Murray Valley Regional Park VKFF-1785

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Our next park for Tuesday, 4th November 2025, was the Murray Valley Regional Park VKFF-1785 at Barooga in New South Wales.

Above: Map showing the location of the Murray Valley Regional Park at Barooga. Map c/o Google Maps

After packing up at the Cobram Regional Park, Marija and I drove over the Murray River on the bridge on the Barooga-Cobram Road, back into the state of New South Wales.

Just after crossing the bridge, we saw the turn off to Ski Beach and soon after found the park sign for the Barooga section. The nearby town of Barooga is a twin town of Cobram on the south side of the Murray River in Victoria. Barooga is believed to derive from the Aboriginal word interpreted to mean ‘my home.’ Other sources suggest it is derived from the Aboriginal word buruga, meaning ‘meeting of the waters.’ The Barooga pastoral station was established in 1847 by George Hillas. (SMH Traveller 2008)

The Murray Valley Regional Park comprises several areas which are dotted along the Murray River and the Edward River from Balranald through to Howlong. The park was established to protect the River Red Gum forests. (Visitnsw.com 2016)

Above: an aerial view of the Murray Valley Regional Park at Barooga. Image c/o Google Earth

We drove along Mon’s Trail and then along Paradise Beach Road, taking us past the beautiful River Red Gum forest.

It wasn’t long before we reached Paradise Beach.

Above: an aerial view showing Paradise Beach. Image c/o Google Maps

This was a really beautiful spot, on a bend on the Murray River, with a lovely sandy beach. We were in New South Wales, looking across the river to the state of Victoria and the Cobram Regional Park.

Marija and I ran the Yaesu FT857, 40 watts, and the 20/40/80m linked dipole for this activation. As there were a few mozzies around, we sat in the 4WD.

Marija worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

  1. VK3PF
  2. VK3KAI
  3. VK7EK
  4. VK7PJM
  5. VK3AKT
  6. VK3ARD
  7. VK3KRL
  8. VK6HDY/P (VKFF-1758)
  9. VK5FANA
  10. VK3MCA
  11. VK2IO/P (VKFF-1906)
  12. VK2GEZ/P (VKFF-1906)
  13. VK2YL
  14. VK2HEY/P (VKFF-2610)

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

  1. VK3PF
  2. VK3KAI
  3. VK7EK
  4. VK7PJM
  5. VK3AKT
  6. VK3ARD
  7. VK3KRL
  8. VK6HDY/P (VKFF-1758)
  9. VK5FANA
  10. VK3MCA
  11. VK3EJ
  12. VK3JOC
  13. VK2NP
  14. VK2IO/P (VKFF-1906)
  15. VK2GEZ/P (VKFF-1906)
  16. VK2YL
  17. F5PYI
  18. KG5CIK
  19. VK3WSG
  20. VK4HMI
  21. VK3BWS
  22. VK1CHW
  23. VK2CHW
  24. VK3SO
  25. VK3SFG
  26. VK2KHA
  27. VK2JSW
  28. VK3BEL
  29. VK3BEB
  30. VK1AD
  31. VK1NAM
  32. VK3TZT
  33. VK3APJ
  34. VK2DA
  35. VK1DA
  36. VK7MAT
  37. VK3AIW
  38. VK3WRD
  39. VK2FS
  40. VK5LA
  41. VK5KAW
  42. VK5MOS
  43. VK3TDK
  44. VK3NYC
  45. VK3HJW
  46. VK2YAK
  47. VK4YAK
  48. VK2HBG
  49. VK2HEY/P (VKFF-2610)
  50. VK4QRZ

I worked the following stations on 40m AM:-

  1. VK5LA
  2. VK5KAW

References.

  1. SMH Traveller. (2008). Barooga – Culture and History. [online] Available at: https://www.smh.com.au/traveller/inspiration/barooga-culture-and-history-20081202-6p4v.html [Accessed 2 Apr. 2026].
  2. ‌Visitnsw.com. (2016). Murray Valley Regional Park. [online] Available at: https://www.visitnsw.com/destinations/country-nsw/the-murray/echuca-moama/attractions/murray-valley-regional-park-0 [Accessed 2 Apr. 2026].‌

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