Murraylands Guides Attractions Events in South Australia

Geranium is a pretty farming town named after the wild geraniums that grow in abundance there.

The town has a hall, two churches, store, garage, extensive sporting facilities and the only bowling green in the area, making it an important local centre and an attractive township for retiring farmers. In an era of centralisation to big towns, Geranium’s future as a small centre seems assured.

In 1999 the Geranium was named South Australia’s Tidiest Town. The town still consistently features among the top achievers in these annual awards.

Geranium went on to compete in the National Finals of Australia’s Tidiest Town and won an Award of Excellence for Environmental Action and Education. Geranium lies on the far western border of the Southern Mallee. The Geranium residents put in many hours to achieve this award, indicative of the communal spirit of South Australians, who have the highest participation in the tidy town judging of any state in the nation. Geranium won the competition from a huge field of 316 separate communities and 220 schools, competing with many towns far greater in size and population.

Karoonda is only 150 kilometres from Adelaide and 110 kilometres from Loxton, which is why Karoonda is referred to as the Heart of the Mallee.
It is home to the Karoonda Farm Fair held anually each year.

Whilst in the area, stop at Pioneer Park, offering an insight into the history of the Karoonda district. Other features of interest are the Bakara Plains, with unusual limestone caves, and just out of Mercunda an Aboriginal Rock Pool is a must visit for anyone interested in carvings.

There are a variety of historical walks through-out town for you to enjoy. Allow one to two hours for each walk. Simply collect a Walk Brochure from the shelter near the Big Ram in Railway Terrace.

The rise and fall of the continental land mass and sea levels together with extreme climatic changes have all contributed to the present land forms in the area. Below your feet at about sea level is one ancient sea bed holding the sub artesian water basin which is tapped with bores. The water in this basin has gravitated from the Grampians in Victoria over thousands of years.

Established in 1911, the area is well served by such facilities as health care, banking, farming and related industries. Karoonda is an Aboriginal word meaning winter camp.

Known as one of South Australia's most attractive townships, Lameroo is a centre for shopping and education for the surrounding Mallee rural area.

Lameroo welcomes visitors with lawned picnic areas, an 18-hole golf course and comfortable hotel motel. The Mallee District National Parks and Wildlife office is located here and offers information on conservation parks and camping grounds in the area.

One of the larger towns in the Mallee region of the Murraylands, Lameroo is a main service centre for the surrounding farming area.

South Australia's Department of Environment and Natural Resources Mallee District Office is in Lameroo and has information on the various conservation parks and camping grounds in the area.

The nearby Ngarkat Group of Conservation Parks features 270,000 hectares of unspoilt natural habitat and is home to walking trails, 4WD tracks and an abundance of native wildlife.

Although proclaimed in 1884, it wasn’t until 1906 – when the railway opened – that Lameroo began to flourish. During World War II, Lameroo was the site of a prisoner of war internment camp, and the mainly Italian prisoners were sent to work on local farms. The Lameroo Historical Museum is a great place to gain an insight into this and other aspects of the rich history of the town and its surrounding areas. The outback dunny exhibit is a must see!

Discover some of the towns of the Murraylands' Mallee region, which include Karoonda, Lameroo, Pinnaroo, Alawona, Geranium, and Parilla. Discover the wonderful wild flowers in late winter and early spring. Enjoy bird watching year-round in the nearby conservation parks. Take a step back in time and visit the Mallee Tourist and Heritage Centre at Pinnaroo. Stop for a drink and a chat at the unique Wanbi Pub.

The township of Karoonda is 60 kilometres northeast of Murray Bridge. Here you can inspect the Railway Museum and Pioneer Park, or enjoy the peace of the Apex caravan and camping area.

Look out for the concrete statue of a ram standing in the shadow of the town's giant silos, highlighting the importance of farming to this Mallee community.

Karoonda is well known in scientific circles as a meteorite fell to Earth just 3.6 kilometres from the township in the 1930s. Due to the meteorite's structural type, it shattered on impact. You can view a piece of the Karoonda meteorite is on display in the council offices.

Lameroo is situated on the Mallee Highway and has a population of 550. The township is like a green oasis in the dry mallee area, with an abundance of lush lawns and trees to greet the visitor. You will also find an 18 hole golf course where visitors are welcome.

The region contains a number of conservation parks to explore including Ngarkat, Mount Rescue, Mount Shaugh, Billiatt and also Karte Conservation Park. The best time to visit these parks is in late autumn, throughout winter and in early spring. Facilities are limited and four wheel vehicles are the most suitable form of transport. The park is large and isolated – the perfect place to really get away from it all! For detailed information on Ngarkat touring options get a copy of the Tracks of the Mallee from National Parks and Wildlife South Australia in Lameroo.

Pinnaroo is in the heart of the wheat, oat and barley belt that stretches from western Victoria through to South Australia, and is situated not far from the Victorian border.

Mannum is a scenic and celebrated Murray River town, ideal for river holidays.

It has a beautiful riverfront and excellent recreational facilities including Mary Ann Reserve, home to a playground, boat ramp, picnic tables and kiosk. Visitors can hire water-skis, jet-skis, canoes, kneeboarding equipment or simply drop a line and enjoy the fishing.

Mannum's attractive main street has an art gallery, antiques, craft and bric-a-brac shops, and there is a good choice of cafes and hotels, including the award-winning Pretoria Hotel, which offers quality riverfront dining. There are several scenic and historic walks in the town and nearby Mannum Falls has easy and moderate level tracks passing winter-flowing waterfalls, abundant bird life and interesting rock formations.

Having celebrated its 150th birthday in 2004, Mannum is a town steeped in history. Blacksmith brothers John and David Shearer spearheaded the settlement of the town after they established their farm machinery factory where they created a string of inventions. In fact in 1897, David Shearer produced one of the first two cars in Australia, which featured a differential gear in an enclosed case.

Mannum is also the birthplace of the Murray River paddle steamers, including the first ever built, the Mary Ann, which was constructed in 1853 by Captain William Randell. At the Mannum Visitor Centre you can discover the history of the river and visit the Randell Dry Dock. Installed at Mannum in 1876 it is listed on the National Estate and the only one of its kind in the southern hemisphere.

The visitor centre is also home to the PS Marion - a restored 114-year old paddle steamer that is open to the public daily, except when cruising. There is also an art exhibition and fossil display. The Mannum Olde Days and Olde Ways Museum also provides an insight into pioneering days, while Mannum Minerals, which has one of the state's largest displays of gemstones, minerals, fossils and shells, tells the geological history of the area.

Mannum offers plenty of accommodation, including houseboats, hotels, and bed and breakfasts.

The largest town on the Murray River in South Australia, Murray Bridge has everything the visitor could need, including a large regional shopping centre, accommodation, restaurants, hotels and sporting facilities. It is also home to the riverfront Sturt Reserve, which has a playground, BMX track, barbecues and a kiosk.

Murray Bridge is a good base for water sports, boating and fishing and there are also several cruise operators based in the town, including the River Murray Expedition, which runs regular morning tea cruises.

Walkers can take the five kilometre Rail and River Walk, which takes in the town’s major historic sites, or the 79 kilometre Federation Trail, which meanders its way to Tungkillo. Those wanting to explore the town’s sights by car can take the Murray Bridge Scenic Drive – copies are available from the local Visitor Information Centre. Major attractions like Dundee’s Wildlife Park, which has wildlife shows, a hotel and restaurant, Avoca Dell Mini Golf and the Sturt Reserve Bunyip, make Murray Bridge a good base for families. Further afield, Willow Point Wines and the Swanport Wetland, an important habitat for fauna, are worth a visit.

Formerly known as Edwards Crossing, because of an early settler’s hospitality to passing drovers, Murray Bridge is rich in river history. The first bridge to span the Murray was built here in 1879, and was joined in 1925 by a rail bridge and in 1979 by the Swanport Bridge. The local Ngaralta Aboriginal people call the area Mooppolthawong, which means ‘haven for birds’.

The Captain’s Cottage Museum tells the history of the town through memorabilia, photographs, vintage machinery and model riverboats. Beneath the surface of the river between Sturt Reserve and upstream from the bridges, which range in depth from eight metres to 18 metres, there are nine sunken paddle steamers and barges.

Recharge on Australia's mighty Murray River during your next holiday. It winds its way through the heart of the Murraylands, carves out steep cliffs that turn orange at sunset, passes giant red gums and spills into wild lagoons.

Paddle a canoe through quiet backwaters. Charter your own houseboat, from budget to budget-breaking luxury. Take a five-night cruise on the PS Murray Princess and the MV Expedition. Take a short day trip out from the historic river ports of Mannum and Murray Bridge. Water ski, swim and fish. Sprawl out with a good book on the banks of the river.

Find exotic wildlife in the open range sanctuary of Monarto Zoological Park. Giraffes, lions, rhinoceros, zebra, antelope and cheetahs roam freely in a bushland setting. You can see them all on a safari bus, walking tour or even by camel. It's a fantastic family holiday idea.

Lose yourself and find rare birds, flora and fauna on a bushwalking journey through the Ngarkat Group of Conservation Parks. These four adjoining parks, deep in South Australia's Mallee area, cover a combined area of 270,000 hectares. They are home to a spectacular array of animals including echidnas, pygmy-possums and the endangered Mallee fowl. Walking trails will lead you to ruins and ancient Aboriginal sites.

Watch the sun slip away over the Murray River, as you enjoy a three-course alfresco meal on a Big Bend by Night Eco Tour. Climb aboard a wagon to see kangaroos, hairy-nosed wombats and other native animals. The majestic Big Bend cliffs are the tallest cliffs on the Murray River; they’re about 20 million years old.

Explore Australia's paddleboat history at the Mannum Dock Museum. The museum is home to the lovingly-restored, 100-year-old PS Marion. The intriguing museum can be found on the banks of the Murray River in Mannum. There’s a lot of history to discover in Mannum.

Take a short river cruise, ride the BMX track, walk the Federation Trail or look out for the Bunyip. Spread out a picnic blanket and sprawl out on the grass of the delightful Sturt Reserve.

Parilla sits on the Mallee Highway in the Murraylands region of South Australia.

With a population of approximately 80, Parilla is a great spot to take a break from travelling and perhaps to stay the night. Take a look at the mural as well as the other points of interest in town. It has both traditional and newer crops, including potatoes, carrots, onions, olives and grapes.

Parilla was named after an Aboriginal word meaning ‘cold place’. It was surveyed in 1904 and proclaimed a town in 1907. Like nearby Pinnaroo, Parilla too was brought to life in 1906 with the opening of the railway.

Explore more of the Murraylands - one of South Australia's favourite aquatic playgrounds, with the mighty Murray River meandering through.

This is where you'll find your perfect houseboat holiday. There's nothing that quite compares to a holiday on a houseboat, cruising up and down the river at your leisure in your own floating hotel.

And the towns of the Murraylands have a relaxed, casual feel - the ideal place to spend a lazy afternoon in the sun after a day of watersports or fishing.

There are plenty of opportunities to go bushwalking, or enjoy an old-fashioned singalong by the fire at a camping site. And you'll find a range of accommodation options, great places to relax, shop and enjoy a drink at a local pub.

Pinnaroo is as bustling town 242 kilometres east of Adelaide and five kilometres from the Victorian border. Farming is the main industry throughout the region's rolling landscapes.

Pinnaroo is the gateway to the unique landscape of the Mallee and nearby Karte Conservation Park is a good spot to see the Mallee at its best. The Scorpion Springs Conservation Park is located on the edge of Pinnaroo.

Pinaroo is also home to the biannual Spud Fest. This features fun events like the Ready Steady Mash competition, with well-known television chefs.

For an insight into the history of the area, visit the Mallee Tourist and Heritage Centre, which features four fascinating historical collections. The area opened up around 1890, however Pinnaroo township was not settled until early 1900. The railway line was completed and opened in 1906.

Pinaroo has accommodation and a golf club. There's also modern facilities for health, welfare, sporting and public services. It's located on the shortest route from Adelaide to Sydney or Adelaide to Canberra.

Mannum

Situated just 84 kilometres from Adelaide, Mannum is the birthplace of the famous Murray River paddle-steamers. This historic town retains strong links to its romantic river past.

Today, Mannum boasts a bustling main street full of antique, craft, bric-a-brac and general retail outlets. There's also a huge range of eating options, from a scrumptious bakery, to cafes, hotels and numerous restaurants.

Murray Bridge

A thriving hub and the largest South Australian town on the Murray River, Murray Bridge is 80 kilometres east of Adelaide on the South Eastern Freeway. This bustling river city is less than an hour's drive from Adelaide and is a similar distance from the Barossa Valley and Fleurieu Peninsula.

Attractions include river cruises, a wildlife park, historic buildings, adventure playground and more.

Swan Reach

Swan Reach is a great place for travellers to stop and enjoy some good old-fashioned Murraylands hospitality when driving between the Barossa and Riverland. A visit to the hotel is a must, with sweeping views of the mighty Murray River from its prominent location perched on top of golden cliffs.

Spectacular scenery can be found at Big Bend. It boasts the tallest cliffs anywhere along the entire length of the Murray River.
Tailem Bend

On the banks of the Murray River, Tailem Bend is 100 kilometres from Adelaide. The town is a major road and rail junction with three highways – the Dukes, the Princes and the Mallee - all converging east of Tailem Bend.

The nearby Coorong National Park is one of South Australia's most spectacular. Scenic views can be enjoyed from many vantage points and a number of handy tracks allow conventional vehicles easy access to many major features on the mainland side.

Wellington

Sitting at the junction of the Murray River and Lake Alexandrina, Wellington boasts one of the oldest working hotels in South Australia.

The small town of Jervois is located on the main Wellington to Murray Bridge road and is home to a thriving dairy industry. This scenic area gives the visitor an insight into dairy farming.

The area around Swan Reach is renowned for its towering cliffs, including Big Bend – which boasts the tallest cliffs along the entire length of the Murray River. Rich in fossils, flora and fauna, Big Bend is believed to be up to 20 million years old.

Swan Reach boasts an excellent hotel with river views and a nine hole golf course. The town also has a 24 hour ferry, general store and boat ramp.

The Aboriginal name for this area is Kongorong, which refers to the large number of black swans that live in the area. White settlement was established in 1899 when Swan Reach Station owner Paul Hasse subdivided a portion of his land. Perched on the banks of the Murray, the first half of the twentieth century saw the river fight a constant battle with flood, culminating in the massive washouts of 1917, 1931 and 1956. The most devastating was in 1956, when most of the businesses in the main street were washed away.

More than 200 historic photographs from the flood can be seen in the Swan Reach Museum, located in the original school building, circa 1917. The museum has a fascinating collection of memorabilia. One of the themes of the museum’s collection is education within the district, which consists of a large collection of school photographs and memorabilia. The collection extends beyond Swan Reach to include historical items from river and rural communities of Murbko, Boolgun, Maggea, Galga, Copeville, Bowhill, Purnong, Walker Flat, Black Hill, Punyelroo, Blanchetown and settlements within this border.

You can find souvenir spoons, fridge magnets, colour 1956 flood postcards and more at the museum shop.

The northern gateway to the Limestone Coast, Tailem Bend lies alongside the majestic Murray River. It is a commercial centre for the surrounding mallee area and offers excellent facilities and points of interest for travellers making it an ideal stopover or destination.

Tailem Bend also provides a great starting point for four wheel drive vehicle adventures into Mount Rescue or Ngarkat Conservation Parks and offers a fantastic experience on the Murray. Visit Fred's Landing to launch a boat and enjoy a spot of fishing on the river.

The Tailem Bend Visitor Information Centre details the town's strong historical links with transport and the importance the railway played in opening up the surrounding towns, while Old Tailem Town provides a fascinating step back in time into an original mallee township comprising 70 authentic historic buildings from the area.