Fishing in Gunbower National Park

Gunbower National Park sits in northern Victoria along the Murray River, where the floodplain opens into one of the largest river red gum forests in Australia.

The park covers Gunbower Island — the land between the Murray and Gunbower Creek — and the water here is the defining feature: slow, tannin-stained channels, backwaters, and the main river itself.

The Murray River forms the northern boundary of the park and carries the fishing that most people come for. It functions as a breeding ground for Murray Cod and Golden Perch, two species that define freshwater angling in this part of the country.

Gunbower Creek runs along the southern edge of the island, a quieter, more intimate water than the main river but connected to the same system and holding the same native species.

One licensing detail worth knowing before you go: the Murray River here sits on the Victorian–New South Wales border, and a current NSW Freshwater Recreation Fishing Licence is required to fish it.

Check with the relevant authority for current requirements before you head out, as rules can change. Basic bush camping is available within the park, which makes multi-day trips along the river practical without needing to commute from town each morning.

Access to the water varies — some areas suit bank fishing, others are better approached by boat. The fish, the forest, and the pace of the place are all of a piece. This is not water that rewards impatience, but it does reward time spent learning it.