The Longest Stretch of River Red Gum Forest in the World
Walk into the Flora and Fauna Reserve in Narrandera and you’re walking through one of Australia’s great natural landscapes. The reserve, along with the Murrumbidgee Valley Regional and National Parks, forms part of the longest continuous stretch of river red gum forest in the world, stretching along the Murrumbidgee River system through the Riverina.
Towering river red gums line winding tracks, shade grassy clearings and create habitat for hundreds of native species. Some of these giants are believed to be several hundred years old, having stood through floods, droughts and generations of changing landscapes.
River red gums (Eucalyptus camaldulensis) are among Australia’s most iconic trees. Their smooth bark peels away in ribbons to reveal striking shades of red — the colour that gives the species its name. Growing to more than 45 metres tall with massive trunks and sprawling limbs, these trees are deeply connected to the health of the river system. They thrive in floodplain environments and rely on periodic flooding to regenerate and remain healthy. Hollows formed in old river red gums provide important nesting sites for birds, bats and other native wildlife while fallen timber enriches the surrounding ecosystem.
The forest is also central to one of Australia’s greatest conservation success stories: Narrandera’s koala colony. Once considered locally extinct, around 20 koalas were reintroduced in the 1970s with the Flora and Fauna reserve is now home to a thriving wild colony more than 300 strong. Each spring, the community comes together for the annual Koala Festival to celebrate, educate, and head into the reserve for the annual Koala Count. The 2026 event will be held on 19 and 20 September.
Visitors walking or cycling the reserve’s trails will likely find koalas curled high in the canopy of these enormous trees, blending almost perfectly into the branches above. Check out our Koala Spotting Guide and visit the Destination and Discovery Hub for our top tips for finding koalas. If you’re visiting for Koala Festival, guided bushwalks, kayak adventures, and habitat tours mean you’re certain to see a koala and you’ll likely see some very cute joeys too.
Today, the reserve offers visitors the chance to experience this remarkable environment firsthand — from peaceful bushwalks beneath towering gums to camping, birdwatching and (of course) koala-spotting. It’s a place where conservation, wildlife and landscape come together in a way that is uniquely Australian.