Paringa
Renmark’s riverside neighbour, known for its 1927 lift-span bridge and the cliffs at Headings.
Just across the river from Renmark, Paringa is the gateway to some of the Riverland’s finest scenery — the Headings Cliffs lookout, the Murray River National Park and the historic Paringa Bridge, a rare lift-span bridge opened in 1927. Cellar doors, wetlands and clifftop campsites cluster along the river here.
Things to do in Paringa
11 places
Bert Dingley Park
A riverside picnic spot at Paringa
A grassy riverfront reserve at Paringa beside the historic bridge, with picnic areas, a playground and river views.
Border Cliffs Customs House
FreeWhere South Australia taxed the river trade
The 1884 customs house at Port Murthoo, built to collect duties from paddle steamers crossing the border. A walking trail and quiet river reach mark one of the Murray's oddest historic outposts.
Headings Cliffs Lookout
Big views over the river bend
A clifftop lookout high above the Murray in the Murray River National Park, with sweeping views over the floodplain.
Lock 5 & the Bunyip Barge
FreeWatch boats step up the Murray in a riverside park
A 1927 lock and weir just downstream of the Paringa Bridge, set in lawned parkland with picnic tables, barbecues and the retired river barge Bunyip on display.
Murray River National Park
Floodplain forest and wetlands
A national park in three sections — Bulyong, Katarapko and Lyrup Flats — protecting some of the finest floodplain forest on the Murray.
Murtho Forest Landing
Riverside red gum camping above Paringa
Paringa Bridge
A 1927 lift-span river crossing
A rare lift-span road and rail bridge over the Murray at Paringa, opened in 1927 and still in use.
Paringa Cliffs Reserve
A clifftop reserve above the Murray at Paringa with sweeping river views and golden sunset light.
Pike River Luxury Houseboats
$$$Premium houseboats for hire near Paringa, your floating base for exploring the upper Murray.
Pike River Wetlands
FreeA major floodplain and anabranch system near Paringa, recently reconnected for environmental flows.
The Black Stump
FreeA 600-year-old river red gum, rescued from the Murray
The huge root system of a 500-600 year old river red gum — over eight metres across and the largest of its kind in Australia — salvaged from the river and displayed at Paringa.
Stories from Paringa
A Houseboat Beginner's Guide to the Murray
Hiring a houseboat is the quintessential Riverland holiday. Here's what to expect when you take the helm for the first time.
June 2026 · 5 min read
Duty Calls: The Customs House at Border Cliffs
From 1884 to 1902, "Port Murthoo" was where South Australia taxed the river trade — a customs house on a lonely reach near the border, undone overnight by Federation. The building still stands, and the drive to it is one of the Riverland's best.
May 2026 · 6 min read
Image credits
- River Murray at Paringa(GN05947).jpg by South Australian government photographer , CC0 via Wikimedia Commons