Family Activities
Big things, big rivers, big fun
The best family activities in Loxton
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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4 places
Loxton Historical Village
$A pioneer village brought back to life
A re-created pioneer settlement of more than 45 buildings on the Loxton riverfront, staffed and furnished as it was a century ago.
Loxton Riverfront & Tree of Knowledge
Riverside walks and flood-height history
Loxton’s leafy riverfront, home to the Tree of Knowledge marking historic flood heights and easy riverside walking trails.
Loxton Riverfront Playground
A riverside playground beside the Tree of Knowledge
Loxton Tree of Knowledge
A giant river red gum on the Loxton riverfront painted with the heights of historic Murray floods.
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.