In the rush-rush modern world, there’s something special about retreating to a place of natural beauty and old fashioned values.
The Riverland region in South Australia is such a place.
The region located 250 kays north-east of the state's capital city, Adelaide, is so named for the Murray River that runs through it. The river is Australia's longest, stretching from New South Wales to the South Australian coast where the state meets the Southern Ocean.
There may be some 2530 kilometers of the Murray to explore, but the Riverland locals insist that their region is the best place to play in the waterway. Its calm waters are ideal for water-skiing and wakeboarding, or paddling a kayak. The river is teeming with callop, catfish, redfin, European carp, and the famous Murray cod, so make sure you drop a line while you're in town. If you want to explore you could hop aboard one of the historic paddle boats or opt for a more affordable dinghy tour.
The coast is dotted with accommodation options, from five-star luxury retreats to inexpensive holiday parks for camping and caravanning. However if you just can't bear to get out of the water, you could also hire a houseboat. The Riverland boasts more houseboats than anywhere else in Australia, so why not try this floating style of accommodation while you're there? They're easy to operate, totally private, and you can stay in a different part of the region each night.
[caption id="attachment_4544" align="alignright" width="150" caption="A speedboat on the Murray River"]
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Most hire companies offer their boats for a minimum of three days, which is just enough time to chill out. If you want one of those floating hotel rooms look to
Riverfun Houseboats in Renmark or
Quality Houseboats in Morgan.
While the Murray has always been the Riverland region's most popular attraction, the area is fast earning a reputation as a gourmet destination. While it's not as famous as
the Barossa Valley wine region, the Riverland actually produces more than half of South Australia's wine. Look for Italian varietals like petit verdot, petit manseng, vermentino, and tempranillo at
Banrock Station,
919 Wines, and
Burk Salter Wines. If you prefer a cleansing ale, stop by
Wilkadene Brewery to sample its award winning beers in the converted shearing shed.
The region's wines are perfectly paired with its fresh produce. The Riverland is famous for its citrus fruits, olives, almonds, and chocolate. Try them and other local goodies at the
Riverland Farmer's Markets at the Berri Senior Citizen's Hall every Saturday morning. For something more substantial you can't beat some local pub grub. Overland Corner Hotel and
Renmark Hotel offer some of the Riverland region's best.
[Image Source: Allshots Imaging/Flickr]
Tagged as:
food and wine,
regional travel,
riverland region,
South Australia travel
