Recharge on Australia's mighty Murray River as it winds its way through the heart of the Murraylands, carving out steep cliffs that turn orange at sunset, winding past giant red gums and spilling into wild lagoons. Paddle a canoe through quiet backwaters; charter your own houseboat; or take a short day trip out from the historic river ports of Mannum and Murray Bridge. You can water ski, swim, fish, or simply sprawl out with a good book on the banks. But the Murraylands don't begin and end on the water. You can find exotic wildlife in the open range sanctuary of Monarto Zoological Park. Search for rare antiques in historic towns. Or get off the beaten track for bushwalking, bird watching and four-wheel-driving through Mallee conservation parks. Lose yourself and find rare birds, flora and fauna on a bushwalking journey through the Ngarkat Group of Conservation Parks – covering a combined area of 270,000 hectares. Walking trails will also lead you to ruins and ancient Aboriginal sites.
When to Visit Murraylands
The Murraylands boasts a superb Mediterranean climate with hot dry summers averaging around 30°C and overnight lows of 13°C. During the winter months the days are short with around five hours of sunshine per day. The average daily winter temperature is 16°C with overnight lows of around 5°C. Climatically and scenically, it is best to visit the Murraylands in the autumn and spring.
Getting Around Murraylands
Murray Bridge is a one-hour drive from Adelaide and is the Murray River's closest point to Adelaide. Coach travel from Adelaide to Murray Bridge is available seven days. Connecting buses are available to Mannum, Tailem Bend, Meningie and Pinnaroo. Day tours are available from Adelaide, and can include a 1.5- hour cruise on the river.Regional airports are located at Renmark and Waikerie for private charters. The most convenient way however to explore the towns and surrounding areas is by car.