Barmera
A lakeside town built for swimming, sailing and water-skiing, with a country-music heart.
A lakeside town with a big-sky feel
Barmera sits on Lake Bonney, a broad freshwater lake that made the town a holiday favourite long before air-conditioning arrived in the Riverland. The Lake Bonney foreshore at Barmera is the heart of it all, drawing swimmers, paddlers, anglers and water-skiers to its calm shallows, while the wider shoreline gives the place its easygoing, big-sky character.
History on the water and the land
The town's most famous moment came in November 1964, when Donald Campbell chased a world water-speed record here and set an Australian record above 200 mph - a feat now marked by the Donald Campbell Obelisk. The Riverland's deeper past is close by too: the historic Overland Corner Hotel, built in 1859, is the oldest building in the region, and the Loveday Internment Camp site recalls one of Australia's largest WWII internment camps.
What visitors do here
Many come for the country-music festival that fills Barmera each June. Beyond it, you can ride the steam train at the Cobdogla Irrigation and Steam Museum, catch a film at the art-deco Bonney Theatre, or watch for waterbirds along the Lake Bonney foreshore and at nearby Loch Luna Game Reserve.
Visiting Barmera - frequently asked questions
What is Barmera known for?
Barmera is best known as a lakeside holiday town on Lake Bonney, a broad freshwater lake popular for swimming, boating and fishing. It is also remembered for Donald Campbell's 1964 water-speed record attempt, and it hosts a country-music festival each June.
How far is Barmera from Adelaide?
Barmera is roughly 220 kilometres northeast of Adelaide, which is about a two-and-a-half to three-hour drive. It sits in the heart of the Riverland, close to the larger regional town of Berri.
What is there to do in Barmera?
The Lake Bonney foreshore is the main draw, with safe swimming areas and space for paddling, fishing and water sports. Visitors also ride the steam train at the nearby Cobdogla Irrigation and Steam Museum, explore the historic Overland Corner Hotel, and watch waterbirds at Loch Luna Game Reserve.
When is the best time to visit Barmera?
Spring and autumn bring mild, comfortable weather that suits walking, birdwatching and time on the lake. Summer is warm and well suited to swimming and water sports, while June draws country-music fans to the town's festival.
Why is Barmera linked to Donald Campbell and the Bluebird?
In November 1964 Donald Campbell brought his Bluebird hydroplane to Lake Bonney for a world water-speed record attempt. He set an Australian record of more than 200 mph before rough water on the lake halted the bid, and the Donald Campbell Obelisk now commemorates the event.
Things to do in Barmera
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Stories from Barmera
On Lake Bonney: The Inland Sea of the Riverland
Donald Campbell chased a record here; today it's for swimming and sailing. The many lives of Lake Bonney, the Riverland's freshwater playground.
June 2026 · 5 min read
The Big River Bird Migration You've Never Heard Of
When the Riverland's wetlands fill, they become a continental crossroads for waterbirds - a spectacle that plays out largely unnoticed.
June 2026 · 5 min read
Why the Riverland Punches Above Its Weight in Wine
It rarely gets the glory, but the Riverland quietly produces a huge share of Australia's wine. Here's why - and where to taste the good stuff.
June 2026 · 5 min read
Behind the Wire: The Loveday Internment Camps
From 1941 the flats south of Barmera held Australia's largest wartime internment complex - 5,380 civilians of German, Italian and Japanese descent, a farm that grew army morphine poppies, and the only camp in the country to turn a profit.
June 2026 · 6 min read
Image credits
- BarmeraLakeBonney.JPG by Mattinbgn , CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons