List of Ramsar sites in Australia


This is a list of wetlands in Australia that are designated by the Ramsar Convention as sites of international importance. Under the Convention, the wetlands are considered as being of significant value not only for the Australian community, but for humanity as a whole.
The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands came into force for Australia on. As of 28 February 2018, Australia has 66 sites designated as Wetlands of International Importance, with a total area of.

Management of Ramsar wetlands in the Australian jurisdiction

The management of Ramsar sites listed within Australia is controlled at national level by the Australian government via the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 and its accompanying regulations, the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Regulations 2000.
The Act, as of 2015, lists the principles required for meeting treaty obligations in respect to “wetlands of international importance” including “environmental approvals”, the prerequisites for the making of both “declarations” and “bilateral agreements”, the approval process, “strategic assessments”, and the management approach.
The applicable regulation lists three requirements as of 2015. Firstly, a set of general principles for management is described including the need for "public consultation," the involvement of parties with an interest and/or who may be affected by the management of wetland, as well as allowing for "continuing community and technical input." Secondly, the requirements for the management plan to be prepared for each listed wetland are described. Thirdly, the requirements for the “environmental impact assessment and approval" are described for parties wishing to undertake activities that are likely to have "a significant impact on the ecological character of a Ramsar wetland."

Australian Capital Territory

The following wetlands are located in the Australian Capital Territory:
NameLocationCoordinatesAreaDesignatedDesignation No.DescriptionImage
Ginini Flats Subalpine Bog ComplexNamadgi National ParkRS793

New South Wales

The following wetlands are located in New South Wales:
NameLocationCoordinatesAreaDesignatedDesignation No.DescriptionImage
Blue LakeKosciuszko National ParkRS800
Fivebough and Tuckerbil SwampsRiverinaRS1224
Gwydir WetlandsNorth West SlopesRS993
Hunter Estuary WetlandsRS287
Little Llangothlin LagoonNorthern TablelandsRS798
Lake PinarooSturt National Park, Far WestRS799
Macquarie MarshesNorth West SlopesRS337
Myall LakesMid North CoastRS994
Narran WetlandsNorth West SlopesRS995
Central Murray ForestsRiverinaRS1291
Paroo River WetlandsFar WestRS1716
Towra Point Nature ReserveSutherland Shire, SydneyRS286

Northern Territory

The following wetlands are located in the Northern Territory:
NameLocationCoordinatesAreaDesignatedDesignation No.DescriptionImage
Cobourg PeninsulaGarig Gunak Barlu National ParkRS1
Kakadu National Park Alligator Rivers,
Kakadu National Park		RS204
Kakadu National Park Alligator Rivers,
Kakadu National Park		RS441

Queensland

The following wetlands are located in Queensland:
NameLocationCoordinatesAreaDesignatedDesignation No.DescriptionImage
Bowling Green BayNorth QueenslandRS632
Currawinya LakesSouth West QueenslandRS791
Great Sandy StraitWide Bay–BurnettRS992
Moreton BaySouth East QueenslandRS631
Shoalwater and Corio BaysCentral QueenslandRS792

South Australia

The following wetlands are located in South Australia:
NameLocationCoordinatesAreaDesignatedDesignation No.DescriptionImage
Banrock Station Wetland ComplexRiverlandRS1221
Bool and Hacks LagoonsLimestone CoastRS322
Coongie LakesLake Eyre BasinRS376
Coorong and Lakes Alexandrina and Albert WetlandLake AlexandrinaRS321
Piccaninnie Ponds Karst WetlandsLimestone CoastRS2136
RiverlandRiverlandRS377

Tasmania

The following wetlands are located in Tasmania:
NameLocationCoordinatesAreaDesignatedDesignation No.DescriptionImage
Apsley MarshesFreycinet PeninsulaRS255
Cape Barren Island, east coast lagoonsFurneaux GroupRS255
Interlaken Lakeside ReserveCentral HighlandsRS259
Jocks LagoonRS258
LaviniaKing IslandRS253
Little Waterhouse LakeNorth EastRS260
Logan LagoonFlinders Island,
Furneaux Group		RS252
Lower Ringarooma RiverNorth EastRS257
Moulting Lagoon Nature ReserveFreycinet PeninsulaRS251
Pittwater-Orielton LagoonSouthern TasmaniaRS254

Victoria

The following wetlands are located in Victoria:
NameLocationCoordinatesAreaDesignatedDesignation No.DescriptionImage
Barmah ForestGoulburn Valley, HumeRS262
Corner InletSouth GippslandRS261
Glenelg Estuary and Discovery Bay Ramsar SiteGlenelg ShireRS2344
Edithvale-Seaford WetlandsPort PhillipRS1096
Gippsland LakesEast GippslandRS269
Gunbower ForestRS263
Hattah-Kulkyne LakesMurray MalleeRS264
Kerang WetlandsMurray MalleeRS265
Lake AlbacutyaWimmeraRS270
Port Phillip Bay and Bellarine PeninsulaPort Phillip,
Bellarine Peninsula		RS266
Western District LakesWestern DistrictRS268
Western Port BayWestern PortRS267

Western Australia

The following wetlands are located in Western Australia:
NameLocationCoordinatesAreaDesignatedDesignation No.DescriptionImage
Becher Point WetlandsSwan Coastal PlainRS1048
Eighty Mile BeachKimberleyRS480
Forrestdale and Thomsons LakesSwan Coastal PlainRS481
Lake GoreGoldfields-EsperanceRS1049
Lake Warden SystemGoldfields-EsperanceRS485
Lakes Argyle and KununurraKimberleyRS478
Muir-Byenup SystemSouth WestRS1050
Ord River FloodplainKimberleyRS477
Peel-Yalgorup SystemSwan Coastal PlainRS482
Roebuck BayKimberleyRS479
Toolibin LakeWheatbeltRS483
Vasse-Wonnerup SystemSouth WestRS484

External territories

The following wetlands are located in the External territories:
NameLocationCoordinatesAreaDesignatedDesignation No.DescriptionImage
Ashmore Reef National Nature ReserveAshmore and Cartier IslandsRS1220
Coral Sea Reserves Coral Sea Islands TerritoryRS1222
The DalesChristmas IslandRS1225
Elizabeth and Middleton Reefs Marine National Nature ReserveCoral Sea Islands TerritoryRS1223
Hosnies SpringChristmas IslandRS512
Pulu Keeling National ParkCocos IslandsRS797