Adelaide’s most epic road trip

PACK the car and go: the best microadventure Adelaide has to offer and how to tackle it.

Murray River

PACK the car and go: the best microadventure Adelaide has to offer and how to tackle it.

Know what you deserve? A holiday. Unfortunately, your bank balance doesn’t seem to agree. But just because you’re on a budget, that doesn’t mean you can’t take the trip you’ve been dreaming of. The iconic Murray River is only an hour’s drive from the bustle of Adelaide’s urban centre, dotted with picturesque camping sites to pitch a tent and enjoy an unforgettable weekend on the river. Spend the weekend fishing, boating, bushwalking or kayaking through scenic surrounds on the microadventure of a lifetime. It’s amazing what’s right on your doorstep.

The Murray is the longest navigable river in Australia, and the third longest in the world. Geologists date its origins back 130 million years ago, making it a truly ancient wonder. From Adelaide, your closest access point is Murray Bridge. If you want to make that your first and last stop, the Murray Bridge Marina Camping and Caravan Park is a fully equipped park that offers camp sites right on the river, where you can relax and soak up some majestic views, or get amongst it by hiring kayaks for a day on the river with the kids.

A quick 30 minute drive from Murray Bridge you’ll find Mannum, a historic town on the west bank of the river, with a population just exceeding 2,000 people. During the warmer months, Mannum comes alive with water sports on the river, as locals and visitors alike make the most of the mighty Murray. If you’re feeling particularly adventurous, there are houseboats for hire, too, which could make for a unique night afloat.

An hour on from Murray Bridge sits Maize Island Conservation Park, where you can pitch a tent on the banks of the Main River. Surrounded on one side by the spectacular Holder Cliffs, on a sunny morning you’ll awake to the most breathtaking golden hues reflecting from their stone. If you or anyone in the family is a bird or reptile lover, you’re in for a real treat—Maize Island is home to a huge and diverse drove of both, not to mention the common western grey kangaroo sightings. Come teatime, throw a line in the river and fish for your dinner. Doesn’t get much fresher than that!

Further down the river, you can explore the Murray River National Park. The park boasts a huge variety of recreational activates the whole family can enjoy, not to mention offering some of the most visually stunning views anywhere on the river. Whether it’s a beautiful bush walk along one of the many trails throughout the park, canoeing or kayaking along the river, or just taking in the beauty of your natural surroundings, the park has it all. Divided into three separate areas, Katarapko (Winkie), Lyrup Flats (Lyrup) and Bulyong Island (Renmark) all exist within Murray River National Park.

Katararapko is filled with aquatic bird species that inhabit the 9,148 hectares of black box, red gum and lignum-covered floodplains. For birdlife enthusiasts, make sure you bring your binoculars when you set out along the Ngak Indau walking trail!

Lyrup Flats is another great location for wildlife and birdlife sightings, as well as ample fishing opportunities and camping sites, and is also pet friendly.

Bulyong Island can only be accessed by boat, using the Goolwa street boat ramp as a launch point. The remoteness of the island is appealing for many who really want to get off the grid for a true bush experience. Better yet, the island is packed with emus, pelicans, kangaroos, parrots and kingfishers, so if you’ve got kids with you, prepare for bewilderment.

Further down the river route you’ll find Chowilla, around three hours out from Adelaide. If you really want to get away from it all, Chowilla Game Reserve is about as remote as it comes—like, there isn’t even phone reception, if you can even imagine. But looking at a screen is the last thing you’ll want to be doing once you’re there. Thriving with incredible wildlife, you can float down the riverbed in a canoe as you take in some of the most spectacular scenery of your life, shaded by mighty river red gums and black box trees. Here, nature really puts on a show for you.

It’s hard to believe that all this is at your fingertips, and all within a few hours drive. Travellers from all over the world descend on South Australia to see the natural wonder of the Murray River, yet you can make the same trip over a weekend and still be back in time to rub it in your co-workers faces by 9am Monday morning. Get packing, the Murray awaits.

Originally published as Adelaide’s most epic road trip