MenuCoorong Country Drives
The Coorong National Park and Younghusband Peninsula encompass everything that is Coorong Country! The Coorong, which welcomes the Murray to the sea, is quietly one of South Australia’s most spectacular national parks and regions. The Coorong region is also very RV friendly.
- South Along the Coorong
- Narrung and Lake Albert Loop
- Tolmer Gold Escort Route Loop Drive
- Coorong Birdwatcher’s Trail
- 4WD Driving in the Coorong region
- Discover Murray River Trail
- Coorong RV Friendly
Local Towns
South Along The Coorong
Heading west on Narrung Road toward the Noonameena turnoff (Seven Mile Road) you can either continue further on the sealed road north west to Narrung or turn left at the turn off and head south on the unsealed but well graded Seven Mile Road to the Coorong National Park’s northern lagoon, its shores and wondrous sights.
Bird watching and bushwalking are popular with visitors, who are spoilt for choice. With 230 bird species recorded, and a number of well signposted nature walks, binoculars combined with a little effort, patience and a good field guide will ensure a unique wildlife experience!
Camp Coorong, an Aboriginal Cultural Centre and Museum on Seven Mile Road, has been developed by the local Ngarrindjeri people to help breakdown social and cultural barriers. Visitors can stay at the Centre and learn all about the Ngarrindjeri’s spiritual link with the Coorong.
Back onto the Princes Highway and next stop is Parnka Point, the narrowest and deepest point of the Coorong. Here you will find National Park campgrounds and the beginning of the Coorong’s Southern Lagoon (camping permit required). The Point has been developed to cater for campers and is a paradise for kayakers. It is also internationally renowned among the bird-watching community.
Continue south to the observation area at Jack Point, which is definitely worth a look during the pelican breeding season from August until January. North Pelican Island, 1.5 kms offshore, is a sight to behold during breeding season and binoculars will definitely provide an advantage. Continue on to Salt Creek where you can enjoy the local Ngrugie Ngoppun Walk and Lakes Nature Trail. View the replica Oil Rig at Salt Creek. Oil was though to be discovered here. Chinamans Well – 16kms south of Salt Creek is believed to have been built about 1856 by Chinese immigrants. The Chinese supplied fresh food and water to travellers. From here you can head onto Kingston S.E. or return.
Narrung and Lake Albert Loop
Alternatively, travelling northwest from the Noonameena turnoff towards Narrung provides the opportunity to view the northern reaches of the Coorong as well as the Tauwitchere Barrages at Pelican Point via the unsealed but well graded Long Point or Mark Point Roads.
Continue north east on the unsealed road from Mark Point to the small town of Narrung, and across the free 24 hour ferry at ‘The Narrows’ where Lake Alexandrina and Lake Albert meet. Here you’ll find Point Malcolm Lighthouse on the hill, the only inland lighthouse in Australia, built in 1878. In days gone by, Point Malcolm Lighthouse was of great importance to the paddle steamers crossing the Lakes transporting all sorts of cargo between Milang and Meningie.
While near Narrung take a visit to Raukkan (home of the Ngarrindjeri) and visit Raukkan’s famous church built in 1868 by local Ngarrindjeri stone mason William McHughes. David Unaipon was born at Raukkan and is a famous Aboriginal author, inventor and political leader and appears on Australia’s $50 note. Elder Peter Rigney, who was one of the first Aboriginal school principals in Australia, remembers David Unaipon preaching and playing the organ in the church. He believes that, more than anything else, the church represents Raukkan.
Follow the sealed road in an easterly direction and you will soon drive past the historic Poltalloch Station to discover the southern panoramic views of Lake Alexandrina. Finally, at the Princes Highway turn right and return to Meningie past the Ashville Hall where you can stop and read the interpretive signage. Over the rolling hills to the Pink Lake and Waltowa causeway, where it is possible at times to to see tortoises crossing the road from from the lake to the wetlands.