Riverland Drive
A round trip of 556 kilometres starts in Adelaide and heads northeast along the Thiele Highway to Kapunda - 80 kilometres, then Kapunda to Morgan via Eudunda - 86 kilometres, Morgan to Renmark via Waikerie, Barmera and Berri - 124 kilometres, Renmark to Loxton via Berri - 40 kilometres, Loxton to Swan Reach - 95 kilometres, Swan Reach to Mt Pleasant via Sedan and Cambrai - 74 kilometres, Mt Pleasant to Adelaide - 57 kilometres.
Head north out of Adelaide, passing through the towns of Kapunda and Eudunda on the Thiele Highway before stopping at the Murray River township of Morgan. At the height of the paddle steamer era, Morgan was the busiest inland port in South Australia and has preserved much of its history. Check out some of the excellent historical museums for a look back in time.
Follow the river to Waikerie, a vitamin C Mecca and home to more than one million citrus trees. This stretch of the river also boasts some of the best thermals in the world attracting gliding enthusiasts from around the globe.
Head to Banrock Station Wine and Wetland Centre at Kingston-on-Murray. Originally a sheep station, the land has been slowly returned to its natural wetland state and is home to more than 150 species of birds. The cellar door and restaurant have stunning views over the wetlands, and there's an extensive network of boardwalks open to visitors.
Travel on to Barmera on the shores of Lake Bonney, a popular aquatic playground. With its 1930s main street the town has a distinctive nostalgic feel, and is also home to South Australia's Country Music Festival. Next stop is Berri, known as the commercial hub of the Riverland and home to many vines and citrus orchards. Visit the Angas Park Fruit Company's outlet on the Sturt Highway to sample and buy dried fruits, nuts and chocolates, or stop by Aggie's roadside stall, to buy produce straight from the grower.
Continue on to Renmark, the oldest town in the Riverland and founded as Australia's first irrigation settlement in 1887. Take a cruise along the Murray or even hire a houseboat for a couple of nights. Head south, passing through Berri again on your way to Loxton. Stop in at the Loxton Historical Village, featuring more than 30 buildings from the days of the Riverland's early settlers.
From here head back to Adelaide via Swan Reach, a very pretty stretch of the river with cliffs towering on either side and vivid colours at sunset and sunrise. Next pass through Sedan, then into the Adelaide Hills towns of Mount Pleasant, Woodside, Oakbank and onto the South Eastern Freeway to Adelaide.
The Riverland is approximately two hours from Adelaide, so you'll need an overnight stay to take in all the sights:
- Visit South Australia's oldest operating paddle steamer, the PS Mayflower permanently moored at Morgan. Also the Landseer Building filled with a remarkable collection of old engines and wagons is worth a visit.
- Waikerie has one of the longest stretches of riverbank in the region, so it's a great spot for watersports and houseboats.
- Wander along the eight-kilometre boardwalk at Banrock Station before sampling some of the wines.
- Visit the Cobdogla Irrigation and Steam Museum to learn about the Riverland's past.
- Cruise the river on an historic paddle steamer.
- Be very, very still and spot rare and endangered birds at the Bookmark Biosphere Reserve.
- Visit Bonneyview Wines at Barmera for a taste of the local drop.
- North of Berri is Monash, famous for the free-admission Monash Adventure Park.
- Visit David Ruston's rose garden in Renmark, claiming the title of largest rose garden in the southern hemisphere with several thousand varieties and 50,000 rose bushes.
- Check out the Tree of Knowledge at Loxton - it shows flood levels in the town for the past 70 years.
- Take a swing at any of the excellent golf courses throughout the Riverland. The Loxton Golf Course is one of the best in South Australia.
- Drop into any of the cellar doors throughout the Riverland. It's Australia's largest wine growing region, producing a staggering one-third of the country's grapes.
- Stop off at Paringa to see the Murray's only suspension bridge - it lifts at 2.30pm each day to let the river traffic pass beneath it.
- Drop into the Swan Reach Hotel for a drink, perched clifftop with sweeping views across the river.
