DESTINATION: Barmera

Around 215km NE of Adelaide, Barmera sits on the shore of Lake Bonney and is an ideal destination for windsurfing, waterskiing, canoeing, fishing, enjoying a round of golf or sitting and watching the pelicans on the manicured foreshore. Original settlers were attracted by the ex-panse of fresh water, and by 1846 there were several cattle runs in the area. After WWI, Barmera was opened up for soldier-settlement and a second wave of settlers arrived in 1922.

Main Attractions

Barmera's picturesque setting and beautiful beaches draw many visitors, and canoes, pedal boats and jet skis can be hired. For an all-over tan, visit the nudist beach at Point Pelican. The Barmera Theatre Gallery is an outlet for locally executed paintings, crafts and pottery. A boutique winery, Bonnyview Wines located on the Sturt Hwy, is open daily for tours and tastings. Close by is Highway Fern Haven, a specialist nursery offering ferns and many other plants, and a coffee shop in a lush tropical setting. For fans of country music, pop into Rockys Hall of Fame, which showcases country music memorabilia.

Nearby attractions

North Lake is the site of the ruins of Nappers Accommodation House (1850), one of the earliest buildings in the area. The town of Cobdogla is a small settlement 6km west of Barmera. Of interest here is the Irrigation and Steam Museum, home of the famous Humphrey Pump and other engines. Bookmark Biosphere Reserve located at Loch Luna, is a wetlands' area of creeks and swamps popular with nature lovers and birdwatchers.

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Region: Riverland

The Murray Riverland produces close to half of South Australia's wine grapes and is becoming increasingly known as a wine area in its own right. Murray Riverland is the heart of the fruit bowl of South Australia, where more than 90% of the state's citrus, stone fruit and nuts are grown; local produce can be sampled from stalls along the roadside. Attractions include Banrock Station, Fresh Fish and Dried Fruit Outlets, Loxton Historical Village, River Cruises and The Big Orange. Accommodation in the main towns of Berri, Loxton, Barmera and Renmark. more

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Barwell Ave, Ph: (08) 8588 2289

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