Brewarrina Fish Traps

On the banks of the Barwon River in outback New South Wales, the Brewarrina Fish Traps (Ngunnhu) are one of the oldest human-made structures on Earth, estimated at over 40,000 years old. This extraordinary network of stone weirs, arranged in a complex pattern across the riverbed, was ingeniously designed by the Ngemba people to channel fish into holding pens during seasonal migrations. It remains a deeply sacred site and a powerful testament to Aboriginal engineering and sustainable land management. Visiting here offers a rare chance to connect with living Indigenous culture and a landscape that has sustained people since time immemorial.

Highlights & What to See

• Walk the Ngunnhu viewing platform – The elevated boardwalk provides the best vantage point to appreciate the sheer scale and clever geometry of the stone traps, with interpretive signs explaining how each section worked.
• Visit the Brewarrina Aboriginal Cultural Museum – Housed in a restored 1880s building, the museum displays artefacts, photographs and stories that bring the fish traps’ cultural significance to life.
• Join a guided tour with local Aboriginal elders – These personal tours (bookable through the visitor centre) offer profound insights into Dreamtime stories, traditional fishing methods and the ongoing custodianship of the site.
• Explore the Barwon River banks – The riverine environment is rich with birdlife; keep an eye out for pelicans, black swans and wedge-tailed eagles soaring overhead.
• Photograph the traps at sunrise or sunset – The low-angle light accentuates the stone patterns and casts long shadows, creating stunning images that capture the site’s ancient atmosphere.

Suggested Time to Spend

Set aside at least two to three hours to do justice to the fish traps and museum. Start at the cultural centre for context, then walk the viewing platform (30 minutes) and allow another hour for a guided tour if available. If you’re self-driving, Brewarrina makes a natural stop of two to three hours en route between Bourke and Walgett, or you could base yourself in town for a half-day visit that includes a riverside picnic.

Nearby Areas Worth Combining

• Bourke – A quintessential outback town 100 km west, where you can cruise the Darling River on the PV Jandra paddleboat and explore the Back O’ Bourke Visitor Centre.
• Walgett – About 130 km east, Walgett offers the Dharriwaa Elders Group cultural tours and the nearby Narran Lakes wetlands, a Ramsar-listed bird sanctuary.
• Gundabooka National Park – 70 km south-west of Brewarrina, this park protects ancient Aboriginal rock art sites (including the spectacular “Mulgowan” site) and offers bushwalking through red sandstones and cypress pine forests.
• Lightning Ridge – Famous for its black opal mines and quirky outback character, Lightning Ridge is a 2.5-hour drive north-west and well worth a day trip.
• Macquarie Marshes – A vast wetland system 200 km south, ideal for birdwatching and experiencing the floodplain ecology that sustains the region.

Please check official sources for current details.