Destinations > South Australia > Riverland

Riverland

South Australia's Riverland region doesn't offer as many attractions as the area around the Murray across the border in Victoria, but it is a popular spot for many travellers who come here to pick up fruit picking work.

Berri

Many travellers come to Berri for fruit picking work. The town doesn't have a lot of attractions but it is home to one of Australia's best worker's hostels. The main crops here are grapes and oranges and the town is home to a large fruit juice factory and Australia's largest winery, which produces the cheap cask wine that is so popular with many backpackers.

Practical Information

Berri Library & Information Centre

Kay Avenue, Berri

Tel (08) 8595 2666

Open Mon-Wed 8am-6pm, Thu 8am-8pm, Fri 8am-6pm, Sat 9am-noon

Berri Visitor Information Centre

Riverview Drive, Berri

Tel (08) 8582 1922

Website www.riverland.info

Open Mon-Fri 9am-5.30pm, Sat-Sun 10am-4pm

Coming & Going

Premier Stateliner (tel (08) 8415 5555; website www.premierstateliner.com.au) coaches stop at Berri on their Adelaide-Renmark run; they run two daily coaches on weekdays and one coach on Saturdays and Sundays. As Berri is on the Sturt Highway, which runs between Adelaide and Sydney, Greyhound also operate daily coaches that stop here (but they also run an Adelaide-Sydney service via Broken Hill, which doesn't stop in Berri). Coaches stop outside the Visitor Information Centre on Riverview Drive.

Accommodation

Berri Backpackers

Old Sturt Highway, Berri

Tel (08) 8582 3144

Renmark

The oldest town in the Riverland region has a lovely riverfront and it is one of the more interesting places in the area. The town is a popular spot for cruises and houseboat rentals and is home to the PS Industry, a wood-fired paddle steamer that operates cruises on the river on the first Sunday of each month.

There is no backpackers' accommodation in Renmark.

Practical Information

Renmark Paringa Visitor Information Centre

84 Murray Avenue, Renmark

Tel (08) 8586 6704

Website www.riverland.info

Open Mon-Fri 9am-5pm, Sat 9am-4pm, Sun 10am-4pm

Loxton

This charming garden town has more character than other towns in the region and some travellers use Loxton as a base for fruit picking work. The Loxton Historical Village, a small open-air museum, is the main tourist attraction here.

Practical Information

Loxton Visitor Information & Arts Centre

Bookpurnong Terrace, Loxton

Tel (08) 8584 7919

Website www.riverland.info

Open Mon-Fri 9am-5pm, Sat 9am-12.30pm, Sun 1pm-4pm

Coming & Going

Premier Stateliner (tel (08) 8415 5555; website www.premierstateliner.com.au) run a coach service between Adelaide and Loxton every day except Saturday.

Accommodation

Harvest Trail Lodge

Kokoda Terrace, Loxton

Tel (08) 8584 5646

Sights

Loxton Historical Village

This small open-air museum is a historical village with a main street that features more than 30 buildings. The Historical Village has been created to portray life here during the early 20th century.

Riverfront Road, Loxton

Tel (08) 8584 7194

Website www.loxtonhistoricalvillage.com.au

Admission $8

Open Mon-Fri 10am-4pm, Sat-Sun 10am-5pm

Kingston-on-Murray

This tiny town looks run down and it doesn't offer much for visitors, however there is a large vineyard and wetlands conservation complex several kilometres outside town that is worth a visit.

Accommodation

Nomads on Murray

Sturt Highway, Kingston-on-Murray

Tel (08) 8583 0211 or 1800 665 166

Sights

Banrock Station Wine & Wetlands Centre

This wetlands centre is managed by the Banrock Station Winery and features a boardwalk that lets you view the vineyards, wetlands and the region's bird life.

Holmes Road, Kingston-on-Murray

Tel (08) 8583 0299

Website www.banrockstation.com.au

Admission $5

Open 10am-5pm daily