
Murray Bridge
Bookings (08) 8531 1411Published 17th Sept 2006
