Paddling in Coorong National Park

The Coorong is a long, narrow saline lagoon running roughly 140 kilometres along the south-east coast of South Australia, separated from the Southern Ocean by the sand dunes of the Younghusband Peninsula.

The park sits about 200 kilometres south-east of Adelaide and takes in the lagoon itself, the Murray Mouth, and the surrounding wetland system where freshwater and saltwater meet.

This is flatwater paddling — no current to speak of, no whitewater — but the scale and exposure demand real attention to conditions. The lagoon is the defining water here.

Sheltered bays along its length give paddlers room to read the wind before committing to open crossings, and the northern end near the Murray Mouth and Goolwa sees the most traffic.

The Parnka Point area sits further into the lagoon; this section is not tidal, and winter months bring the water depth needed to paddle it reliably. That seasonal detail matters — plan accordingly.

Camping is permitted inside the park, but a permit is required before you go. Fires are not permitted anywhere in the park. Both rules are worth confirming with Parks SA before departure, as conditions and requirements can change.

The Coorong is a Ramsar-listed wetland and home to over 230 migratory bird species, as well as breeding colonies of Australian pelicans. Paddling here puts you inside that ecosystem, not alongside it.

Low-impact travel — packing out all waste, giving wildlife a wide berth — is the baseline, not an afterthought. Wind is the variable that shapes every trip on this water.

The lagoon's length and orientation leave it exposed, and conditions can change faster than the flat surface suggests. Go with local knowledge if you don't have your own.