Narrandera is a peaceful town where you can enjoy an abundance of walking trails, cycling paths and waterways for fishing and kayaking. And there’s the bonus that while you’re out and about admiring the marvels of Mother Nature, you might also spot one of Australia’s most beloved creatures – the koala.
The koalas of Narrandera
While Narrandera is home to more than 300 wild koalas, these iconic Aussie marsupials were once extinct in the Riverina region. Fur trading and habitat loss caused the population to decline in the early 1900s, and eventually, they disappeared entirely.
Luckily, koalas were reintroduced to the region in the 1970s in one of the earliest conservation translocation efforts in NSW. Around 20 koalas were moved to Narrandera Flora and Fauna Reserve, which is now home to one the densest, healthiest koala populations in the state.
Recent studies have confirmed that this special population of koalas are genetically diverse and disease-free.
In fact, Narrandera’s koalas are currently part of a landmark study being undertaken by the Koala Sentinel Program, which is assessing health, genetics, nutrition, habitat and ecology across six unique landscapes.
Where to see koalas in the wild
If you’ve always wanted to see koalas in the wild, Narrandera is one of the best places in NSW to bring that dream to life. Almost all of the local koalas live in the Flora and Fauna Reserve, which is 71 hectares of protected bushland just minutes from the centre of town.
The park is home to some accessible walking tracks that wind along the Murrumbidgee River on flat terrain. One of the most popular routes is the Koala Track, which follows the canal all the way to the Rocky Waterholes. This hidden gem is a great place to enjoy kayaking, paddleboarding and fishing while surrounded by gum trees – which are the primary habitat for koalas.
There’s a handy boat ramp so visitors can slip a kayak in and drift alongside the track, which is a great way to spot koalas. There’s toilet facilities and a barbecue area with picnic tables for lunch amongst nature, so it also makes for an inexpensive day out.
Further along in the reserve are the lovely sandy shores of First Beach and Second Beach. These river beaches are popular picnic spots, and visitors often notice koalas climbing from their perches to drink from the river. While koalas get most of their water from eucalyptus leaves, they will often rely on the river in warmer months.
Koalas are masters of camouflage, so keep an eye out for fresh scratch marks on tree trunks, small droppings beneath trees and a faint musky scent which emanates from male koalas.
Interestingly, the Flora and Fauna Reserve is a part of the longest continuous stretch of River Red Gum Forest in the world.
The iconic Koala Festival
To pack more koala-themed fun in, time your trip with Narrandera’s annual Koala Festival. Each spring,
the town is transformed into a cultural hub complete with guided bushwalks, koala habitat tours by train and kayak, expert talks, live music, artisan markets and even reptile encounters.
One of the festival highlights is the Koala Count, which has been held every year since 1989. It’s one of Australia’s longest-running citizen science events, where visitors are taken off the beaten track with knowledgeable locals to find and count the thriving koala population in the Flora and Fauna Reserve.
The festival is free to attend, with tours and workshops available to book online in advance. On the banks of the Murrumbidgee River, the spacious, dog-friendly and free camp site has loads of room for tents and caravans, with picnic areas, barbecues and toilet facilities for a comfortable stay.
Across the way is the reserve’s namesake – Oakbank Brewery, which officially closed in 1924 but is still a striking landmark surrounded by native bushland. The red brick tower rises ninety feet into the sky, making it one of Narrandera’s most recognisable historical landmarks.
The Koala Festival is also dedicated to honouring the Traditional Owners of the area in a series of cultural events that celebrate connection to community and Country.
In 2026, the festival will introduce a climate resilience workshop, focusing on how Aussies can protect koala populations by helping them to adapt to challenges such as heatwaves, floods and bushfires.
This year, the Koala Festival will run from 19-20 September.
To read more about the natural and historic attractions of Narrandera, click here.
Rex flies to Narrandera-Leeton. Book your tickets here and check out the route map below.
