The Riverland region comprises small and medium towns across the Murray River in South Australia. All up, there are about 30,000 people in that area. The Riverland region is a beautiful place to visit and highly recommended. However, for many, The Riverland remains relatively unknown; for many others, it is somewhere they drive-thru as they travel along the Sturt Highway. The Riverland region is around 2 1/2 to 3 hours from Adelaide (depending on which town you travel to).

The major population centres

The major towns of the Riverland are Loxton, Berri, Renmark, Waikerie and Barmera. Other towns are Paringa, Glossop, Lyrup, Kingston-on-Murray, Morook and Cobdogla, to name a few. There are three major council areas in the Riverland. The District Council of Loxton Waikerie, the Berri Barmera Council, and the Renmark Paringa Council. 

Industries of the region

Traditionally the Riverland is known for stone fruit and citrus. The area is also a sizeable dry crop for wheat and other crops. In probably the last 30 years, vineyards and winemaking have become a significant part of the region and almond crops. If you drove through the Riverland region in the 1980s, you would have seen a lot of citrus everywhere. Then, I guess, about the late 90s, large amounts of Vines were planted, which changed the landscape. Where once all you could see were citrus trees, you can now see more over the top of Vines and a lot more of the landscape as you’re driving between towns. During this time, many almonds were planted and are now one of the area’s major crops.

Visiting the area.

The Riverland continues to be a growing tourism destination for people wanting to get out of the city and enjoy the country’s laid-back lifestyle. People enjoy many holiday caravan parks along the river and lakes. This is especially true for long weekends such as Easter, where you’ll see that caravan parks are packed to the brim. It’s amusing for a local to see city Folk come up to the country to get away from their city life and set up campsites right next to each other, perhaps even closer than they would live in the city side-by-side to camp in the country. Let’s face it; there is something extraordinary about camping by the river. It is so peaceful and relaxing and a lot of fun to have that community atmosphere of many other people. It is an excellent opportunity to make friends and meet new people all there for the same reason: to relax and enjoy the river or the lake.

 Shopping

The Riverland region offers a unique variety of stores that people may not find where they come from. There are also a few big brand names in the area. But not too many that ruins the country’s feel. I enjoy living in the Riverland because it isn’t overly commercialised (yet) like the city with big bran Global brand names. It is not uncommon to have a day trip to ‘the city’ or a weekend to do some significant shopping for items you can’t usually get here quickly. That probably happens less these days with the growth of online shopping. Well, that’s said, you don’t come to the Riverland to go shopping; (you come to the Riverland to get away from that sort of thing) but you will be pleasantly surprised at the fantastic shopping here. 

Housing

House prices in the Riverland have recently increased 50% even in the last year. But the area still offers more affordable housing prices than many city locations (if you are not super fussy, maybe?). Like the rest of Australia, there is a real lack of housing, especially in the rental market. For many people, buying a house makes a lot more sense than renting it. Set in the Riverland is suffering the same problems as the rest of Australia in terms of housing. Anecdotally it’s not uncommon to hear stories of houses selling within hours of being put on the market. 

Schools & Education

 Riverland region has a number of public and private schools to cater for families depending on what they are looking for 4. In more recent years, with the growth of online learning, universities have set up learning centres in the Riverland region. The primary example that comes to mind is the nursing degree offered here in the Riverland through a major University.

Hospitals and Medical Care

The Riverland has a major regional hospital in Berri. This hospital is private and public and has recently been renovated, making it a good facility. The other major towns also have hospitals, including Renmark, Barmera and Waikerie. In particular, the Loxton Hospital is also an outstanding small hospital. Loxton Hospital is known for prenatal care. And is highly supported by the Loxton community and is one of the few small hospitals still open 24/7. Every major Town Centre has a medical or health centre stop, like most other areas in Australia; there is a shortage of doctors, and there can be a long waiting list. From experience, however, if you need to see a doctor, you’ll get in that day, and of course, if it’s an emergency, you will be treated as a priority patient. So I guess the situation could be far worse, so it’s not too bad.

Accommodation

If you are looking to stay in the Riverland, there is a variety of accommodation available. As I said earlier, each major centre has caravan parks and Tourist Parks. Other types of accommodation are; backpackers, bed and breakfasts, motels and all the major hotels.

Fishing

Fishing is a favourite pastime of many Riverland locals. Whether fishing off the bank or going out in the boat, many ‘a local’ are hopeful to catch a decent-sized callop or even the prized co. Unfortunately, what they are more likely to catch is carp! At the time of writing, 2022 is looking like another year when the river is flooding. That usually means an excellent opportunity for yabbies. There are few things better than a pot fully yabbies for an afternoon snack.

Final thoughts

In this article, I tried to introduce you to the Riverland region. There is much more I could say, but this will do for now. Are You looking for a great holiday getaway, or are you looking for a change (a tree change, so to speak)? Then I highly recommend the Riverland region as a great destination. Let me know your thoughts in the comments below. I’d love to hear about your experiences in the region.