Waikerie
A citrus town beneath dramatic ochre river cliffs, and one of the world’s great gliding centres.
A town between river and sky
Waikerie takes its name from an Aboriginal word for a local moth known for its night flights, and the town has lived up to that sense of flight ever since. It sits on the south bank of the Murray River beneath towering limestone cliffs, in the heart of the Riverland's fruit-growing country. Settled in the 1890s as one of South Australia's village settlements, it grew into a centre for citrus, almonds, stone fruit and wine grapes, with packing sheds still shipping produce across the country.
On the water and in the air
Thermals rising off the surrounding mallee have made Waikerie one of the world's renowned gliding and soaring destinations, with a long-established gliding club drawing pilots from across the globe. Down at river level, the free 24-hour Waikerie ferry shuttles cars across the Murray, while the clifftop walk gives wide views over the floodplain and red gums.
What visitors do
Days here drift between river and orchard. You can browse the town's striking silo art, pick up local citrus and almonds from roadside outlets, or head out to Gluepot Reserve, one of Australia's great inland birdwatching sites.
Visiting Waikerie - frequently asked questions
What is Waikerie known for?
Waikerie is best known as a Riverland fruit-growing centre and a world-renowned gliding and soaring destination, thanks to the strong thermals that rise off the surrounding mallee. It is also recognised for its limestone river cliffs, clifftop walk, citrus and almond produce, and its colourful silo art.
How far is Waikerie from Adelaide?
Waikerie sits roughly 175 kilometres north-east of Adelaide, which is about a two-hour drive along sealed roads via the Sturt Highway. This makes it one of the more accessible Riverland towns for a weekend escape from the city.
What is there to do in Waikerie?
Visitors can walk the clifftop trail above the Murray for sweeping river views, cross the river on the free 24-hour Waikerie ferry, and try a glider flight over the mallee. The area also offers the town's silo art, local citrus and almond produce, and birdwatching at the nearby Gluepot Reserve.
When is the best time to visit Waikerie?
Autumn and spring are generally the most comfortable times to visit, with mild days well suited to walking, river activities and gliding. Summers can be very hot in the Riverland, while winter is cooler but still good for birdwatching and quiet riverside stays.
Is Gluepot Reserve near Waikerie worth visiting?
Gluepot Reserve lies north of Waikerie and is one of Australia's most significant inland birdwatching destinations, home to many threatened mallee species. It is a volunteer-managed conservation reserve with walking trails and bird hides, though the access roads are unsealed, so it suits those prepared for remote outback driving.
Things to do in Waikerie
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Stories from Waikerie
A Weekend in Waikerie
Waikerie translates its name as "anything that flies" - and between the gliders, the regent parrots and the painted rain moth on the silos, the town delivers. How to spend 48 hours on the Riverland's western cliffs.
June 2026 · 5 min read
The Fruit Bowl on the River
Oranges by the million, almonds by the tonne, and it all comes down to water. The story of how the Riverland learned to feed the country.
June 2026 · 6 min read
The Cliffs That Colour the River
Ochre, cream and rust, glowing at sunset above the brown river. The Riverland's great cliffs are millions of years in the making - and they're still moving.
June 2026 · 5 min read
Mallee Country: The Riverland Beyond the River
Everyone comes to the Riverland for the river. But step away from the water and the ancient mallee tells a deeper, wilder story.
June 2026 · 6 min read
Image credits
- Waikerie silo art.jpg by Eufoenus77 , CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons