Things to do in the Riverland with Kids.

Are you’re looking for family friendly activities in the Riverland?

Here’s a list of our favourite things to do in South Australia’s Riverland with kids, to ensure you have a great family holiday.  We start by looking at general outdoor activities, and then dive down into individual towns.

Active things to do in the Riverland with Kids

Playgrounds

There are lots to choose from.  Our favourites are the Monash Adventure Park, The Loxton Pioneer Playground, The Barmera Playspace, and the Waikerie Water and Nature Play Park .

Biketrails

Bikemap contains a number of trails.  Our favourite is from Martin’s Bend, around the Lions Alan Thurmer Memorial Trail  https://www.walkingsa.org.au/walk/find-a-place-to-walk/wetland-walking-trail-berri/  – a fairly flat and mainly shaded,  looped trail. Be aware that this  trail is shared with walkers.

Walking

There are many trails in the Riverland, ranging from historical town walks to bush walks in the National Parks.

Geocaching

Geochching is a fun way to get the kids (and adults) active outdoors, using co-ordinates and a GPS device like your phone, to hunt for hidden caches.  There are many caches hidden in the Riverland.  Sites like geocaching.com.au will give you all the info you need to get started on your new family obsession.

Swimming Pools

Berri, Renmark, Waikerie and  Loxton all have public town pools.  Waikerie’s pool (outdoors) is heated, but still not open in the cooler weather.

Skateparks

Skateparks are available at Renmark,  Waikerie, Barmera, Loxton and Berri

Pump track

You’ll find them in Loxton, and Waikerie

Kayaking

Kayaking is a great way to enjoy the river, and to burn off some energy.  Canoe Adventures – Riverland deliver hire kayaks and run guided family kayak tours.  We have  life-jackets for children down to 10kg in weight, with pre-schoolers settled in on a seat pad  between the legs of Mum or Dad.  With double kayaks children can  partner up with a parent, or if they’re a bit older, can paddle their own single kayak. Not sure how your kids would go? – check out our blog about taking kids kayaking.

River Swimming

River Swimming is a great way to cool off in Summer, but with a few provisos.  Don’t dive in – you can’t see where the bottom is.  Swim shoes are strongly recommended – unfortunately some spots may have broken glass.  Life jackets are also strongly recommended – the turbidity of the water means that if something did go wrong – you’d wouldn’t be able to see below the surface of the water to know where to look.  Be aware that the riverbed can have sudden and extreme depth changes making paddling dangerous for a non-swimmer without a life jacket.  Don’t let all of this put you off: just follow a few common-sense precautions and enjoy yourself!

Fishing 

Help the environment by taking your kids fishing!  It’s almost guaranteed that they will catch a decent-sized carp – an introduced fish that is destroying the river’s ecosystem.  But -whatever you do, don’t return it to the river OR leave it on the riverbank stinking up the area – bury them instead or take them home to fertilize your garden, OR Surprise! Carp are edible, though most people don’t eat them, claiming they have a muddy taste.  However, if you come prepared with iced water to euthanize the fish the stress hormones won’t affect the fish’s taste, and they are fine to eat, especially if flavoured with spices.  Fish patties are a winner!

Yabbying

Yabbies are a native species, so make sure you follow regulations  –  They are nocturnal – but can still be caught during the day.  They are most prevalent in warmer months and as the river is dropping after a flood.  They can be caught using baited lines – lots of fun for the kids,  and with open topped nets. (if you have the old fashioned opera house nets or yabby pots – note that they are no longer legal, which we are quite happy about, having seen too many forgotten nets holding dead native rakali who have swum down into them attracted by the bait, and then been unable to exit, and have drowned.

Camping

There are lots of great National Parks campsites which can be booked online.  We love Katarapko Creek, which runs between Lock 4 and Milich’s Landing near Loxton.  You can book a standing camp with National Parks,  and then order a delivery of hire kayaks from Canoe Adventures, or even do some kayak camping where Canoe Adventures will drop you off upstream, you take all of your gear with you in a kayak, camp overnight, and we’ll pick you up downstream and return you to your car. We can even supply most of your camping gear!  Some of the campsites are near a toilet, and some aren’t, so if that’s important to you – be aware when booking.

If that kind of camping doesn’t sound like you, there are great caravan parks.  For all of the bells and whistles we suggest the Berri Riverside Caravan Park or the Renmark Big 4,  or if you prefer a quieter vibe, the Echo Holiday Park in Renmark.

Ride on a Ferry

Riding on a Ferry is a free and easy way to experience some Riverland life. They are part of the state road system, and vital to their local communities.   Ferries can be used by vehicles and pedestrians and are a quick, fun way to get on the water.  Make sure you follow the ferry operator’s instructions and give the ferry operator a wave as you drive off

Houseboating.

Houseboating.  Wow – everyone needs to do this at least once!  We love our houseboating holidays.  Although the cost might look a little scary initially, if you divide that by the number of people and the number of day, it is quite a reasonable cost.  There are lots of operators and boats to chose from, but we haven’t encountered a bad one yet!  Take another family along, lots of good food, lots of relaxation – books, craft, movies, a fishing rod and some kayaks.  Our favourite part:  moor next to a creek system at night, and and head out just before sunrise and kayak through the backwaters as the birds wake up and the roos and emus come down to drink.  If your houseboat operator doesn’t supply kayaks, contact Canoe Adventures – Riverland who can deliver kayaks, including a set of 6 stackable sit-on-top kayaks   (with deck space limited – the stackability is a big bonus!)

Star Gazing

Star Gazing – With far less light pollution than in the city and suburbs, find an area away from lighting, roll out your blanket and watch the sky – how many satellite and jets can you see?  Can you name any of the constellations?  Download a star-gazing app and see what you can learn.

Things to do in Berri with Kids

Picnic Spots

Our favourite picnic spot – Martin’s Bend Reserve – has bbqs, toilets, lots of grass and tall shady trees, by the river.  There is a pleasant adjoining walking trail with some interpretive signs and well graded track.

Lock 4 is another great picnic spot: bbqs, toilets, grass and shade by the river, with the added bonus of detailed interpretive signs and the presence of the lock and weir.  There are 6 weirs along the river in South Australia, each holding back approx. 3 m of water.  The lock chamber allows the passage of boats along the river past the weir.  If you’re lucky, while you’re there you’ll get to see the lockmaster adjust the water level inside the lock chamber, open the lock gate to allow a boat in, (anything from a single kayak to a full sized paddle steamer) readjust the water level and open the gates at the other end to let the boat through.  This is also a great place to launch kayaks, with nearby access from the river into a wetland system.

The Berri Lookout Tower,

The Lookout Tower is located at the top of Vaughn Terrace and gives a good views out over town. It used to be water storage, gravity fed to town.

Putt Putt Golf

Putt Putt Golf is available to the public at the Berri Riverside Holiday Park.  It is very well designed and landscaped and lots of fun.

The Riverland Wine Centre

The Riverland Wine Centre, set atop the cliffs, looking out over the floodplain, is a great family spot, with outdoor lawn games for the kids and an opportunity for adults to sample and purchase  wine from all of the Riverland wineries.  A lunch specializing in local products is also available.

The Lavender Café

The Lavender Café is another great eating option, with indoor and outdoor seating, lovely gardens, puttputt and a playground.

Walking Trails

• Wilabalangaloo Reserve offers walking trails to both the top and the bottom of some spectacular 30m ochre-coloured limestone cliffs, including a lookout tower at the top of the cliff. The trails go through significant mallee vegetation, home to rare birds and insects.

• Kai Kai Nature Trail is a short, easy walk in nearby Katarapko National Park.

 

• Ngak Indau is an easy 1.5 hour walk that includes the Ngak Indau wetlands and bird hide, and the Murray River, with views to the cliffs.

 

• The Lion Alan Thurmer Recreational Trail (mentioned above under Bike Trails) is an easy track, under one hour if you start at Martin Bend and do the look, skipping the less interesting leg that extends to the Berri Marina

 

Things to do in Barmera with Kids

Lake Bonney

Lake Bonney, Barmera is a lawned waterfront with shade, playgrounds, bbqs and a gradually sloping waters edge that is good for paddling.  Sunsets across the Lake are often spectacular.  While you’re there drop into the Lakes Café, the Bluebird Café or the Barmera Club for a treat.

The Barmera Markets

The Barmera Markets are a popular attraction – set next to the lake, and full of assorted craft, art, woodwork, clothing, jewellery,  books, fruit, veggies, coffee, condiments and plants, there is something for everyone – (and if Dad and the kids have had enough, they can wander over to the playground) For market dates go to https://www.barmeratourism.com.au/barmera-markets/

The Loveday 4×4 Adventure Park

The Loveday 4×4 Adventure Park, a bit out of town,  is a unique offering  for the brave.  Here’s where your kids get to do buggy hot laps,  rally driving, E Bike Hire, and tractor train rides.  Really!

Loch Luna Game Reserve, not too far out of town, is a wonderful wetland maze: great for kayaking and camping.  Just be sure to avoid the designated duck hunting dates.

Things to do in Renmark/Paringa/Murtho with Kids

Olivewood

Olivewood was the home of the Charles Chaffey who pioneered the irrigation schemes which are fundamental to the Riverland.  Today there is a lot of history to be seen, including an olive grove and olive crusher, fire engine and printing machine.

Wilkadene Woolshed Brewery

For an afternoon’s outing we suggest a visit to the Wilkadene Woolshed Brewery (a boutique brewery on a bend of Amazon Creek – with lawned outdoor seating, a small art gallery section, a friendly dog, a water play area which educates about the river. On weekends there is often a food van, and sometimes live music.  On the way there, stop off at the Headings Cliffs Lookout for outstanding views along the  river and around the bend – showcasing the stunning limestone cliffs.

On the way home drop in to the  Renmark Paringa Community Museum.  It is free, and showcases a range of range of vintage farm machinery, implements, sheds, tools and static displays, though on a much smaller scale that the Loxton Historical Village.

Then hop across the road to Cammie’s Antiques and Collectibles so that you can show the kids things that you used to use at Grandma’s and Grandpa’s house, that are now antiques and are making you feel old.

Possum Parade

In the evening, take the kids to the riverfront opposite the Renmark Hotel, to see the possums come and feed from the fruit that is placed on the trees.

PS Industry Paddle Steamer

The PS Industry is a genuine wood fired paddle steamer that runs hour long outings on the first Sunday of each month (except February) and  on the Sundays of most long .Read all about our recent outing at https://canoeadventure.com.au/blog/ride-the-ps-industry-things-to-do-in-the-riverland/weekends.

Riverland Boat Hire

Riverland Boat Hire hire out big and small tinnys, ski boats and pontoon boats for a fun day out.  Note – your driver needs to hold a boat license.

Things to do in Loxton with Kids

The Loxton Historical Village

The Loxton Historical Village is well worth a visit anytime, but especially on an “Alive day” There are 45 different shops and exhibits, showing how life used to be in the early days of  the Riverland’s irrigation and farming towns

The Loxton Riverfront

The riverfront is extensive in Loxton, and includes the Lions Park, the Tree of Knowledge – including markers for the water height of all of the floods, lots of shade and lawn, BBQs, toilets, playground and pump track.

The Pines

On  Sunday at 2pm you can tour a historic homestead – the Pines, built in 1909 and still maintaining its lavish furnishings.

Things  things to do in Waikerie with Kids

Picnic Spots

The Waikerie Riverfront extends for quite a distance with lawn, shade, shelters, toilets, bbqs, playground, pump track and boatramps.

The Waikerie Clifftop Walk

The Waikerie Clifftop Walk is an unfenced well defined graded track at the top of the cliff, along the river with some steep sections.  It has great views, a lookout tower, and runs past the impressive painted Waikerie silos, and also nearby to Illalangi a food store and café which specializes in local and low-food-mile products.

Hart Lagoon

There is a walking trail and bird hide at Hart Lagoon.

Rivergum Cruises

Rivergum Cruises in Waikerie run very enjoyable 2.25 hour and 3.5 hour cruises for up to 11 people

Glider Flights

Feeling extra adventurous? – Your teenagers might enjoy a glider flight. Ours sure did!

 

As you can see – the Riverland is worth much more than just a weekend visit!  Have we missed your favourite things?  Let us know what to add.