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Environment and Heritage
Environment and Heritage

Darling Riverine Plains bioregion

This bioregion forms a bulky shape extending into Queensland and a long, narrow riverine corridor that runs south-west along the Darling River.

 

About the bioregion

The Darling River corridor extends from Bourke almost to the southern edge of the Menindee Lakes, and south through the Murray Darling Depression Bioregion to the Victorian border where the Darling joins the Murray River.

The main body of the bioregion extends from east of Boggabilla to Weilmoringle on the Queensland border, south almost to Peak Hill and west to Nyngan and Bourke. The bioregion is traversed by the Western Division boundary. In central north New South Wales, the Darling Riverine Plains Bioregion includes the lower reaches and alluvial fans of several rivers.

The climate is mostly hot and semi-arid with small subtropical areas in the south-east.

There is a wide variety of vegetation, from that along the river channels to the most distant floodplains and several threatened species are found in this bioregion.

National parks, wildlife refuges and nature reserves within this bioregion include the Ramsar-listed Macquarie Marshes, Gwydir Wetlands and Narran Lake Nature Reserve.

The bioregion falls entirely in the Murray-Darling Basin and includes the Macintyre-Dumaresq, Culgoa, Narran, Warrego, Paroo, Moonie, Barwon, Gwydir, Namoi, Macquarie, Yanda, Castlereagh and Darling catchments.

Read Chapter 6, the Darling Riverine Plains Bioregion, in Bioregions of New South Wales: Their biodiversity, conservation and history for more information.

Bioregion area

  • 10,699,769 hectares in total
  • 9,413,084 hectares in New South Wales
Map of New South Wales, Australia, highlighting the Darling Riverine Plains bioregion in green. The rest of the state is shown in white, with some geographical features like rivers and mountain ranges outlined.

Map showing the Darling Riverine Plains bioregion

Parks, reserves and conservation areas

This bioregion includes:

  • An aerial photo of reeds in the Northern Marsh, Macquarie Marshes
    An aerial photo of reeds in the Northern Marsh, Macquarie Marshes
    An aerial photo of reeds in the Northern Marsh, Macquarie Marshes
    Image Credit: T Hosking/DPE
  • Photograph of the Macquarie Marshes Southern Nature Reserve, featuring a wetland landscape with water channels, lush vegetation, and diverse birdlife, highlighting the ecological importance of this protected area in New South Wales.
    Macquarie Marshes, southern nature reserve
    Macquarie Marshes, southern nature reserve
    Image Credit: D Love/DPE
  • Photograph of Nebine Creek in Culgoa National Park, featuring a serene waterway surrounded by native vegetation and a clear blue sky, highlighting the natural beauty of this protected area in New South Wales.
    Nebine Creek, Culgoa National Park
    Nebine Creek, Culgoa National Park
    Image Credit: Dinitee Haskard/DPE
  • Menindee Lake in Kinchega National Park, featuring leafless tree trunks and branches emerging from the water. Scattered vegetation is visible in the clear water, which reflects the trees. The sky is blue with a golden haze on the horizon.
    Nebine Creek, Culgoa National Park
    Menindee Lake, Kinchega National Park
    Image Credit: John Spencer/OEH
  • Photograph of pelicans and cormorants at Kinchega National Park, showing the birds resting on a log in a water body, surrounded by natural vegetation.
    Pelicans and cormorants, Kinchega National Park
    Pelicans and cormorants, Kinchega National Park
    Image Credit: John Spencer/OEH
  • Close-up of a Crucifix frog displaying mottled brown and green skin with bright red-orange spots, large protruding blue eyes, and a white underbelly.
    Front view of Crucifix frog (Notaden bennettii) at night
    Front view of Crucifix frog (Notaden bennettii) at night
    Image Credit: J Ocock/DPE
  • Photograph of a southern hairy-nosed wombat (Lasiorhinus latifrons), showing the animal’s distinctive fur and robust body as it moves through its natural habitat.
    Southern hairy-nosed wombat (Lasiorhinus latifrons), endangered species
    Southern hairy-nosed wombat (Lasiorhinus latifrons), endangered species
    Image Credit: DPE
  • A swamp wallaby (Wallabia bicolour) stands in long grass
    Southern hairy-nosed wombat (Lasiorhinus latifrons), endangered species
    Swamp wallaby (Wallabia bicolour)
    Image Credit: Ken Stepnell/DPE

More information