Family Activities
Big things, big rivers, big fun
The best family activities in Riverland
Roadside Big Things, swimming beaches on Lake Bonney, paddle-boat cruises and playgrounds on the riverfront keep all ages happy.
The Riverland is made for relaxed family travel. The river is the playground - calm reaches for swimming and paddling, grassy foreshores with playgrounds, and pelicans that loaf close enough to count. Add a string of quirky big things and living history, and there's plenty to keep every age happy.
Climb aboard a heritage paddle steamer like the PS Industry at Renmark, pose beneath the Big Orange at Berri, or step back in time at the open-air Loxton Historical Village. The riverfronts at Berri and Loxton bundle playgrounds, lawns and walking trails right beside the water.
For a slow adventure, the gentle creeks of the national park are perfect for a first canoe trip, with frequent landings and constant wildlife. Easy, affordable and never far from a riverbank picnic, the Riverland is a place where kids learn the simple joys of river life.
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44 places
Loxton Tree of Knowledge
A giant river red gum on the Loxton riverfront painted with the heights of historic Murray floods.
Lyrup Ferry
A free ferry linking Lyrup to the Berri road
Martins Bend Reserve
A popular riverside reserve and wetland just downstream of Berri, with camping, walking trails and birdlife.
Monash Adventure Park
A free Riverland adventure playground
A much-loved free adventure playground at Monash, a Riverland family institution for decades.
Morgan Ferry
A free cable ferry at the old river port of Morgan
Morgan Riverfront Reserve
Shady riverfront lawns beneath the historic Morgan wharf, with picnic spots and river views.
Olivewood Historic Homestead & Museum
$The Chaffey homestead where irrigated Australia began
The 1889 log homestead of Charles Chaffey, whose family founded Australia's first irrigation colony at Renmark. Now a National Trust museum set in an olive grove.
Pike River Luxury Houseboats
$$$Premium houseboats for hire near Paringa, your floating base for exploring the upper Murray.
PS Mayflower
One of the oldest wooden-hulled paddle steamers still afloat, moored at historic Morgan.
Renmark Apex Park
Shady riverbank lawns at the heart of Renmark
Renmark Club & Riverfront Lawns
Renmark's broad riverfront lawns and dining precinct, the green heart of the town beside the Murray.
Renmark Paddle Steamer PS Industry
$$A working 1911 steam-driven paddle steamer that cruises the Renmark riverfront on select days.
Renmark Riverfront
Palms, paddle steamers and pelicans
Renmark’s palm-lined riverfront, home to the historic PS Industry paddle steamer, houseboat moorings and riverside walks.
Riverland Houseboats
$$$Drive your own holiday on the Murray
Self-drive houseboats are the signature Riverland holiday - a floating home you pilot along the Murray at your own pace.
Ruston's Roses
$One of the largest rose gardens in the world
A vast rose garden near Renmark, one of the largest in the Southern Hemisphere, spectacular in spring and early summer.
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.
Waikerie Ferry
A free cable ferry across the Murray at Waikerie
Waikerie Gliding
Waikerie is one of Australia's premier gliding centres, with reliable thermals over the Riverland plains.
Waikerie Riverfront
FreeA green riverfront beneath the town's namesake cliffs, with a free ferry and houseboat moorings.
Waikerie Silo Art
FreeA healthy river painted thirty metres tall
Waikerie's twin clifftop silos carry a giant mural by artists Jimmy DVate and Garry Duncan - regent parrots, a yabby and river scenes on the theme "Healthy River, Healthy Community", painted on both sides so it faces town and river alike.
Family Activities in Riverland - frequently asked questions
What is the Riverland known for when it comes to family activities?
The Riverland is built around the calm reaches of the Murray River, so the river itself becomes the playground - swimming and paddling, grassy foreshores with playgrounds at spots like the Renmark Riverfront and Berri Riverfront, and pelicans loafing close to shore. Add quirky roadside Big Things, heritage paddle steamers and living history at places like the Loxton Historical Village, and there is plenty to keep every age happy.
Which Big Things can families spot around the Riverland?
The best known is the Big Pelican at Loxton, originally built in 1979 for the local Mardi Gras and now standing near the riverfront. Loxton also has an almond sculpture celebrating the region's nut industry, and you will find more public art further afield, including pelican-themed silo art near Paringa. They make easy, free photo stops on a relaxed family road trip.
Where is the best spot to take young kids for a swim and a paddle?
Lake Bonney at Barmera is a popular choice for families, with a lawned, shaded foreshore, playgrounds and barbecues, and a gently sloping, sandy edge that is good for paddling and swimming. The calm, shallow water near the shore suits younger children, while the wider lake is used for paddleboarding and other watersports.
Can families ride a heritage paddle steamer in the Riverland?
Yes - the PS Industry at Renmark, built in 1911, runs short heritage steaming-day cruises of around an hour upstream. These run on selected days only, typically Sundays on long weekends and during school holidays, roughly 20 times a year, and depend on minimum numbers and volunteer crew, so it is best to check the schedule and book ahead through the Renmark visitor information centre.
When is the best time of year to visit the Riverland with kids?
Summer is ideal for water-based fun, with warm days and river and lake water that is comfortable for swimming, making it the best season for the riverfronts and Lake Bonney. Spring and autumn are milder and pleasant for playgrounds, the Big Things, walks and paddle-steamer cruises without the peak heat, and pelicans and other river birds can be seen along the foreshores year round.