The Lower Riverland: Cliffs & Bends
A two-day run through the soft limestone cliffs of the lower river
The plan
The lower Riverland is cliff country. Here the Murray cuts into soft limestone, raising walls of ochre, cream and rust that glow at sunset and shelter nesting birds. This drive chases the best of them.
Work downstream over two days, pausing at lookouts, ferries and the lock at Blanchetown where the tamed river shows its engineering. Late afternoon is the magic hour, when the low sun sets the cliffs alight — plan your stops accordingly.
It's an easy, scenic loop that pairs big river views with a sense of how the Murray shaped, and was shaped by, this landscape.
Day 1
3 stops-
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2
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3
Morgan Cliffs Lookout
MorganCatch the cliffs and the great bend at Morgan in the afternoon light.
See place →
Day 2
4 stops-
1
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2
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3
Lock 1 Blanchetown
BlanchetownSee the river tamed at Lock 1, the first weir on the Murray.
See place → -
4
Lock 1 Weir Walk, Blanchetown
BlanchetownFinish on the weir walk for a close look at the engineering.
See place →
On the map
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Image credits
- Cliffs along River Murray(GN13652).jpg by State Government Photographer , CC0 via Wikimedia Commons