Sandy Beach campground
Murrumbidgee Valley National Park
Overview
Set up camp among the river red gums and enjoy fishing, boating and cycling at Sandy Beach campground in Murrumbidgee Valley National Park, near Leeton.
| Camping type | Tent, Camper trailer site, Camping beside my vehicle |
|---|---|
| Facilities | Toilets |
| What to bring | Drinking water, cooking water, insect repellent |
| Price | There are no camping fees at this campground but a $6 booking fee applies. |
| Bookings | Book up to 12 people or 2 sites online. |
| Group bookings | This campground is not suitable for group bookings. |
| Please note |
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Tucked away on the bend of a sweeping river beach, Sandy Beach campground is a popular spot for Riverina locals to fish, swim and boat on the weekend. With great facilities and easy access from Leeton and Narrandera, stay a couple of days exploring Murrumbidgee Valley National Park.
There’s a boat ramp at Markeys Beach where you can launch your boat and enjoy the river from a different perspective. Look up to see koalas resting against the trunks of the majestic river red gums and spot the bright greens and yellows of the threatened superb parrot as it darts between the trees. At dusk, relax by the campfire as wallabies, kangaroos and emus come down to the river to drink.
If you’re looking for a bit of adventure, go 4WDing or mountain biking along Forest Drive. This scenic 16km journey is a great way to explore the park and there are plenty of spots to fish, swim and enjoy a picnic along the way. At the end of the drive you’ll find Turkey Flat trail which is a cycling trail that loops through the habitats of native woodland and wetland birds.
Also see
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MIA 1 campgrounds
Enjoy riverside camping in the MIA 1 area of Murrumbidgee Valley National Park, near Narrandera and Yanco. Go fishing and kayaking along the Murrumbidgee River.
Map
Map legend
Local alerts
For the latest updates on fires, closures and other alerts in this area, see https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/camping-and-accommodation/campgrounds/sandy-beach-campground/local-alerts
Bookings
- National Parks Contact Centre
- 7am to 7pm daily
- 1300 072 757 (13000 PARKS) for the cost of a local call within Australia excluding mobiles
- parks.info@environment.nsw.gov.au
Operated by
- Griffith office
- Monday to Friday, 9am to 4pm. Closed 1pm to 2pm.
- 02 6966 8100
- npws.riverina@environment.nsw.gov.au
- 200 Yambil Street, Griffith NSW 2680
Park info
- in Murrumbidgee Valley National Park in the Murray-Riverina region
Murrumbidgee Valley National Park is always open but may have to close at times due to poor weather or fire danger.
Visitor info
All the practical information you need to know about Sandy Beach campground.
Getting there and parking
Sandy Beach Campground is in the MIA1 precinct of Murrumbidgee Valley National Park.
From Narrandera:
- Follow Irrigation Way for 10km until you reach the brown Murrumbidgee Valley National Park sign
- Turn left at Grahams Grave Road and continue for 1.5km
- At the entrance to the MIA1 precinct, follow Rook Trail for 3km until you reach Sandy Beach campground.
From Griffith:
- Follow Banna Ave/B94 for 3km
- Continue straight on Irrigation Way for 13km
- At the T-intersection, turn right onto Irrigation Way and continue for 38km.
- At the traffic lights, turn right onto Canal Street and continue for 2.5km.
- Turn right onto Back Yanco Rd and continue for 4km
- Turn right onto Main Ave and continue along Irrigation Way for 12km
- At the brown Murrumbidgee Valley National Park sign, turn left onto Grahams Grave Road and continue for 1.5km.
- At the entrance to the MIA1 precinct, follow Rook Trail for 3km until you reach Sandy Beach campground.
Road quality
Sandy Beach campground can be muddy after rain. Please call the Griffith office before you leave to check if the road is accessible.
- Unsealed roads
Vehicle access
- Most roads suitable for 2WD vehicles
Weather restrictions
- 4WD required in wet weather
Parking
Parking is available at Sandy Beach campground.
Facilities
There are no rubbish bins available at this campground. Please take all rubbish with you when you leave.
Toilets
- Non-flush toilets
Maps and downloads
Accessibility
Disability access level - hard
Hard access is via steps or a steep slope, or you'll have to move across a rough surface with obstacles such as potholes, tree roots, and rocks. Assistance will be necessary.
Permitted
Camp fires and solid fuel burners
There are no designated fire pits at this campground, so please clear your campfire properly before you leave.
Cycling
Fishing
A current NSW recreational fishing licence is required when fishing in all waters.
Gathering firewood
You can gather firewood at this campground, but the use of chainsaws is prohibited.
Prohibited
Chainsaws are prohibited.
Generators
Pets
Pets and domestic animals (other than certified assistance animals) are not permitted. Find out which regional parks allow dog walking and see the pets in parks policy for more information.
Smoking
NSW national parks are no smoking areas.
Learn more
Sandy Beach campground is in Murrumbidgee Valley National Park. Here are just some of the reasons why this park is special:
River redgum
Murrumbidgee Valley National Park is synonymous with Riverina river redgum forests – an iconic Australian eucalypt which grows to awe-inspiring heights. With a deep red colour curving along rivers and channels, Riverina river red gum is of international significance. These special eucalypts provide a home to koalas, which you may spot in their branches. Bird watchers might catch a glimpse of white-bellied sea eagles, sacred kingfishers, and threatened superb parrots, amid the majestic trees. There are plenty of fishing opportunities available in the park too, with yellow belly, redfin and brim fish to catch in the area. Murrumbidgee Valley is also a sanctuary for reptiles and kangaroos.
- Forest drive If you’re looking for a scenic day trip near Murrumbidgee River, near Narrandera, go 4WDing or mountain biking along Forest drive, in Murrumbidgee Valley National Park.
- Turkey Flat picnic area and bird hide Set on Murrumbidgee River, Turkey Flat picnic area and bird hide is a great picnic spot. Visiting these NSW wetlands is a top choice for things to do in Leeton.
Take me to the river
Murrumbidgee River flows in a westerly direction and is over 1,600km long. Murrumbidgee Valley national and regional parks access over 500km of river frontage at irrigation hubs of Narrandera, Yanco, Leeton, the plains of Maude and Hay, and the edge of the mallee at Balranald. River red gums benefit from times of flooding as it recharges the subsoil with water. The river supports river red gums forests, which in turn support the banks of the river with their root systems. Logged since the 1820s and managed as forests by the government since the early 1900s, in 2010 NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service protected 107,000ha of river red gums by creating new parks and reserves, which will now be enjoyed for generations to come.
- McCaugheys Lagoon McCaugheys Lagoon in Murrumbidgee Valley National Park is a great spot for birdwatching or a romantic picnic.
- Middle Beach This sandy Murrumbidgee River haven, Middle Beach, is an ideal place to go canoeing, kayaking, fishing, swimming or picnicking. Secluded camping spots can be found nearby.
Water, water everywhere
Europeans settled the area in the 1840s. By the early 1900s, private irrigation works were replaced by government projects to develop Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area (MIA). Eventually, MIA supplied water to an area of 182,000ha and enabled subdivision of grazing land into smaller units of mixed farming, horticulture, dairy and sheep. During the 1950s, Italian migrants to Australia were drawn to the area because of its similar climate and soil to Italy and became integral in the success of Riverina agriculture.
Wiradjuri people
River red gums have been important to Wiradjuri people, the traditional land owners of Murrumbidgee Valley, for thousands of years. As well as being used for making canoes and shields, they also provide warmth, shelter and food. Some river red gums were large enough for individuals to sleep in, and light a small fire during the cold nights. Even today, Wiradjuri artists in Narrandera use river red gum to make boomerangs, coolamons and carved didgeridoos.
Plants and animals protected in this park
Animals
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Southern boobook (Ninox novaeseelandiae)
The southern boobook, also known as the mopoke, is the smallest and most common native owl in Australia. With a musical 'boo-book' call that echoes through forests and woodlands, the southern boobook is a great one to look out for while bird watching.
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Common ringtail possum (Pseudocheirus peregrinus)
Commonly found in forests, woodlands and leafy gardens across eastern NSW, the Australian ringtail possum is a tree-dwelling marsupial. With a powerful tail perfectly adapted to grasp objects, it forages in trees for eucalypt leaves, flowers and fruit.
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Kookaburra (Dacelo novaeguineae)
Of the 2 species of kookaburra found in Australia, the laughing kookaburra is the best-known and the largest of the native kingfishers. With its distinctive riotous call, the laughing kookaburra is commonly heard in open woodlands and forests throughout NSW national parks, making these ideal spots for bird watching.
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Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus)
One of the most renowned Australian animals, the tree-dwelling marsupial koala can be found in gum tree forests and woodlands across eastern NSW, Victoria and Queensland, as well as in isolated regions in South Australia. With a vice-like grip, this perhaps most iconic but endangered Australian animal lives in tall eucalypts within a home range of several hectares.
Plants
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River red gum (Eucalpytus camaldulensis)
Australian native plants, majestic river red gum trees are widespread across Australian inland river systems. The river red gum is a dominant tree species of the Murray-Darling basin which spans NSW, Queensland and Victoria. This iconic native eucalypt grows to a height of 30m and is thought to have a lifespan up to 500-1000 years.
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Saltbush (Atriplex nummularia)
A hardy Australian native plant, the saltbush is a small spreading shrub that can withstand dry salty soils such as those found in the desert plains of western NSW. It is grey-white in colour and has small spear-shaped succulent leaves. It flowers from December to April.