Follow The River
Blanchetown
Blanchetown began its life in 1855 as a stopover point and watering place for mail contractors and passenger carriages; today it's popular with water-skiers and houseboat holidaymakers who enjoy its pleasant riverfront, uncrowded waterways and sandy banks.
Blanchetown is where the Murray River's system of locks and weirs begins. They were constructed along the entire length of the river in the 1920s and 1930s to help control water levels. Head to the old bridge for stunning views of Lock 1, particularly at sunset when the surrounding cliffs change colour.
Downstream from Blanchetown is the resting place of the Water Witch, Edward John Eyre's sailing vessel, the first to successfully navigate the Murray Mouth.
The nearby Brookfield Conservation Park is a breeding ground for the southern hairy-nosed wombat.
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Bowhill
This small riverfront settlement boasts a boat ramp and the popular Bowhill General Store, which stocks just about everything including food, alcohol, souvenirs, fishing and water sports supplies and hire.
Jervois
A thriving dairy-farming area, Jervois is located on the scenic Wellington to Murray Bridge road.
Named after South Australia's Governor Jervois, who officiated during the 1880s, the small town has a free 24-hour ferry.
Take care when driving in the Jervois area during the early morning or mid-afternoon, as cows crossing the road for milking is a common sight.
Mannum
Blacksmith brothers John and David Shearer spearheaded the settlement of
Mannum 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, constructed in 1853 by Captain William Randell. At the Mannum Visitor Centre, 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 is the only one of its kind in the southern hemisphere.
The visitor centre is also home to the PS Marion - a restored 109-year-old paddle-steamer that is open to the public daily, except when cruising. There is also an art exhibition and fossil display.
An abundance of birdlife can be found incredibly close to the town centre, at the Hermann L Gass Bird Sanctuary, right next to the caravan park.
Mannum has a beautiful riverfront and excellent recreational facilities, including Mary Ann Reserve, and is home to a playground, boat ramp, picnic tables and kiosk. Visitors can hire water-skis, jet skis, canoes, knee boarding 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 cafés 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 birdlife and interesting rock formations.
Murray Bridge
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's also home to the riverfront Sturt Reserve, which has a playground, BMX track, barbecues and a kiosk.
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 tribe called the area 'Moop-poltha-wong', which means 'haven for birds'.
The Captain's Cottage Museum tells the history of the town through memorabilia, photos, vintage machinery and model riverboats. Beneath the surface of the river, beside Sturt Reserve and upstream from the bridges, there are nine sunken paddle-steamers and barges at depths ranging from 8 to 18 metres.
Murray Bridge is a good base for water sports, boating and fishing and there are several cruise operators based in the town, including the MV Proud Mary.
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.
Attractions such as Dundee's Wildlife Park, which has wildlife shows and a 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.
Mypolonga
Mypolonga is a small river community known locally for its fruit orchards and large vegetable crops; keep a look out for roadside stalls. Woodlane Reserve is a favourite spot of serious waterskiers.
Nildottie
This little town offers panoramic views of one of the most pristine stretches of water on the Murray. By arrangement, visitors can take a guided tour with the local Nganguraku people at nearby Kroehn's Landing, home to an ancient archaeological site and the Ngaut - Ngaut boardwalk that meanders up the cliffs.
Purnong
One of the Murray River's major irrigation areas, Purnong's onions are exported all over the world, and it's home to a 24-hour ferry.
Swan Reach
The Aboriginal name for this area is 'Kongorong', which refers to the large number of black swans that live in the area. European 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 20th century saw the town fight a constant battle with flood, culminating in the massive wash-outs 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. 2006 marks the 50th anniversary of the 1956 floods, with special events being held on 16-17 September.
Today, Swan Reach has been proudly rebuilt and boasts a nine-hole golf course and an excellent hotel with river views. 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. Rich in fossils, flora and fauna, Big Bend is believed to be up to 20 million years old and is best discovered on a Big Bend by Night nocturnal tour. Swan Reach also has a 24-hour ferry, general store and boat ramp.
Tailem Bend
Located at the junction of the Dukes, Princes and Mallee highways, Tailem Bend is a popular rest stop for drivers travelling from eastern Australia. The opening of the Melbourne to Adelaide railway line in 1886 saw Tailem Bend become an important railway town. Today it is one of the State's major grain centres - look out for the huge silos and bunkers that dominate the town.
There are two explanations as to the name of the town; the Indigenous version claims that Tailem Bend originates from the word 'thelim' which refers to the bend in the river and others argue that 'tail 'em' is linked to tailing lambs.
A good way to discover the history of the town, and of colonial Australia in general, is to visit Old Tailem Town - a replica colonial village with more than 90 buildings and 12 streets, interpretive displays and one of the biggest engine collections in the world.
Walker Flat
With its tall, ochre-coloured cliffs and superb lookout, Walker Flat is one of the most spectacular spots on the river.
Facilities include a boat ramp, 24-hour ferry and general store, and there is plenty of holiday accommodation on offer. Walker Flat is also a popular mooring spot for houseboats, whose passengers enjoy the iridescent sunsets over the dramatic cliffs.
Wellington
Wellington is home to one of the oldest continually-operating hotels in the State. Licensed in 1848, it offers great river views from its dining room. Visitors can also explore the original courthouse and police station, now a museum and tearooms.
Located at the junction of the Murray River and Lake Alexandrina, Wellington was named by John Morphett in 1836 and settled in 1838. The first South Australian ferry on the Murray was established here in 1846 and it was the only point where travellers could cross the river in South Australia for many years.
By the late 1890s Wellington was almost swallowed up by sand as thousands of grazing animals passed the town on their way from the south coast, exposing the sand dunes that began to drift into town.
Today, Wellington is a relaxed holiday town that has various accommodation options, barbecue facilities, a general store and boat ramp. The 24-hour ferry is still the only way to cross the river.
Younghusband
A small settlement popular with holidaymakers, Younghusband has a picturesque river reserve and caravan park.
There is a panoramic view of Lake Carlet from the top of the cliffs behind the caravan park and four kilometres from town, find an authentic Aboriginal canoe tree.
MUST SEE, MUST DO
- See spiders' eyes on a Big Bend by Night nocturnal tour
- Sample some chilli chocolate at Cottage Box Chocolates - if you're game!
- Treat your taste buds with the Pretoria Hotel's hot and cold seafood platter
- Drop a line and try your luck catching an elusive Murray River cod
- Hire a canoe and explore the river's backwaters and creeks