Family shack on the River Murray is where Tom Jonas wants to be

Favourite AFL footballers Tom Jonas (Port Power) and Darcy Fogarty (Crows) talk about their favourite places to relax in summer.

Our family shack on the River Murray is my favourite holiday spot in South Australia. I first went to the shack when I was five days old, straight from the hospital, so I feel a really deep connection with that part of the world.

The shack is out near Bowhill, and it takes about an hour and a half to get there, but it is a place that feels as much home to me as my house near the city. I’ve got hundreds of great memories of the shack with family and friends throughout my upbringing, and I love that now that I get to take my own family up there and create even more.

Tom Jonas on holiday near Bowhill on the River Murray. Picture: Supplied

Tom Jonas with his daughter at the Murray. Picture Supplied

I hope my daughter, Matilda, gets to experience what I did – having the shack in our lives. I grew up doing a lot of water sports on the river there and using our boat, so there was always plenty of waterskiing, wakeboarding, barefooting and definitely plenty of fishing. We would always catch a lot of callop when fishing with Dad.

Over the years, we would always be mucking around with family and friends, jumping off the jetty, playing backyard cricket – just anything outdoors.

Pretty much all of our family events have been up there whether it’s Christmas or any other large family gathering across those spring and summer months. Mum and Dad even got married there so the connection runs deep for our family.

There’s a tranquillity and peacefulness about the place. There are these big sweeping red cliffs and the smooth glassy river. At times, you feel like you have the whole river to yourself or that you are the only one there. Those times are pretty perfect.

Last year, when we were not able to get away on a pre-season camp to help us players get to know some of the new recruits, our leadership group organised a camp of our own. We took the guys to the shack for a weekend away. It really helped build that connection between us and made them feel more comfortable around the leadership and wider playing group.

I suppose it was important for me to share with them something that was special to me.

I also underwent two weeks of isolation at the shack in 2020 after the state government quarantine regulations came into force before our return from the Gold Coast following our round 1 game.

Footballers visit Tom Jonas’s SA holiday spot at Bowhill on the River Murray. Picture:Supplied

It was an ideal spot to isolate. It was basically 30C every day and there was not a breath of wind. It was me, the dog, a couple of Sherrins and some exercise gear.

It was one of those times where I felt like I had the entire River Murray to myself. It felt like there was no clock. I could just do whatever I wanted and relax as the days just drifted by.

These days, it is the perfect place to escape to when time allows, to relax with the family and enjoy a few Hey Diddle Wines on the deck.

-Tom Jonas

Robe, or Port Lincoln, or the Barossa?

Being born and bred in South Australia, I’m proud of what our state has to offer and how many holiday spots there are to explore.

You could be fishing on the coast one day, be in the wine regions the next, skiing on the River Murray or, as I like to do, spend time on the family farm at Lucindale in the South-East.

We’re spoiled for choice, but if I was picking my top three favourite places to holiday in SA it’s hard to go past a trip to Robe first. It’s where I’ve got some family and also relatively close to where I grew up.

I’m not into surfing or much of a fisherman or anything like that, but the beaches at Robe are amazing and I love it when it’s quiet there. You feel like you’re a million miles away from the city but, in reality, it’s only a few hours in the car.

Long Beach is a great spot to drive on to the sand and enjoy the day. There’s also a pretty decent walk along the cliff edge near the obelisk, which is worth a look. There’s also plenty going on down the main street, a great bakery for lunch, fresh local fish and chips and a couple of pubs.

Crows key forward Darcy Fogarty. Picture: Dean Martin

Next up would be Port Lincoln, which is such a beautiful spot. I’ve been there only once and absolutely loved it. We got lucky with a pearler of a day that really left a mark on me.

I didn’t do the shark cage dive, but it’s on my list for next time as is seeing a giant tuna.

My third pick would be the Barossa Valley – going through a few wineries and just chilling out. I’m not a big fan of white wine, but I like the odd glass of red.

Being from the country, any chance I get to go home is a nice break from footy in the city. I love getting back to Lucindale and getting put to work on the farm.

I suppose you could call it a working holiday, but there are always things that need to be done. Last time I was there, we were prepping for sheep and calf sales, mustering cattle and weaning calves.

I don’t go camping much but do a bit of spotlighting, and most of the time is catching up with family and lending a hand on the farm.