List of islands within the Murray River in South Australia facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

The Murray River is Australia's longest river, and it flows through South Australia before reaching the ocean. Along its path, especially near its mouth and in the lakes it connects to, you can find many interesting islands! This list will take you on a journey to discover these islands, from the river's end at Encounter Bay all the way to where South Australia meets New South Wales and Victoria. We'll also explore islands in the nearby lakes: the Coorong, Lake Albert, and Lake Alexandrina.

Aerial view of Lakes Albert and Alexandrina, showing where the river meets the lakes.

Islands in the Coorong
Islands in Lake Albert
Islands in Lake Alexandrina
Islands from Wellington to Morgan
Islands from Morgan to the Border
Images for kids
See also

Islands in the Coorong

The Coorong is a long, shallow lagoon system that runs parallel to the coast, connected to the Murray River mouth. It's a special place, and all the islands listed here are part of the Coorong National Park, protecting their unique environment. The islands are listed from west to east.

Name	Location	Fun Facts
Sam Island	35°44′42″S 139°14′31″E / 35.74496787°S 139.24189437°E / -35.74496787; 139.24189437 (Sam Island)
Needles Island	35°50′39″S 139°21′17″E / 35.84407827°S 139.35480084°E / -35.84407827; 139.35480084 (Needles Island)
Goat Island	35°50′50″S 139°20′52″E / 35.84723052°S 139.34768843°E / -35.84723052; 139.34768843 (Goat Island)
Snake Island	35°51′02″S 139°21′57″E / 35.850670°S 139.365840°E / -35.850670; 139.365840 (Snake Island)
Rabbit Island	35°51′37″S 139°22′42″E / 35.860210°S 139.3784°E / -35.860210; 139.3784 (Rabbit Island)
Bluff Island	35°53′03″S 139°23′22″E / 35.884060°S 139.3895°E / -35.884060; 139.3895 (Bluff Island)
Bull Island	35°54′56″S 139°25′18″E / 35.915620°S 139.421670°E / -35.915620; 139.421670 (Bull Island)
Cow Island	35°55′52″S 139°27′03″E / 35.93104990°S 139.45079703°E / -35.93104990; 139.45079703 (Cow Island)
Long Island	35°56′08″S 139°27′27″E / 35.935640°S 139.457560°E / -35.935640; 139.457560 (Long Island)
Round Island	35°56′28″S 139°27′44″E / 35.941030°S 139.462180°E / -35.941030; 139.462180 (Round Island)
Swan Island	35°56′40″S 139°28′09″E / 35.944510°S 139.469190°E / -35.944510; 139.469190 (Swan Island)
Stony Well Island	35°57′44″S 139°29′28″E / 35.962280°S 139.491090°E / -35.962280; 139.491090 (Stony Well Island)
Cattle Island	36°00′25″S 139°32′04″E / 36.00705859°S 139.53448578°E / -36.00705859; 139.53448578 (Cattle Island)
Teal Island	36°02′13″S 139°33′30″E / 36.036880°S 139.558470°E / -36.036880; 139.558470 (Teal Island)
North Pelican Island	36°02′40″S 139°33′31″E / 36.04435402°S 139.55871543°E / -36.04435402; 139.55871543 (North Pelican Island)
Halfway Island	36°03′06″S 139°34′01″E / 36.05166457°S 139.56690284°E / -36.05166457; 139.56690284 (Halfway Island)
Pelican Island	36°03′27″S 139°33′48″E / 36.057460°S 139.563460°E / -36.057460; 139.563460 (Pelican Island)
Mellor Island	36°04′06″S 139°34′30″E / 36.068370°S 139.574870°E / -36.068370; 139.574870 (Mellor Island)
Seagull Island	36°05′03″S 139°35′25″E / 36.084270°S 139.590410°E / -36.084270; 139.590410 (Seagull Island)
Wild Dog Island	36°07′24″S 139°37′41″E / 36.123280°S 139.627990°E / -36.123280; 139.627990 (Wild Dog Island)

Islands in Lake Albert

Lake Albert is a freshwater lake connected to Lake Alexandrina. It has one main island.

Name	Location	Fun Facts
Bascombe Island	35°43′35″S 139°15′49″E / 35.72648039°S 139.26348163°E / -35.72648039; 139.26348163 (Bascombe Island)	This island is found in a bay at the southern end of the lake, called Bascombe Bay.

Islands in Lake Alexandrina

Lake Alexandrina is a large freshwater lake where the Murray River spreads out before reaching the ocean. Many islands are found here, especially near the southern end.

Name	Location	Fun Facts
Goose Island	35°29′30″S 138°49′53″E / 35.49172152°S 138.83152770°E / -35.49172152; 138.83152770 (Goose Island)	This island was covered by water when barrages (special dams) were built in the 1930s to control water levels. It's part of the Currency Creek Game Reserve.
Billygoat Islands	35°29′18″S 138°50′11″E / 35.48844308°S 138.83643637°E / -35.48844308; 138.83643637 (Billygoat Islands)	This is a group of small islands. Many of them were also covered by water after the barrages were built. They are also within the Currency Creek Game Reserve.
Reedy Island	35°31′53″S 138°50′39″E / 35.531270°S 138.844230°E / -35.531270; 138.844230 (Reedy Island)	Located in the Goolwa Channel, south of Hindmarsh Island, and within the Coorong National Park.
Rushy Island	35°32′08″S 138°50′59″E / 35.535440°S 138.849680°E / -35.535440; 138.849680 (Rushy Island)	Also in the Goolwa Channel, south of Hindmarsh Island, and part of the Coorong National Park.
Hindmarsh Island	35°30′58″S 138°52′34″E / 35.51618332°S 138.87616566°E / -35.51618332; 138.87616566 (Hindmarsh Island)	This is a well-known island in the lake.
Bird Island	35°33′10″S 138°53′44″E / 35.55288311°S 138.89542664°E / -35.55288311; 138.89542664 (Bird Island)	Found in the Coorong Channel, south of Hindmarsh Island, and within the Coorong National Park. It's also known as Gull Island.
Varcoe Island	35°32′31″S 138°54′04″E / 35.541960°S 138.901010°E / -35.541960; 138.901010 (Varcoe Island)	Located in the Mundoo Channel, between Hindmarsh and Mundoo Islands.
Lucerne Island	35°31′54″S 138°55′31″E / 35.53156940°S 138.92519926°E / -35.53156940; 138.92519926 (Lucerne Island)
Mundoo Island	35°32′47″S 138°56′02″E / 35.546510°S 138.9339°E / -35.546510; 138.9339 (Mundoo Island)
Goose Island	35°30′05″S 138°56′09″E / 35.50127164°S 138.93570995°E / -35.50127164; 138.93570995 (Goose Island)	Located east of the town of Clayton Bay.
Goat Island	35°30′15″S 138°56′37″E / 35.504110°S 138.943560°E / -35.504110; 138.943560 (Goat Island)	Also located east of Clayton Bay.
Ewe Island	35°33′23″S 138°56′49″E / 35.556260°S 138.947020°E / -35.556260; 138.947020 (Ewe Island)	In 1877, this island and Long Island were thought to be one island called Reedy Island.
Rat Island	35°31′13″S 138°57′33″E / 35.520140°S 138.959110°E / -35.520140; 138.959110 (Rat Island)	Sometimes called Ram Island.
Long Island	35°32′15″S 138°59′06″E / 35.537480°S 138.98487346°E / -35.537480; 138.98487346 (Long Island)	Also known as Ram Island and Grindstone Island. Like Ewe Island, it was once considered part of a larger Reedy Island.
Tauwitchere Island	35°34′28″S 138°59′22″E / 35.574560°S 138.989540°E / -35.574560; 138.989540 (Tauwitchere Island)	This island has an area of about 144 hectares (356 acres). It's also known by names like Towagery and Talwadjeri Island.
Myrtle Island	35°34′08″S 138°59′32″E / 35.5689°S 138.992280°E / -35.5689; 138.992280 (Myrtle Island)	Found within the Mud Islands Game Reserve.
Snake Island	35°33′41″S 138°59′49″E / 35.56143004°S 138.99698025°E / -35.56143004; 138.99698025 (Snake Island)
Mud Island	35°33′51″S 139°00′43″E / 35.564130°S 139.011910°E / -35.564130; 139.011910 (Mud Island)	This island is about 17 hectares (43 acres) and is part of the Mud Island Game Reserve.
Reedy Island No 2	35°33′22″S 139°00′43″E / 35.5560°S 139.012070°E / -35.5560; 139.012070 (Reedy Island No 2)
Pomanda Island	35°24′58″S 139°18′29″E / 35.41600826°S 139.30799221°E / -35.41600826; 139.30799221 (Pomanda Island)	Located just south of where the Murray River flows into Lake Alexandrina.

Islands from Wellington to Morgan

This section lists islands found in the main channel of the Murray River, moving from the town of Wellington north to the town of Morgan.

Name	Location	Fun Facts
Miss Gawler Island	35°08′50″S 139°18′35″E / 35.14728707°S 139.30978°E / -35.14728707; 139.30978 (Miss Gawler Island)	This island is located southeast of Murray Bridge and sits right under the Swanport Bridge.
Long Island	35°07′48″S 139°17′59″E / 35.130070°S 139.299730°E / -35.130070; 139.299730 (Long Island)	This island is directly opposite Murray Bridge and is part of the Long Island Recreation Park. The Ngarrindjeri people, who are the traditional owners of this land, consider this island to be very important culturally.
Nott Island	34°22′44″S 139°37′30″E / 34.37875552°S 139.62503174°E / -34.37875552; 139.62503174 (Nott Island)	Located about 3 kilometers (2 miles) south of the town of Blanchetown.
Reedy Island	34°17′43″S 139°38′12″E / 34.29535698°S 139.63662083°E / -34.29535698; 139.63662083 (Reedy Island)	About 7 kilometers (4 miles) north of Blanchetown, it's across the river from the Roonka Conservation Park and just south of Julia Island.
Julia Island	34°17′30″S 139°38′24″E / 34.291560°S 139.639870°E / -34.291560; 139.639870 (Julia Island)	Right next to Reedy Island and also across the river from the Roonka Conservation Park.

Islands from Morgan to the Border

This section covers islands in the Murray River channel from the town of Morgan all the way to the borders with New South Wales and Victoria.

Name	Location	Fun Facts
Hart Island	34°10′33″S 140°03′17″E / 34.17590386°S 140.05461270°E / -34.17590386; 140.05461270 (Hart Island)	East of Waikerie. It used to be called Wigleys Island and has been known by its current name since at least 1888, possibly named after a pastoralist (someone who raises livestock) named J. Hart.
Sandy Island	34°10′57″S 140°05′04″E / 34.182510°S 140.084360°E / -34.182510; 140.084360 (Sandy Island)	This island was shown on an atlas from 1877, but as of 2015, it wasn't on "current mapping."
Ball Island	34°10′59″S 140°20′27″E / 34.183180°S 140.340790°E / -34.183180; 140.340790 (Ball Island)
Thurk Island	34°13′05″S 140°22′02″E / 34.21804118°S 140.36710836°E / -34.21804118; 140.36710836 (Thurk Island)	East of Kingston-on-Murray and across from the Loch Luna Game Reserve. It was once known as Chambers Island.
Moorook Island	34°17′13″S 140°22′12″E / 34.28693766°S 140.36996279°E / -34.28693766; 140.36996279 (Moorook Island)	Located opposite the town of Moorook. Also known as Moorook Isle or Moorik Isle.
Nynes Island	34°19′58″S 140°23′11″E / 34.33285356°S 140.38643302°E / -34.33285356; 140.38643302 (Nynes Island)	Previously known as Pyap Island.
Forbys Island	34°26′36″S 140°30′00″E / 34.44320925°S 140.50006195°E / -34.44320925; 140.50006195 (Forbys Island)
Katarapko Island	34°24′20″S 140°33′22″E / 34.40566248°S 140.55608657°E / -34.40566248; 140.55608657 (Kataropko Island)	This island is part of the Murray River National Park. It used to be called Cragg Island.
Kapunda Island	34°26′54″S 140°33′36″E / 34.44846740°S 140.55998258°E / -34.44846740; 140.55998258 (Kapunda Island)	Located northwest of Loxton and within the Kapunda Island Conservation Park. In 1994, it was reported to be about 1 hectare (2.5 acres) in size and only reachable by boat.
Rilli Island	34°23′37″S 140°34′40″E / 34.39356053°S 140.57769733°E / -34.39356053; 140.57769733 (Rilli Island)	Part of the Rilli Island Conservation Park. It was also known as Riley Island. In 1994, it was about 4 hectares (10 acres) and usually only accessible by boat, unless the river was very low, then you could walk to it from the south bank.
Media Island	34°25′46″S 140°35′17″E / 34.429540°S 140.588180°E / -34.429540; 140.588180 (Media Island)	Southeast of Loxton and within the Media Island Conservation Park. It was called Medea Island. In 1994, it was about 1 hectare (2.5 acres) and also mostly accessible by boat, or by foot during low river flows.
Punkey Island	34°15′15″S 140°42′24″E / 34.25412471°S 140.70654564°E / -34.25412471; 140.70654564 (Punkey Island)	Also known as Penky Island.
Cemlell Island	34°14′20″S 140°42′27″E / 34.238870°S 140.707420°E / -34.238870; 140.707420 (Cumlell Island)	Also known as Gumlell Island.
Muklemuk Island	34°14′11″S 140°43′52″E / 34.236460°S 140.731150°E / -34.236460; 140.731150 (Muklemuk Island)	Also known as Muckle Muk Island.
Reny Island	34°03′33″S 140°44′09″E / 34.05910722°S 140.73577007°E / -34.05910722; 140.73577007 (Reny Island)
Nelbuck Island	34°06′05″S 140°44′47″E / 34.10144157°S 140.74633239°E / -34.10144157; 140.74633239 (Nelbuck Island)	This island is next to Bulyong Island and was officially named in 1996 by the Minister of Environment.
Nelwart Island	34°12′55″S 140°44′56″E / 34.215280°S 140.749°E / -34.215280; 140.749 (Nelwort Island)	Also called Nelwart Island.
Goat Island	34°11′14″S 140°45′08″E / 34.18720150°S 140.75220533°E / -34.18720150; 140.75220533 (Goat Island)
Bulyong Island	34°07′21″S 140°45′51″E / 34.122540°S 140.764160°E / -34.122540; 140.764160 (Bulyong Island)	This island is part of the Murray River National Park.
Kylie Island	34°08′12″S 140°45′51″E / 34.13679281°S 140.76420893°E / -34.13679281; 140.76420893 (Kylie Island)	Its name comes from the last name of the people who owned the land.
Causeway Island	34°10′08″S 140°45′56″E / 34.168880°S 140.765420°E / -34.168880; 140.765420 (Causeway Island)
Longwang Island	34°08′53″S 140°46′15″E / 34.14815204°S 140.77084040°E / -34.14815204; 140.77084040 (Longwang Island)
Sandy Island	34°15′20″S 140°47′34″E / 34.255650°S 140.7927°E / -34.255650; 140.7927 (Sandy Island)	Also known as Sandy Ridge.
Hunchee Island	34°03′07″S 140°47′36″E / 34.051840°S 140.7933°E / -34.051840; 140.7933 (Hunchee Island)
Little Hunchee Island	34°01′57″S 140°49′28″E / 34.03257899°S 140.82436519°E / -34.03257899; 140.82436519 (Little Hunchee Island)	Part of the Chowilla Game Reserve.
Chowilla Island	33°59′19″S 140°52′44″E / 33.98870183°S 140.87895483°E / -33.98870183; 140.87895483 (Chowilla Island)	Located within the Chowilla Game Reserve.
Monoman Island	33°59′19″S 140°52′44″E / 33.98870183°S 140.87895483°E / -33.98870183; 140.87895483 (Monoman Island)	Also located within the Chowilla Game Reserve.
Reedy Island	33°57′51″S 140°54′15″E / 33.964280°S 140.9043°E / -33.964280; 140.9043 (Reedy Island)	Found within the Chowilla Game Reserve.
Boat Creek Island	33°57′09″S 140°54′45″E / 33.952530°S 140.912580°E / -33.952530; 140.912580 (Boat Creek Island)	Located within the Chowilla Game Reserve.
Slaney Island	33°57′00″S 140°55′51″E / 33.949990°S 140.930850°E / -33.949990; 140.930850 (Slaney Island)	Part of the Chowilla Game Reserve. Also known as Stanley Island.
Newena Island	33°57′44″S 140°55′55″E / 33.96218883°S 140.93196606°E / -33.96218883; 140.93196606 (Newena Island)	Located within the Chowilla Game Reserve; also called the Isle of Man.
Punkah Island	33°56′45″S 140°58′04″E / 33.945940°S 140.967860°E / -33.945940; 140.967860 (Punkah Island)	Found within the Chowilla Game Reserve.
Wilpena Island	33°59′50″S 140°59′00″E / 33.99718402°S 140.98329388°E / -33.99718402; 140.98329388 (Wilpena Island)	Located within the Chowilla Game Reserve.
Grand Junction Island	33°58′50″S 140°59′22″E / 33.980640°S 140.989340°E / -33.980640; 140.989340 (Grand Junction Island)	Part of the Chowilla Game Reserve.
Hypurna Island	34°00′12″S 140°59′57″E / 34.00344271°S 140.99915737°E / -34.00344271; 140.99915737 (Hypurna Island)	This island is partly in the Chowilla Game Reserve and also sits right on the border with New South Wales.

Images for kids

Aerial view from the east showing island system adjoining Murray Mouth including locations of barrages (State Library of South Australia - PRG-1258/2/546)
Aerial photo of Goolwa, South Australia with Hindmarsh Island on the left side of image
Pomanda Island (at bottom of image)
Cattle grazing at Long Island, circa 1900 (State Library of South Australia (B 26826)
Aerial view of Murray Bridge from the south including the north end of Long Island, circa 1920 (State Library of South Australia B 11533)
Miss Gawler Island is located below the Swanport Bridge
Hunchee Island viewed from Headings Cliff on the opposite of the Murray River.
Katarapko Island as viewed from Loxton.
View of Punkah Creek showing both Punkah Island and the mainland.