Category: South Australia

Driving to the Barossa through the Adelaide Hills, the road leads past reservoirs and forests to the pretty hamlet of Williamstown. Williamstown is home to the Barossa Reservoir and its famous Whispering Wall. An engineering feat when it was built, this acoustic phenomenon allows messages whispered at one end to carry audibly to the other end, 140 metres away. The town is an access point to Mount Crawford Forest and its walking, cycling and horseriding trails. Many of the original stone buildings in the town centre are still in use, including the hotel, first licensed in 1854, and Cundy’s Bridge, built in 1867 over Victoria Creek. Having withstood both time and flooding, the bridge has been altered but still retains its original stone piers.

Situated in a valley surrounded by ranges, Spalding is a pleasant farming town. The nearby Broughton River offers excellent trout fishing and Geralka Rural Farm offers pony rides, hay rides, blacksmithing, working Clydesdales and more. The Broughton River, the only river to rise and set in South Australia, flows through the area. A popular spot for trout fishers, fingerlings are released into the river on a regular basis. Mining first began in the district in 1858, when the sample showed 50 perc ent metallic copper and traces of both silver and gold. Mining ceased in the area in the 1920s. William Lunn opened the first business in Spalding in March 1875, a store and post office.

A tiny coastal village that’s become a popular holiday retreat, thanks to its white sandy beach and fabulous views over Roma Mitchell Bay and Yankalilla Bay. The HMAS Hobart was sunk here and is a unique diving attraction. Holiday homes, reef snorkelling and fishing also combine to make Carrickalinga a treasured location. The best approach is from the north via Myponga Reservoir to enjoy dramatic coastal views.

The pretty Flinders Ranges town of Quorn is home to the Pichi Richi Railway, a treasured steam journey which chugs its way through glorious rugged countryside to Port Augusta. Quorn retains much of its old world character, with charming street frontages and a pub on almost every corner. Stop in at a cafe for coffee and cake, or wander through bric-a-brac stores and an art gallery. The discovery of rich mineral deposits in the Flinders Ranges and the opening up of the Willochra Plains for agriculture made it necessary to construct railways to serve the north of the state. To meet these needs the town of Quorn was surveyed and proclaimed in 1878 and soon became an important railway town. Mount Brown 14 kilometres south, is the highest peak rising majestically over 900 metres. Nearer to the town, Devil’s Peak and Dutchmans stern overlook the valley with their rocky outcrops richly coloured, to the north where Warren and Buckaringa Gorge carve through the hills to Mount Arden.

The largest town on the Murray River in South Australia, Murray Bridge has everything the visitor could need, including a large regional shopping centre, accommodation, restaurants, hotels and sporting facilities. It is also home to the riverfront Sturt Reserve, which has a playground, BMX track, barbecues and a kiosk. Formerly known as Edwards Crossing, because of an early settler’s hospitality to passing drovers, Murray Bridge is rich in river history. The first bridge to span the Murray was built here in 1879, and was joined in 1925 by a rail bridge and in 1979 by the Swanport Bridge. The local Ngaralta Aboriginal people call the area Mooppolthawong, which means ‘haven for birds’. The Captain’s Cottage Museum tells the history of the town through memorabilia, photographs, vintage machinery and model riverboats. Beneath the surface of the river between Sturt Reserve and upstream from the bridges, which range in depth from eight metres to 18 metres, there are nine sunken paddle steamers and barges. Murray Bridge is a good base for water sports, boating and fishing and there are also several cruise operators based in the town, including MV Proud Mary, which runs regular morning tea cruises. Walkers can take the five kilometre Rail and River Walk, which takes in the town’s major historic sites, or the 79 kilometre Federation Trail, which meanders its way to Tungkillo. Those wanting to explore the town’s sights by car can take the Murray Bridge Scenic Drive – copies are available from the local Visitor Information Centre. Major attractions like Puzzle Park, home to a giant playground and water slides, Dundee’s Wildlife Park, which has wildlife shows, a hotel and restaurant, Avoca Dell Mini Golf and the Sturt Reserve Bunyip, make Murray Bridge a good base for families. Further afield, Willow Point Wines and the Swanport Wetland, an important habitat for fauna, are worth a visit.

Carpenter Rocks is situated on the coastline 37 kilometres west of Mount Gambier. It has a beautiful bay, which provides a safe haven for the many fishing boats moored there. Cape Banks Lighthouse is situated approximately four kilometres from the town and is the area where the Admella was wrecked in 1859 resulting in the loss of 84 lives. Also nearby are Canunda National Park and Lake Bonney.

Macclesfield is a small town located in the Adelaide Hills of South Australia with a population of 350. You can wander the town with its historic buildings and old village feeling and enjoy a meal and a drink at one of the local historic hotels. It still has wonderful examples of early stone architecture that remain as dwellings to this day and there are an abundance of good walks both in and around the village.

The original settlement of Arno Vale was settled by John Hallet in 1840 on the fringe of where the current settlement lies. It was later named for the flocks of cockatoos that congregated in the ancient old gums surrounding the town. It’s convenient rural location – only 8 kilometres from Gawler, it has seen recent land subdivisions for people seeking a country lifestyle. Sandy Creek and Para Wirra Conservation Parks and Barossa Goldfields are a short drive away. The local general store can provide fuel and provisions seven days a week.

Auburn is one of the oldest settlements in the Clare Valley, so it’s a great place to explore the history of this famous wine region. The National Trust cares for a number of beautiful buildings, including the old Police Station (1859), the Mechanics Institute (1859), St John’s Anglican Church (1862), Post Office (1862) and the Council Chambers (1879). Glovers of Auburn (1855) is the oldest business house still used as commercial premises, and all are located in St Vincent Street, the picturesque street now recognised as an historic precinct. Auburn also has a claim to fame in poet CJ Dennis, who was born here in 1876 and went on to become most famous for his poem ‘A Sentimental Bloke’. You’ll find many of his works at the National Trust and library. Located at the southern approach to the Clare Valley, Auburn began as a resting place for the ore laden wagons and their teams as they made their way from the Burra copper mines to Port Wakefield. And it’s here that you will first be introduced to the wine lands of the Clare Valley. The undulating hillsides have extensive plantings by both the large and smaller wine growers and provide a stunning backdrop to the town.