Blanchetown

Blanchetown is best known as the home of Lock 1, the first of the Murray River's locks and weirs and still the longest weir on the river, completed in 1922. As the first town you reach travelling up the Sturt Highway, it is widely regarded as the gateway to the Riverland. It is also a quiet riverfront spot framed by red gum and limestone cliffs.

Blanchetown is about 130 kilometres north-east of Adelaide, roughly a 90-minute drive along the Sturt Highway. This makes it the closest Riverland town to the city and an easy first stop on a river road trip. Larger regional centres such as Waikerie lie further upstream.

The main draw is the river itself, with the walk around Lock 1, riverside reserves, fishing, canoeing and abundant birdlife including pelicans. Nearby you can spot southern hairy-nosed wombats at Brookfield Conservation Park or taste local estate wines at a cellar door just outside town. The area also has riverside camping and picnic spots right by the water.

Yes. Brookfield Conservation Park, about 11 kilometres west of Blanchetown, protects an important population of endangered southern hairy-nosed wombats along with kangaroos, emus and varied birdlife. The wombats are most often seen basking in the late afternoon, or at other times of day during the cooler winter months.

Spring and autumn are generally the most comfortable, with mild days well suited to riverside walks, picnics and wildlife watching. Summer can be hot, though the shaded river reserves offer relief, and winter brings cooler, quieter days when wombats are more active at Brookfield. Any season suits a relaxed stop by the lock and weir.