Pike River Mundic Creek Trail

About This Trail

This loop trail has two launch sites and the trail descriptions from each are slightly different. The route is described here travelling clockwise; it can equally be paddled in the reverse direction. From Point A, both trail versions are identical.

The open waters of Pike Lagoon and Mundic Creek are quite exposed and can prove to be difficult paddling under windy conditions. Plan your overnight campsite to allow flexibility if conditions deteriorate. Always check water levels before setting out — levels in the system vary depending on environmental watering operations.

Launch Sites & Route

There are two valid launch sites for this trail, both accessed off Stanitzki Road, Lyrup. The route is identical from Point A regardless of which site you start from.

Route Description

• To Point A — Rumpagunyah Creek Junction (GPS: 34.2527 S; 140.7616 E): From Launch 1, paddle NW for approx. 4.2 km. From Launch 2, paddle N for approx. 1 km. You will reach a junction with an island in the middle of the waterway — this is Point A, the start of Rumpagunyah Creek. Continue past this island in a northerly direction.
• Point A → Point B (approx. 1.75 km): Travel approximately 1.75 km along the creek and turn right into the creek at Point B (GPS: 34.2438 S; 140.7473 E).
• Point B → Point C — Tanyaca Creek (approx. 1 km): About 1 km up this creek you will reach a wide body of water — Tanyaca Creek. Turn right at Point C (GPS: 34.2348 S; 140.7506 E).
• Point C → Point D (approx. 2.5 km): Travel approximately 2.5 km along Tanyaca Creek, which takes a wide sweep to the left. At Point D (GPS: 34.2293 S; 140.7616 E) take the small creek to the right.
• Point D → Point E — Portage (approx. 1 km): Travel about 1 km to a junction at Point E (GPS: 34.2219 S; 140.7585 E). Turn right — the left backwater is a dead end. Travel approximately 0.5 km to the ancillary regulator levee bank.
• Portage at Point E: Use the solid kayak ramp to portage across the levee bank. It is approximately 0.25 km from the ramp to Mundic Creek. Do not use the main regulator ~1 km further — it is not designed for portage.
• Mundic Creek → Point G (approx. 4.5 km): Turn right into Mundic Creek and travel approximately 4.5 km to a small creek on the right-hand side at Point G (GPS: 34.2098 S; 140.7882 E). Turn right. Be aware there is often a strong current in this creek.
• Point G → Pike Lagoon → Point H (approx. 2 km): After about half a kilometre you reach Pike Lagoon — a wide, exposed body of water. Follow the lagoon to the right, ignoring the large anabranch about 0.5 km on the left. Continue down the left-hand side of the lagoon approximately 1.5 km to Point H (GPS: 34.2083 S; 140.8017 E), the start of the Upper Pike River.
• Point H → Point J — Snake Creek Junction (approx. 5 km): Follow the Upper Pike River for approximately 5 km to the junction with Snake Creek on the right-hand side at Point J (GPS: 34.2341 S; 140.8205 E). Turn left (straight ahead) to stay in the Pike River — Snake Creek rapidly dead-ends unless water levels are high.
• Point J → Point K — Col Col Regulator (approx. 5 km): Travel approximately 5 km to the remains of the old Col Col Regulator at Point K (GPS: 34.2668 S; 140.8085 E). This has been replaced by the new Pike River Regulator.
• Point K → Launch 2 / Exit (approx. 3.5 km): Travel approximately 3.5 km further to reach the new Pike River Regulator — Launch 2 exit point.
• If you launched from Launch 1 (Pumphouse): Portage around the new regulator and continue downstream 1 km to the island at Point A. Turn left and travel 4.2 km back to your Launch 1 start point.

Wildlife & Environment

The Pike Floodplain is a major floodplain and anabranch system of the Murray River, spanning more than 6,700 hectares between Paringa and Lyrup. It is a recognised high-priority ecological area supporting a diverse range of plant species — river red gum and black box woodlands, lignum and saltbush shrublands — alongside a variety of aquatic habitats including fast and slow-flowing anabranches, and both permanent and temporary wetlands.

At elevated river levels, the floodplain spreads water into low-lying wetlands adjacent to Mundic Creek, Tanyaca Creek and the Murray, providing significant feeding and breeding habitat for waterbirds, fish, frogs and other native fauna. Black box woodland floods at high river levels, providing critical nesting habitat. Paddling quietly at dawn is particularly rewarding for birdwatching throughout this system.

Country & Heritage

The First People of the River Murray and Mallee Region are the Traditional Owners of the Pike Floodplain, with Aboriginal cultural heritage providing tangible links to both ancestors and Country throughout this landscape. The River Murray is believed to be the life blood of Country, bringing First Peoples communities together through living culture.

In 2020, research led by Flinders University in collaboration with the River Murray and Mallee Aboriginal Corporation (RMMAC), with radiocarbon dating conducted at ANSTO, confirmed that shell midden sites overlooking the Pike River floodplain downstream of Renmark record Aboriginal occupation extending to approximately 29,000 years — making this the oldest known River Murray Indigenous site in South Australia. The middens are remnants of meals eaten long ago by the people who called this river home across tens of thousands of years.

Paddling Trails South Australia acknowledges the First People of the River Murray and Mallee Region as the Traditional Owners of these lands and waters, and pays respect to Elders past, present and emerging.

Pike River Conservation Park

Pike River Conservation Park was proclaimed on 1 February 1979 under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972, and covers approximately 2.88 km² at the northern end of the Mundic Creek locality, with its boundary adjoining the Sturt Highway. It is one of 359 protected areas in South Australia and is named after Pike River, a stream that flows through its eastern end. The Mundic Forest Reserve was added to its extent in December 2009.

The trail passes through this conservation park as well as the broader Pike Floodplain management area. For more information on the floodplain ecology and environmental watering operations, see the Department for Environment and Water — Pike Floodplain page.