List of Ramsar sites in Australia facts for kids

The official logo of the Ramsar Convention.

This page lists special natural areas in Australia called wetlands. These wetlands are so important that they are recognized by an international agreement called the Ramsar Convention. This agreement helps protect wetlands around the world.

Wetlands are places where water covers the land, like swamps, marshes, or lakes. They are super important for nature because they provide homes for many different plants and animals, especially birds. They also help clean water and protect against floods.

Australia joined the Ramsar Convention on December 21, 1975. As of early 2018, Australia has 66 Ramsar sites. These special wetlands cover a huge area, about 8.3 million hectares (that's over 20 million acres!).

How Australia Protects Ramsar Wetlands

The Australian government works hard to protect these important Ramsar wetlands. They use a special law called the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. This law makes sure that Australia follows the rules of the Ramsar Convention.

The law helps manage these wetlands in a few key ways:

• It sets rules for getting "environmental approvals" before any big projects can happen near a wetland.
• It explains how new wetlands can be added to the Ramsar list.
• It guides how the wetlands should be looked after. This includes talking to local communities and experts to get their ideas.
• It also makes sure that any activities that might harm a Ramsar wetland are carefully checked and approved. This helps keep these amazing places healthy for everyone.

Ramsar Wetlands in the Australian Capital Territory

Here are the Ramsar wetlands you can find in the Australian Capital Territory:

Ramsar Wetlands in New South Wales

These important wetlands are located in New South Wales:

Ramsar Wetlands of New South Wales

Name	Location	Coordinates	Area	Designated	Designation No.	Description	Image
Blue Lake	Kosciuszko National Park	36°24′S 148°19′E / 36.400°S 148.317°E / -36.400; 148.317 (Blue Lake)	320 hectares (790 acres)	17 March 1996 (1996-03-17)	RS800
Caryapundy Swamp	Narriearra Caryapundy Swamp National Park	29°15′S 142°31′E / 29.250°S 142.517°E / -29.250; 142.517 (Caryapundy Swamp)	70,176.2 hectares (173,409 acres)	17 December 2021 (2021-12-17)	RS2520
Fivebough and Tuckerbil Swamps	Riverina	34°30′S 146°23′E / 34.500°S 146.383°E / -34.500; 146.383 (Fivebough and Tuckerbil)	689 hectares (1,700 acres)	21 October 2002 (2002-10-21)	RS1224
Gwydir Wetlands	North West Slopes	34°30′S 146°23′E / 34.500°S 146.383°E / -34.500; 146.383 (Gwydir)	823 hectares (2,030 acres)	14 June 1999 (1999-06-14)	RS993
Hunter Estuary Wetlands	Newcastle	32°52′S 151°43′E / 32.867°S 151.717°E / -32.867; 151.717 (Hunter Estuary)	2,971 hectares (7,340 acres)	21 February 1984 (1984-02-21)	RS287
Little Llangothlin Lagoon	Northern Tablelands	30°05′S 151°47′E / 30.083°S 151.783°E / -30.083; 151.783 (Little Llangothlin Lagoon)	258 hectares (640 acres)	17 March 1996 (1996-03-17)	RS798
Lake Pinaroo	Sturt National Park, Far West	29°06′S 141°13′E / 29.100°S 141.217°E / -29.100; 141.217 (Lake Pinaroo)	800 hectares (2,000 acres)	17 March 1996 (1996-03-17)	RS799
Macquarie Marshes	North West Slopes	30°45′S 147°44′E / 30.750°S 147.733°E / -30.750; 147.733 (Macquarie Marshes)	18,726 hectares (46,270 acres)	1 August 1986 (1986-08-01)	RS337
Myall Lakes	Mid North Coast	32°30′S 152°17′E / 32.500°S 152.283°E / -32.500; 152.283 (Myall Lakes)	44,612 hectares (110,240 acres)	14 June 1999 (1999-06-14)	RS994
Narran Wetlands	North West Slopes	29°43′S 147°26′E / 29.717°S 147.433°E / -29.717; 147.433 (Narran Lake)	5,530 hectares (13,700 acres)	14 June 1999 (1999-06-14)	RS995
Central Murray Forests	Riverina	35°39′S 144°39′E / 35.650°S 144.650°E / -35.650; 144.650 (Central Murray Forests)	84,028 hectares (207,640 acres)	20 May 2003 (2003-05-20)	RS1291
Paroo River Wetlands	Far West	30°20′S 143°51′E / 30.333°S 143.850°E / -30.333; 143.850 (Paroo River)	138,304 hectares (341,760 acres)	13 September 2007 (2007-09-13)	RS1716
Towra Point Nature Reserve	Sutherland Shire, Sydney	34°00′S 151°10′E / 34.000°S 151.167°E / -34.000; 151.167 (Towra Point)	386 hectares (950 acres)	21 February 1984 (1984-02-21)	RS286

Ramsar Wetlands in the Northern Territory

The following wetlands are located in the Northern Territory:

Ramsar Wetlands of the Northern Territory

Name	Location	Coordinates	Area	Designated	Designation No.	Description	Image
Cobourg Peninsula	Garig Gunak Barlu National Park	11°15′S 132°15′E / 11.250°S 132.250°E / -11.250; 132.250 (Cobourg Peninsula)	220,700 hectares (545,000 acres)	8 May 1974 (1974-05-08)	RS1
Kakadu National Park (Stage 1)	Alligator Rivers, Kakadu National Park	12°40′S 132°45′E / 12.667°S 132.750°E / -12.667; 132.750 (Kakadu 1)	683,000 hectares (1,690,000 acres)	12 June 1980 (1980-06-12)	RS204
Kakadu National Park (Stage 2)		12°30′S 132°30′E / 12.500°S 132.500°E / -12.500; 132.500 (Kakadu 2)	692,940 hectares (1,712,300 acres)	15 September 1989 (1989-09-15)	RS441

Ramsar Wetlands in Queensland

The following wetlands are located in Queensland:

Ramsar Wetlands of Queensland

Name	Location	Coordinates	Area	Designated	Designation No.	Description	Image
Bowling Green Bay	North Queensland	19°27′S 147°15′E / 19.450°S 147.250°E / -19.450; 147.250 (Bowling Green Bay)	35,500 hectares (88,000 acres)	22 October 1993 (1993-10-22)	RS632
Currawinya Lakes	South West Queensland	28°45′S 144°19′E / 28.750°S 144.317°E / -28.750; 144.317 (Currawinya Lakes)	151,300 hectares (374,000 acres)	11 March 1996 (1996-03-11)	RS791
Great Sandy Strait	Wide Bay–Burnett	25°28′S 152°54′E / 25.467°S 152.900°E / -25.467; 152.900 (Great Sandy Strait)	93,160 hectares (230,200 acres)	14 June 1999 (1999-06-14)	RS992
Moreton Bay	South East Queensland	27°20′S 153°10′E / 27.333°S 153.167°E / -27.333; 153.167 (Moreton Bay)	113,314 hectares (280,000 acres)	22 October 1993 (1993-10-22)	RS631
Shoalwater and Corio Bays	Central Queensland	22°40′S 150°17′E / 22.667°S 150.283°E / -22.667; 150.283 (Shoalwater Bay)	239,100 hectares (591,000 acres)	11 March 1996 (1996-03-11)	RS792

Ramsar Wetlands in South Australia

The following wetlands are located in South Australia:

Ramsar Wetlands of South Australia

Name	Location	Coordinates	Area	Designated	Designation No.	Description	Image
Banrock Station Wetland Complex	Riverland	34°11′S 140°20′E / 34.183°S 140.333°E / -34.183; 140.333 (Banrock Station Wetland Complex)	1,375 hectares (3,400 acres)	21 October 2002 (2002-10-21)	RS1221
Bool and Hacks Lagoons	Limestone Coast	37°08′S 140°41′E / 37.133°S 140.683°E / -37.133; 140.683 (Bool and Hacks Lagoons)	3,200 hectares (7,900 acres)	1 November 1985 (1985-11-01)	RS322
Coongie Lakes	Lake Eyre Basin	27°27′S 140°00′E / 27.450°S 140.000°E / -27.450; 140.000 (Coongie Lakes)	1,980,000 hectares (4,900,000 acres)	1 June 1987 (1987-06-01)	RS376
Coorong and Lakes Alexandrina and Albert Wetland	Lake Alexandrina	35°56′S 139°18′E / 35.933°S 139.300°E / -35.933; 139.300 (The Coorong and Lakes Alexandrina and Albert Wetland)	140,500 hectares (347,000 acres)	1 November 1985 (1985-11-01)	RS321
Piccaninnie Ponds Karst Wetlands	Limestone Coast	38°3′3″S 140°56′11″E / 38.05083°S 140.93639°E / -38.05083; 140.93639 (Piccaninnie Ponds Karst Wetlands)	862 hectares (2,130 acres)	21 December 2012 (2012-12-21)	RS2136
Riverland Ramsar site	Riverland	34°02′S 140°51′E / 34.033°S 140.850°E / -34.033; 140.850 (Riverland)	30,600 hectares (76,000 acres)	23 September 1987 (1987-09-23)	RS377

Ramsar Wetlands in Tasmania

The following wetlands are located in Tasmania:

Ramsar Wetlands of Tasmania

Name	Location	Coordinates	Area	Designated	Designation No.	Description	Image
Apsley Marshes	Freycinet Peninsula	41°56′S 148°12′E / 41.933°S 148.200°E / -41.933; 148.200 (Apsley Marshes)	880 hectares (2,200 acres)	16 November 1982 (1982-11-16)	RS255
Cape Barren Island, east coast lagoons	Furneaux Group	40°22′S 148°23′E / 40.367°S 148.383°E / -40.367; 148.383 (Cape Barren Island)	4,370 hectares (10,800 acres)	16 November 1982 (1982-11-16)	RS255
Interlaken Lakeside Reserve	Central Highlands	42°09′S 147°10′E / 42.150°S 147.167°E / -42.150; 147.167 (Interlaken Lakeside)	520 hectares (1,300 acres)	16 November 1982 (1982-11-16)	RS259
Jocks Lagoon	St Helens	41°21′S 148°18′E / 41.350°S 148.300°E / -41.350; 148.300 (Jocks Lagoon)	18 hectares (44 acres)	16 November 1982 (1982-11-16)	RS258
Lavinia	King Island	39°45′S 144°05′E / 39.750°S 144.083°E / -39.750; 144.083 (Lavinia)	7,020 hectares (17,300 acres)	16 November 1982 (1982-11-16)	RS253
Little Waterhouse Lake	North East	40°52′S 147°37′E / 40.867°S 147.617°E / -40.867; 147.617 (Little Waterhouse Lake)	57 hectares (140 acres)	16 November 1982 (1982-11-16)	RS260
Logan Lagoon	Flinders Island, Furneaux Group	40°10′S 148°17′E / 40.167°S 148.283°E / -40.167; 148.283 (Logan Lagoon)	2,320 hectares (5,700 acres)	16 November 1982 (1982-11-16)	RS252
Lower Ringarooma River	North East	40°54′S 147°56′E / 40.900°S 147.933°E / -40.900; 147.933 (Lower Ringarooma River)	4,160 hectares (10,300 acres)	16 November 1982 (1982-11-16)	RS257
Moulting Lagoon Nature Reserve	Freycinet Peninsula	42°05′S 148°10′E / 42.083°S 148.167°E / -42.083; 148.167 (Moulting Lagoon)	4,580 hectares (11,300 acres)	16 November 1982 (1982-11-16)	RS251
Pittwater-Orielton Lagoon	Southern Tasmania	42°48′S 147°30′E / 42.800°S 147.500°E / -42.800; 147.500 (Pittwater-Orielton Lagoon)	3,175 hectares (7,850 acres)	16 November 1982 (1982-11-16)	RS254

Ramsar Wetlands in Victoria

The following wetlands are located in Victoria:

Ramsar Wetlands of Victoria

Name	Location	Coordinates	Area	Designated	Designation No.	Description	Image
Barmah Forest	Goulburn Valley, Hume	35°55′S 145°08′E / 35.917°S 145.133°E / -35.917; 145.133 (Barmah Forest)	28,515 hectares (70,460 acres)	15 December 1982 (1982-12-15)	RS262
Corner Inlet	South Gippsland	38°45′S 146°32′E / 38.750°S 146.533°E / -38.750; 146.533 (Corner Inlet)	67,186 hectares (166,020 acres)	15 December 1982 (1982-12-15)	RS261
Glenelg Estuary and Discovery Bay Ramsar Site	Glenelg Shire	38°05′S 141°07′E / 38.083°S 141.117°E / -38.083; 141.117 (Glenelg Estuary and Discovery Bay Ramsar Site)	22,289 hectares (55,080 acres)	28 February 2018 (2018-02-28)	RS2344
Edithvale-Seaford Wetlands	Port Phillip	38°04′S 145°07′E / 38.067°S 145.117°E / -38.067; 145.117 (Edithvale-Seaford)	261 hectares (640 acres)	29 August 2001 (2001-08-29)	RS1096
Gippsland Lakes	East Gippsland	38°00′S 147°36′E / 38.000°S 147.600°E / -38.000; 147.600 (Gippsland Lakes)	60,015 hectares (148,300 acres)	15 December 1982 (1982-12-15)	RS269
Gunbower Forest		35°49′S 144°19′E / 35.817°S 144.317°E / -35.817; 144.317 (Gunbower Forest)	19,931 hectares (49,250 acres)	15 December 1982 (1982-12-15)	RS263
Hattah-Kulkyne Lakes	Murray Mallee	34°41′S 142°26′E / 34.683°S 142.433°E / -34.683; 142.433 (Hattah-Kulkyne Lakes)	955 hectares (2,360 acres)	15 December 1982 (1982-12-15)	RS264
Kerang Wetlands	Murray Mallee	35°40′S 143°56′E / 35.667°S 143.933°E / -35.667; 143.933 (Kerang)	9,419 hectares (23,270 acres)	15 December 1982 (1982-12-15)	RS265
Lake Albacutya	Wimmera	35°46′S 141°58′E / 35.767°S 141.967°E / -35.767; 141.967 (Lake Albacutya)	5,731 hectares (14,160 acres)	15 December 1982 (1982-12-15)	RS270
Port Phillip Bay and Bellarine Peninsula	Port Phillip, Bellarine Peninsula	38°04′S 144°36′E / 38.067°S 144.600°E / -38.067; 144.600 (Port Phillip and Bellarine)	22,897 hectares (56,580 acres)	15 December 1982 (1982-12-15)	RS266
Western District Lakes	Western District	38°10′S 143°31′E / 38.167°S 143.517°E / -38.167; 143.517 (Western District Lakes)	32,898 hectares (81,290 acres)	15 December 1982 (1982-12-15)	RS268
Western Port Bay	Western Port	38°22′S 145°17′E / 38.367°S 145.283°E / -38.367; 145.283 (Western Port)	59,297 hectares (146,530 acres)	15 December 1982 (1982-12-15)	RS267

Ramsar Wetlands in Western Australia

The following wetlands are located in Western Australia:

Ramsar Wetlands of Western Australia

Name	Location	Coordinates	Area	Designated	Designation No.	Description	Image
Becher Point Wetlands	Swan Coastal Plain	32°23′S 115°44′E / 32.383°S 115.733°E / -32.383; 115.733 (Becher Point)	677 hectares (1,670 acres)	5 January 2001 (2001-01-05)	RS1048
Eighty Mile Beach	Kimberley	19°31′S 120°40′E / 19.517°S 120.667°E / -19.517; 120.667 (Eighty Mile Beach)	125,000 hectares (310,000 acres)	7 June 1990 (1990-06-07)	RS480
Forrestdale and Thomsons Lakes	Swan Coastal Plain	32°09′S 115°52′E / 32.150°S 115.867°E / -32.150; 115.867 (Forrestdale and Thomsons)	754 hectares (1,860 acres)	7 June 1990 (1990-06-07)	RS481
Lake Gore	Goldfields-Esperance	33°47′S 121°29′E / 33.783°S 121.483°E / -33.783; 121.483 (Lake Gore)	4,017 hectares (9,930 acres)	5 January 2001 (2001-01-05)	RS1049
Lake Warden System	Goldfields-Esperance	33°48′S 121°56′E / 33.800°S 121.933°E / -33.800; 121.933 (Lake Warden)	2,300 hectares (5,700 acres)	7 June 1990 (1990-06-07)	RS485
Lakes Argyle and Kununurra	Kimberley	16°19′S 128°44′E / 16.317°S 128.733°E / -16.317; 128.733 (Lakes Argyle and Kununurra)	150,000 hectares (370,000 acres)	7 June 1990 (1990-06-07)	RS478
Muir-Byenup System	South West	34°29′S 116°43′E / 34.483°S 116.717°E / -34.483; 116.717 (Lake Muir)	10,631 hectares (26,270 acres)	5 January 2001 (2001-01-05)	RS1050
Ord River Floodplain	Kimberley	15°15′S 128°22′E / 15.250°S 128.367°E / -15.250; 128.367 (Ord River)	141,453 hectares (349,540 acres)	7 June 1990 (1990-06-07)	RS477
Peel-Yalgorup System	Swan Coastal Plain	32°49′S 115°42′E / 32.817°S 115.700°E / -32.817; 115.700 (Peel-Yalgorup)	26,530 hectares (65,600 acres)	7 June 1990 (1990-06-07)	RS482
Roebuck Bay	Kimberley	18°07′S 122°16′E / 18.117°S 122.267°E / -18.117; 122.267 (Roebuck Bay)	55,000 hectares (140,000 acres)	7 June 1990 (1990-06-07)	RS479
Toolibin Lake	Wheatbelt	32°55′S 117°36′E / 32.917°S 117.600°E / -32.917; 117.600 (Toolibin Lake)	493 hectares (1,220 acres)	7 June 1990 (1990-06-07)	RS483
Vasse-Wonnerup System	South West	33°37′S 115°25′E / 33.617°S 115.417°E / -33.617; 115.417 (Vasse-Wonnerup)	1,115 hectares (2,760 acres)	7 June 1990 (1990-06-07)	RS484

Ramsar Wetlands in External Territories

These wetlands are located in Australia's External territories, which are islands far away from the mainland:

Ramsar Wetlands of the External Territories

Name	Location	Coordinates	Area	Designated	Designation No.	Description	Image
Ashmore Reef National Nature Reserve	Ashmore and Cartier Islands	12°15′S 123°02′E / 12.250°S 123.033°E / -12.250; 123.033 (Ashmore and Cartier Islands)	58,300 hectares (144,000 acres)	21 October 2002 (2002-10-21)	RS1220
Coral Sea Reserves (Coringa-Herald and Lihou Reef and Cays)	Coral Sea Islands Territory	17°04′S 150°39′E / 17.067°S 150.650°E / -17.067; 150.650 (Coral Sea)	1,729,200 hectares (4,273,000 acres)	21 October 2002 (2002-10-21)	RS1222
The Dales	Christmas Island	10°28′S 105°33′E / 10.467°S 105.550°E / -10.467; 105.550 (The Dales)	57 hectares (140 acres)	21 October 2002 (2002-10-21)	RS1225
Elizabeth and Middleton Reefs Marine National Nature Reserve	Coral Sea Islands Territory	29°41′S 159°06′E / 29.683°S 159.100°E / -29.683; 159.100 (Elizabeth and Middleton Reefs)	188,000 hectares (460,000 acres)	21 October 2002 (2002-10-21)	RS1223
Hosnies Spring	Christmas Island	10°28′S 105°41′E / 10.467°S 105.683°E / -10.467; 105.683 (Hosnies Spring)	1 hectare (2.5 acres)	11 December 1990 (1990-12-11)	RS512
Pulu Keeling National Park	Cocos (Keeling) Islands	11°50′S 96°49′E / 11.833°S 96.817°E / -11.833; 96.817 (Pulu Keeling)	122 hectares (300 acres)	17 March 1996 (1996-03-17)	RS797

See also

In Spanish: Anexo:Sitios Ramsar en Australia para niños

• List of Ramsar sites worldwide
• A Directory of Important Wetlands in Australia