Enjoy Nature on the Murray River

Rowing The Murray River From Renmark, South Australia to Waikerie, South Australia

There are many ways to see the Murray River in South Australia. Depending on the time you have available, you could drive down, stop at lookouts, take a cruise on the P.S. Murray Princess, hire a houseboat, canoe/kayak, or, in my case, my friend and I had inflatable dinghies that we rowed. Whichever way you enjoy your journey along this waterway, you can be sure of seeing nature at its finest.

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If you plan on travelling around Australia, the best way to get around is by car. You get to see more, and you will find hidden gems that the average traveller doesn’t see.

Need A Car?

If you want to book a car, you can use one of these rental websites: EconomyBookings.com, DiscoverCars or Expedia.

Need Accommodation?

Try using these accommodation websites: Booking.com, Agoda and Expedia to find a comfortable place to sleep after your day of exploring.

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All prices and times were accurate when this was written or updated, but please verify the information on the websites before your visit.

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The Murray River is a photographer’s dream. From the amazing sunrises and sunsets over the water to the abundant wildlife that lines the shores.

Renmark/Paringa

This town was established in 1887, when the settlement grew from irrigating the Murray River to supplying water to the area’s orchards.

P.S. Industry

Today, you can take a step back into the past by enjoying a one-and-a-half-hour cruise on the first Sunday of the month on a paddle steamer, the P.S. Industry.

Please check their website for when cruises are available and pricing.

You could also enjoy a 2 or 5-night cruise on the Proud Mary paddle steamer.

Olivewood Historic Homestead and Museum

You can also learn about the area’s past by visiting the Olivewood Historic Homestead and Museum.

Opening Times

Thursday to Monday, 10 am to 4 pm, Tuesday and Wednesday by appointment. Phone: (08) 8586 6175 Email: olivewood.renmark@gmail.com 

Admission

• Adults $10.00
• Concession $5.00
• Student $5.00
• Family (2Adults & 2 children) $20.00

Eating Out

If you like wine tasting and dining out, you can choose the Twenty-third Street Distillery or the Rushton Rose Gardens, where you can walk through the gardens.

Ruston’s is open seven days a week from 9:30 a.m. The restaurant offers lunch from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. daily, dinner on Fridays and Saturdays from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., and brunch on Saturdays and Sundays from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. The rose garden is also open during these hours. 

Bookings are essential.  To book, call (08) 8586 6191.

Silo Art Paringa

If you are interested in Silo Art, then you’re in luck, as the grain silos in Paringa were just finished in early 2021.

If you love Silo Art, one of the newest additions in South Australia is in Paringa, just across the bridge from Renmark.

There are four artworks on the sides of these two-grain silos finished in early 2021 by artist Jack Fran.

These works depict the River Murray at Renmark, with Murray Cod, Pelicans, a houseboat and paddle steamer, and a local legend, “Possum”, David James Jones.

Renmark Paringa Community Museum

The Renmark Paringa Community Museum is right next door to the silos. This community-based museum teaches visitors about life in the past through volunteer-led tours.

Prices

Entry is free, but donations are appreciated to help maintain the museum.

Hours

Mon, Wed, Fri 10.00 – 15.00

Wilabalangal Nature Reserve

For the more adventurous, there are hikes in Wilabalangal Nature Reserve, which is on the road to Berri. The reserve offers views of the Murray River and wildlife to spot.

Loxton

The next major town downriver is Loxton. Here you have supermarkets to get supplies and see the local delights.

Loxton Historical Village

The Loxton Historical Village is located right beside the river. It showcases early life in the area, how farming grew, and the equipment used.

Prices

• Adults – $12.00
• Children (5-14 years) – $6.00
• Children under 4 years – Free 
• Pensioner – $10.00
• Family (2 adults, 3 children) – $30.00

Hours

Open Tuesday – Sunday 10 am – 4 pm
Closed Mondays except for public holidays, Good Friday, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

There are ample parking, picnic facilities and a walking track in the parklands beside the river.

Murray River National Park

Broken up into areas along the Murray River, the Murray River National Park is where you can get away from civilisation.

From Berri to Kingston on the Murray, the National Park offers you a chance to see Mother Nature at her finest.

From amazing sunsets and sunrises over water to the wildlife that comes down to the water’s edge to drink.

Moorook South

At Moorook South, you can camp beside the Recreation Park river. You can arrive at any time of the day or night and pay by a Pay and Display machine on site.

There are toilets and a general store with takeaways right across the road.

You get the most beautiful dawns from this T-junction part of the river.

Waikerie

While you’re here, stop off and see the amazing Silo Art on top of the cliffs in Waikerie.

Two artists, Jimmy Dvorate and Garry Duncan, painted one each. The paintings depict the local fauna and flora, including native fish, frogs, yabbies, spiny daisies, the regent parrot, and the rain moth.

All four sides have been painted, so it doesn’t matter which way you see them by road or river; they are visible for miles.

Conclusion

It doesn’t matter which way you see this area, the Riverland. It’s amazing, whether by water or road, with many sights and nature around you at every turn.

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Links

If you’d like to read more of my blogs on Australia, you can find them on the following links: Queensland, South Australia, New South Wales, Victoria, Camping and Silo Art. If you’re after New Zealand, the United Kingdom, or Photography, you can click on their links.

Travel Resources

• Flights & Accommodation—You can search for the cheapest flights and accommodation using Booking.com, Skyscanner, Tripadvisor, and WayAway, which offers 5% cashback.
• Car Hire—Take to the open road with great deals from EconomyBookings.com, RentalCars.com and DiscoverCars.
• Train & Bus Tickets UK & Europe—Use Trainline to plan and book your rail and bus travel in the UK and Europe.
• Travel Insurance is the number one thing to pack when you’re travelling. Cover-More Australia, Cover-More New Zealand, EKTA, Travel Insurance Master, and Insubuy provide insurance coverage during your travels..
• Attractions—buy before you leave home with these great sites: Big Bus Tour, Get Your Guide, GoCity and Viator.
• House Sitting is a great way to save on accommodation, and Trusted Housesitters offers house sittings worldwide.
• Photo Editing is a great way to bring your photos to life, and you can try Luminar Neo, which I use.
• Visa Applications—apply online for your visa requirements with iVisa.
• Sim cards—Try Airalo, the world’s first eSIM store, which solves the pain of high roaming bills by giving travellers access to eSIMs (digital SIM cards).

If you want more, try my Travel Links and Resource page.

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