Exploring the Murray River: A Daytrip to Discover Stunning Sights and Hidden Gems

Living in Adelaide or the hills it is easy to think the Riverland is out of your reach and too far for a day trip. It is definitely worth the drive, and I have the perfect itinerary for you.

Start your day by either indulging in the buffet breakfast at the Bridgeport or packing a BBQ breaky and cooking up a storm in the park in Murray Bridge.

Although the town's reputation isn't the best, it is largely undeserved. The picturesque Sturt's Reserve by the river offers a serene setting for a picnic or a leisurely walk along the water. The have BBQs that are regularly cleaned and ample seating as well as a playground and skate park.

Hidden in a cave along the riverside path is the Mullyawonk, or bunyip. Local legends say this creature inhabits the river and punishes those who mistreat it. The bunyip is well-known and popular on TikTok and Instagram.

The riverside also has an excellent view of the bridge after which the town was named. Initially opened in 1879 as a road bridge, it was quickly modified to accommodate a rail line as well. It has been in continuous use since its opening. After a complementary rail bridge was constructed nearby, the original bridge reverted to road use only. You can walk across it using the pedestrian path.

Some great local places to grab a snack for the road are:

• Cottage Box Chocolates where they handmake make a delightful array of treats.

• Grazing for days is situated on the beautiful main street and offer a variety of local produce as well as coffee and grazing boxes

• Farm Fresh Market on Adelaide Road is a fruit and veg shop but also offers a range of local and SA made sweets, treats and other goodies. They also have delicious coffee to warm you up on a cold day.

• Two great bakeries, Lovell's and McCue's

After visiting Murray Bridge it is time to head up the river for your start of a day in the Murraylands. The next stop is Mannum. Only a 25min drive from Murray Bridge and through some lovely countryside Mannum is a small, layed back holiday town. If you are interesting in walks, on the way stop in at Mannum Waterfalls. Don't let the name kid you though, there is rarely any water falling at the falls. There is a choice of two short walks of only around 1km or 2.5km. On the way into the town take the left just after the IGA and check out the lookout. It offers a magnificent view of the entire area. Then head back down the hill to the main street.

It is a really great idea to park the car down near the ferry and stretch your legs by going for a walk up the historic main street. Many of the buildings have a plaque that will tell you the original date the building was finished and what the original use was. I found a structure that was build almost exactly 100 years before I was born. Is there a building built 100years or maybe even 150 years before the year you were born?

Continue your stroll down to the foreshore that was the birthplace of the Murray River paddle steamer. If you are lucky there will be on at the dock but if not you can always learn more at the Mannum Dock Museum, for a small admission of only $5 you can look around at the museum's interactive exhibits and maritime heritage displays. You can also buy tickets for the Historic PS Marion, a fully restored 1897 steam powered paddle steamer. One-hour cruises leave at 11am, 1pm and 2:45pm and cost only $30 for an adult or $75 for a family. They also offer a variety of other cruises, and you can find out about all of these from the lovely friendly people at the info centre.

Great little local place to grab a bite

• There are two fantastic bakeries on the main street

• The Pretoria is a fantastic historic pub that you can grab a drink or a bite of food and sit out the back with a great view of the river

• The Mannum Community club also offers great meals and drinks with a view of the river.

• There are also a nice range of takeaway and cafe choices on the main street

When you are ready to move on head up to the ferry and take a free ferry ride across the river. If there is a line up for the ferry look for signage on how to queue and follow what the locals are doing. There are always two ferries running so there is no need to worry if you miss one, the next one will be over to pick you up soon.

Head left towards Younghusband and for the best views stay on the E Front Road. You will follow the river and drive through the quaint little "shack" towns. Follow the river until you reach Bow Hill, the home town of the huge Bow Hill engineering establishment. It is a standout in the engineering field and have a great impact on the employment of the local area.

Bow Hill is another shack town but also has a great little jetty to jump off in summer and a nice small beach to swim at. They also have a great fenced park with free wifi. The small Bow Hill General Store offers great food choices as well as anything you might need for a quick top up on the road.

As you leave Bow Hill you will pass some spectacular lookouts and it is tempting to stop in at each one to admire the view, After marveling at the spectacular views of the Murray it is time to catch another ferry across to Walker Flat. If you are running short of time this is a great end destination for your trip in the Murraylands. Depending on where you are returning to it will take1.5 to 2hrs to do the return drive. Take the scenic country drive through Mt Pleasant and you ill be lucky enough to pass through some beautiful small country towns that are definitely worth a visit as well.

Known for its striking ochre coloured cliffs that line the riverbank Walker Flat is a serene getaway that is as picturesque as it is tranquil. There is a small store there that you can buy food and drinks. There is a large riverfront park that has a small memorial to Suzy the Walker Flat Ferry dog.. Known for her unwavering loyalty and companionship to the ferry operators, locals and even visitors of Walker Flat.

If you continue on up the river catch the ferry back over to the other side of the river so you can make sure you stop in at the Big Bend lookout. It looks out over the tallest sandstone cliffs along the entire Murray River.

Take a short drive through Swan Reach. Swan Reach was established in the 1850s and was one of the largest sheep and cattle stations in the area. It soon evolved into one of South Australia's earliest riverboat ports to transport the grain and wool. Stop in for a drink at the local pub which was the original Swan Reach Station homestead circa 1865. If the op shop is open, see what treasures they might have there or have a look at the small museum housed in the old 1917 schoolhouse.

The last stop on the daytrip up the Murraylands is Blanchetown. On your entrance to Blanchetown you will cross the Blanchetown Bridge. Next to the bridge is the original Blanchetown bridge that is now closed to road traf

However, at the end of the bridge, there's a turnoff where you can view the original bridge constructed in 1963. You can walk on the old bridge, and it is amazing to see how high the bridges are and the beautiful view. Towering 13.7 meters above the river it is large enough for large boats to pass underneath uninterrupted.

Blanchetown is also home to Lock 1 which is the first of thirteen locks that circumvent the weirs along the Murray River. Due to vast weather related rises and falls in the river weirs were erected to help to maintain water levels so that water traffic can access the river all year round and in any season. The boats and watercraft can not cross the weir so locks were created beside the weirs. The lock is a chamber where the walls are closed with the watercraft inside and the water is then raised or lowered so the watercraft can exit at the new height on the next part of the river. It is definitely interesting to watch as the boats are transited through the lock to the other side. It is also a popular feeding ground for the resident pelicans and river birds.

The Blanchetown Hotel was established in the 1850s and has an array of pictures of the town and lock from the past. Grab a drink and take in the ambience. The hotel is the oldest continuously running pub in the Murray lands and has a beautiful view of the river and lock 1 from the deck.

If you have children and are looking for a fantastic stay in the Murraylands in summer check out the activities at Roonka River Adventure Park - Roonka

If you're not planning to stay overnight, this marks the final stop of the Murraylands day trip. The journey typically involves just over 5 hours of driving. If you plan to spend the whole day exploring, there is ample time to stop and visit the locations mentioned.

To shorten the day, ending the trip at Walker Flat will reduce driving time by an hour, allowing you to still enjoy a fantastic day out and see some of the highlights of the Murray.

It is a fantastic place to stay late or even overnight as the entire area is part of the River Murray International Dark Sky Reserve. It is recognised for its exceptionally dark skies making it a prime location for stargazing and astronomical observations.

If you decide you love this area so much you would like to stay overnight check out my next blog post as we continue up the Murray.