The drive between the Riverland's towns is half the holiday — a string of big oranges, historic pubs and riverfront lawns, taken at the river's unhurried pace.
The joy of the in-between
In the Riverland, the getting-there is part of the fun. The towns sit close along the river — Renmark, Paringa, Berri, Loxton, Barmera, Waikerie, Morgan, Blanchetown — and the drives between them are short, scenic and dotted with the kind of roadside character that makes a road trip.
There's no rush. The river sets the pace, and so should you.
A landscape of Big Things
Like much of regional Australia, the Riverland has embraced the Big Thing with gusto. The Big Orange at Berri is the headline — a giant citrus monument to the fruit that built the district — and there are oversized oddities scattered through the region for the spotting. They're gloriously silly, deeply photogenic, and exactly the kind of stop kids remember for years.
Pubs, ferries and riverfronts
Between the Big Things, the rhythm is reliably pleasant. Cross a free cable ferry at Walker Flat or Waikerie. Pull in for a counter meal at a historic pub like the Renmark Hotel or the Overland Corner Hotel. Spread a picnic on a grassy riverfront at Loxton or Berri. Buy a bag of citrus from an honesty box. Repeat.
A different speed of travel
The Riverland road trip isn't about ticking off blockbuster sights — it's about the accumulation of small, easy pleasures along a beautiful river. Take the ferries twice, stop for the oranges, talk to the person pouring your wine, and you'll find the region's charm sneaks up on you somewhere between two small towns.
