Image (above) Murray River Trails, Credit: Luke Tscharke
The Murray River isn’t just South Australia’s lifeblood, it’s a region built for slowing down. Just three hours from Adelaide, the Riverland is the ultimate destination to truly unwind, relax, disconnect, and hear yourself think. It’s laidback country living, the kind of untouched beauty and picturesque scenery that makes you want to ditch your phone and watch the light shift across the cliffs instead.
Beyond its postcard-perfect scenery, the Riverland overflows with flavour and creativity, from riverside wineries and breweries to farm-to-table dining and boutique stays that feel a world away from the everyday.
Whether you’re chasing a weekend of outdoor adventure with the kids, a slow and romantic escape with your partner, or a food and wine trail with friends, this two-night itinerary is your golden ticket. It’s all mapped out so you can dodge the planning and enjoy the moment.
Skip what you don’t fancy, linger where you do, and let the slow Riverside tempo lead your dreamy weekend away.
Day 1 — Friday: Roadtrip to the River
Adelaide → Waikerie → Renmark
Your weekend away starts here. Knock off early, grab your overnight bag, and hit the freeway north. After two hours, you’ll be rolling into Waikerie, a hub for art, river, and community.
1. DO: SILO ART AND PLAY PARK
Your first stop is the Waikerie Silo Art, a pair of giant murals perched on the cliff’s edge. Created by artists Garry Duncan and Jimmy Dvate, it captures the heartbeat of the region – “Healthy River, Healthy Community.” They’re so striking it’s impossible to miss them, and the closer you get, the more intricate and ‘wow’ the paintings become.
2. DO: WAIKERIE WATER AND NATURE PLAY PARK
If you’re travelling with kids (or just young at heart), you’re probably due for a pit stop to stretch the legs and expend some energy. That’s where Waikerie Water and Nature Play Park comes in – and if there were ever a playground to top every child’s wishlist, this would be it.
Set on the banks of the Murray River, it combines natural beauty with next-level play zones, including a six-metre-high teepee tower, a 40-metre double flying fox, and six splash-happy water play areas. There are climbing walls, sand pits, tunnels and shaded spots for parents to relax while the kids run wild.
3. STAY: RIVER VISTA
From here, wind your way towards Monash (about a 45-minute drive) and check into The River Vista. This place defines luxurious slow-living. It’s a cliffside retreat world’s away from any noise other than the gentle breeze and trickle of the river below. With sweeping Murray River views, warm interiors, and boundless space, there is truly no better way to rejuvenate and disconnect.
Pour a glass, sit back by the sunken cliffside fire pit, and watch the light slide across the cliffs. It’s the perfect reprieve from city stress.
4. DINNER: TEMPERANCE HOTEL
Dinner’s worth the short 10 minute drive to Temperance at Hotel Renmark, where newly appointed Executive Chef Anthony Cresp – a Renmark local – has turned regional dining into art.
Once known for its fine dining excellence, the new Temperance has evolved into a relaxed yet refined regional dining experience. The menu celebrates the farm-to-table ethos in a unique nod to provenance and Riverland producers. Cresp’s “choose-your-own” shared set menu is built to bring everyone together, with dishes divided into river, land and dessert, connecting each course to where it came from. Start by the river with Carp & Prawn Casoncelli, move to land with Beef Short Rib glazed in date and soy, and finish (if you have room) with a comforting Rhubarb Crumble that perfectly ties it all together.
Day 2 — Saturday: Explore Berri and Renmark
1. BREAKFAST: EARTH RESTAURANT
Start your morning with breakfast at Earth Restaurant in Berri, where the menu once again champions Riverland produce. Local spots here wear their regional pride on their sleeve, and after one visit, you’ll understand why. Earth is ready to fuel you for an activity-filled day. Enjoy toasted fruit sourdough with local seasonal preserves, chocolate hotcakes (because you’re on holiday, after all), or sweet-potato hashbrowns with chorizo and salsa verde if you’re after something a little heartier.
2. DO: KAYAK AND CANOE TOURS
Then it’s time to hit the water. Canoe Adventures Riverland offers guided kayak and canoe tours through the region’s most beautiful wetlands. Paddle through the Ajax Achilles lagoons, glide under red cliffs glowing in the morning light, and spot pelicans or kangaroos along the way.
If you’d rather explore at your own pace, hire a canoe and venture out yourself, the friendly team will happily point you toward hidden lunch spots, quiet campsites, and secluded stretches of river perfect for a picnic or paddle. Or, lean fully into holiday mode and let the experts do the planning with a guided tour tailored to both leisurely cruisers and adventurous spirits. No canoeing experience is needed, just sit back (don’t forget to paddle) and let the instructors guide you.
Whether you go for a serene sunrise tour or a sunset drift, the canoe tour is an absolute must-do – a chance to see the Riverland in all its natural beauty. You could easily spend a night here camping, or linger for dinner and head back as the sun sets. The experience is yours to personalise.
3. DO: RIVERLAND WINE CENTRE
So you’ve paddled up an appetite, and at this point, the only thing you want to be lifting is a glass of wine and something delicious to your lips. Pull up a chair at the Riverland Wine Centre in Lyrup, a cellar door that celebrates 35 different wineries under one roof. It’s an easy way to sample the region’s diversity without having to drive between vineyards. And if you’ve fallen head over heels for a particular label (and you’re organised), you can book a bespoke tasting experience, personally curated to your palate.
Foodwise, the on-site cafe offers plenty of snacky to more substantial eats that pair perfectly with the day’s tastings. Book a table, grab a seat on the deck overlooking the river, and taste the Riverland.
4. DO: BOAT HIRE
If you’d rather stay on the water, but your arms are getting tired, Riverland Boat Hire has the answer. They can sort you out with Marge the Pontoon, a pet-friendly, Bluetooth-equipped boat for up to 12 people. Cruise to Woolshed Brewery, fish off the deck, or simply drift past ochre cliffs with an esky and a playlist.
5. DINNER: 23RD STREET DISTILLERY
As the sun dips, head to 23rd Street Distillery. The name needs no introduction, their award-winning spirits have made their way onto the shelves of South Australia’s top dining spots and beyond. Now is your chance for the full 23rd Street experience, and the no-frills food menu is equally impressive. Settle in for a full fare of wood-oven pizzas, Moroccan-spiced lamb spring rolls, and prawns tossed in Chenin Blanc. Or let the spirits take the lead with a tasting flight and graze the curated platters loaded with handcrafted meats, Vale Ale beer, pickled veg, sharp cheddar, and more. Order a cocktail and toast to a day well spent.
Before you leave, pick up a 23rd Street gift box for a little something to take home (or to make everyone else jealous). Then, just a 10-minute drive away, retreat to your River Vista perch, pour a nightcap, and watch the stars take over.
Day 3 — Sunday: Riverland to Adelaide
Renmark → Loxton → Adelaide
Okay, so your weekend is edging closer to the end, but there’s still way more ground to cover. Before the inevitable drive back to Adelaide, take the scenic route and stretch your getaway just a little longer. The final piece of your Riverland adventure is through Loxton, a charming riverside town just 25 minutes from River Vista.
1. BREAKFAST: OUR FIFTH SEASON CAFE
If you’ve hit the road early, start your morning with the all-day brunch menu at boutique cafe, Our Fifth Season. This gem captures everything you love about a quaint small-town cafe – warm hospitality, home-style charm, delicious food, and an adjoining homewares section full of local treasures. Even local food celeb Poh was raving about this spot.
Try the gluten-free breakfast tarts, housemade sweet treats and specialty coffee, or linger for lunch, and you’ll find Thai-inspired stir fries, salads and homemade sausage rolls.
2. DO: THE COLLECTIVE LOXTON
It’s likely the loved ones back home will be expecting a few souvenir goodies, and Loxton is the perfect place to stock up on beautiful bits and bobs.
Make your way to The Collective Loxton, a shared retail space brimming with handmade goods, local produce, and regional art, and you’ll find all the mismatched, beautiful finds until your heart’s content. Pick up a Margot handcrafted bag, a Kylara Vines reed diffuser, or something else uniquely Riverland.
3. DO: HEAVEN LOOKOUT
Your next stop is heaven.
Also in Loxton, you’ll find Heaven Clifftop Viewpoint, a panoramic clifftop point that locals call “Heaven” (and standing there, it’s easy to see why.) From here, the Murray curves below like a ribbon of glass, with Katarapko Island in view and peace in the air (literally, there’s a “Peace Pole” planted at the top).
4. DO: WHISTLING KITE WINES
For one final taste of the region – and it’s only right to end your weekend away with a glass of wine – swing by Whistling Kite Wines. This biodynamic winery has been a custodian of the land since 1976, and certified organic since 2009.
It’s not often you’re completely immersed in a setting. The beautiful cellar door overlooks the river and is an absolute sanctuary of wildlife and lush vineyards, a tranquillity only fully understood once you’re there. The wine varietals also span everything from classic Shiraz to Viognier to Mencia, Montepulciano, Gros Manseng, and Piedirosso and a local favourite – Sparkling Petit Verdot, so you’re taken on an oenophile’s journey as you breathe in the fresh country air. Opt for a woodfired pizza or their Wine & Food Delight session ($30pp) so you can enjoy small locally sourced bites with their award-winning wine selection, a leisurely one-hour experience that sums up the Riverland perfectly.
Then, hit the road back to Adelaide. Rejuvenated, a little sun-kissed, and already planning your return.
For more info on the Riverland and to start planning your weekend away, head to the Riverland website here.
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