Murraylands

ABOUT THIS REGION From its source in the Snowy Mountains in New South Wales, the Murray flows 2520 kilometres to the Southern Ocean in South Australia - through the Riverland, down to Murray Bridge and onto the Lakes and Coorong. The Murray River is around 130 million years old. For thousands of years, it and the Coorong were home to Ngarrindjeri and Nganguraku people. Europeans arrived in the 1800s and used the river for transportation and irrigation. Just one hour’s drive from Adelaide and near other tourist regions, the Murray River, Lakes and Coorong is a popular escape for locals and visitors. Whether captaining a five star houseboat, paddling a kayak or experiencing the grandeur and romance of a historic paddle steamer, you’ll be inspired by breathtaking scenery at every turn. Australia’s largest inland paddle steamer is the P.S. Murray Princess. Four storeys high and propelled by a paddlewheel, this is one of the finest ways to experience the Murray River. The Proud Mary is another beautiful vessel, offering everything from lunch cruises to five-day wildlife expeditions. Navigate through the oldest lock and weir system along the river. Dating back to the 1920s and 1930s, six locks in South Australia are still in use today. We’ve also got 11 ferry crossings running 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. They’re free to use. The Coorong is a popular place to fish, hike, camp and birdwatch. It has more than 275 different plant species and 200 bird species spread across almost 47,000 hectares of stunning lagoons and saltpans. Murray Bridge is the largest town on the South Australian stretch of the Murray River and has everything a visitor could need - a large regional shopping centre, accommodation, restaurants, hotels and sporting facilities. Mannum is the birthplace of the paddle steamer, including the first one ever built, the Mary Ann, constructed in 1853 by Captain William Randell. The Mannum Visitor Information Centre is the gateway to the Mannum Dock Museum where visitors can discover the history of the river. There is a free 24 hour ferry service that enables you to cross the river at Mannum. If you’re in the Mallee, drop into Pinnaroo and Lameroo. Pinnaroo is more than 240 kilometres from Adelaide but a mere five kilometres from the Victorian border. On the way, you'll pass Tailem Bend which is a handy place for a break - and a photo opportunity at The Big Olive. Karoonda is another local hub and was once a traditional winter camp for the local indigenous people. INDUSTRY RESOURCES Regional Tourism Website : Visit Murray River Regional Tourism Website : South Australia Research and Statistics : South Australian Tourism Commission Local Councils : Local Government Association of SA CREDITS Information Source : Wikipedia Information Source : South Australia Image Credit : Murray River Princess : SATC : Neale Winter Regional Map : Copyright 2014 GoPanda Communications GoPanda