Murray River Drive – 8 Day Campervan Itinerary

Collect your camper bright and early from Adelaide, set the sat-nav for Renmark and roll north-east through the Barossa’s quilt of vines and resist the urge to pull over at every winery (don’t worry, we will be back). As you continue, river gums start to outnumber vines as you cross into the Riverland, and soon the mighty Murray River unfurls beside the highway, guiding you into laid-back Renmark.   

Where to stop between Adelaide and Renmark

• Go for a swim – Break up the drive with a refreshing swim at Lake Bonney in Barmera, a favourite local spot for families and paddleboarders alike.  

• Take a leisurely stroll along the Renmark riverfront, where shady lawns and riverside cafés make it an ideal place to stretch your legs. 

• Cruise the PS Industry – History lovers shouldn’t miss a cruise on the PS Industry, a beautifully restored paddle steamer that brings the river’s working past to life.  

• Stop at Angove Family Winemakers, where you can sip award-winning organic wines and soak up vineyard views that stretch to the water’s edge. 

Where to stay in Renmark

Pitch up at Renmark Riverfront Holiday Park. Shady powered sites, a resort-style pool and a lazy-looping waterslide keep everyone smiling, while the Murray drifts right past your awning. 

Short hops are the secret sauce of a relaxed motorhome holiday, and today’s leisurely leg is just that. Meander south-west, pausing in Berri for a riverfront coffee and a sticky-date slice (this is fruit-growing country, after all). Then, arriving in Loxton, wander the citrus-scented streets before diving into pioneer history at the open-air village, or simply find a sunny bench and watch kite surfers carve up the wide river bend. 

Where to stop between Renmark and Loxton

• Browse Berri’s riverfront – pop into the growers’ market for juicy local oranges. 

• Let off steam at Monash Adventure Playground – think giant rope mazes and flying-fox zip-lines set among mature gums. 

• Dig into pioneer tales at Loxton Historical Village, where over 45 recreated buildings and original artefacts bring the region’s pioneering heritage to life. 

Where to stay in Loxton

Book a grassy, river-hugging site at Loxton Riverfront Caravan Park. Sundowners taste better when pelicans glide past at eye level, and the night sky here is ink-black brilliance. 

Slip the handbrake on your maui camper and roll west along golden wheat fields until vines reclaim the horizon at Banrock Station. Stretch your legs on the wetland boardwalks, spotting spoonbills and egrets, then reward yourself with a chilled Semillon before making your way to Waikerie on the next stretch of this mighty Murray River Drive.  

Where to stop between Loxton and Waikerie

• Wine tasting at Banrock Station – Wander the scenic wetland boardwalks at Banrock Station. Afterwards, settle in at the Wine & Wetland Centre to sample a flight of sustainably produced wines with sweeping views over the wetlands. 

• Admire Waikerie’s silo art – The towering silos in Waikerie are brought to life with vibrant murals that pay tribute to the region’s native wildlife and river culture. They’ve become a proud landmark and a must-stop photo opportunity on any Murray River road trip. 

• Look out over ochre cliffs – Take in panoramic views from the cliff-top walk, where roadside pull-offs reveal the Murray winding between rich red cliffs and lush green floodplains.  

• Paddle or cruise – For a peaceful change of pace, hire a kayak and explore the quiet backwaters and lagoons at your own rhythm.  

Have a few extra days? Why not jump aboard a Murray River self-drive houseboat and spend the afternoon cruising past pelicans, river red gums, and timeless river scenery? 
 

Where to stay in Waikerie 

Park up under towering river gums at Waikerie Holiday Park. Modern facilities, roomy powered sites and a short stroll into town make it the perfect overnight base for your campervan hire adventure along the mighty Murray River.  

Today’s drive is all gentle bends and ochre cliffs. On today’s drive, the Murray soon swings north on the Sturt Highway to meet Morgan, once South Australia’s busiest paddlesteamer port. Here, you can stroll the Historic Wharf Precinct and, if the weather’s kind, unfurl a picnic rug in the riverside reserve and watch the river go by.  

Where to stop between Waikerie and Morgan 

• Lunch at historic Overland Corner Hotel –  detour to the age-old Overland Corner Hotel, where they have been slinging cold pints and hearty schnitzels since the 1860s.   

• Morgan Historic Wharf Precinct –  Stroll the Historic Wharf Precinct to admire the interpretive panels and century-old machinery. 

• Riverside picnic spots – Set out a picnic blanket on the shady lawns beside gently flowing water for the ultimate Murray River caravan trip pause. 

Where to stay in Morgan

Morgan Riverside Caravan Park offers spacious riverfront sites, easy access to walking trails and the kind of star-littered night sky you never see in the city. 

Fill the thermos, cue your favourite road-trip playlist and follow the river south-east to continue for day five of this Murray River road trip. Rolling into Mannum, you’ll feel the hum of paddle wheels long before you see them.  

Where to stop between Morgan and Manum

• Mannum Dock Museum – Drop into the Mannum Dock Museum to climb aboard heritage vessels and trace the town’s boat-building heyday.   

• Mannum Waterfalls – For fresh-air lovers, the Mannum Waterfalls walking trail offers granite pools and panoramic Murray views after rain. 

Where to stay in Manum

Book a waterfront site at Mannum Caravan Park. Spacious pitches, leafy shade and a two-minute wander to pubs, cafés and the ferry make it a highlight of any motorhome road trip along the mighty Murray River Drive south of Yunderup and beyond. 

Slip downstream through sleepy riverside hamlets and paddocks flecked with sheep until Murray Bridge’s twin steel spans appear on the horizon. It’s the shortest drive of the whole campervan road trip, so park the motorhome early and give yourself a full afternoon to graze, browse and wander. 

Where to stop between Mannum and Murray Bridge 

South of Murray Bridge, the landscape turns softly pastoral: rolling dairy country, stone cottages and, halfway along, the perfectly photogenic town of Strathalbyn.  

What to do between Murray Bridge and Goolwa 

• Stop by Strathalbyn to admire its pioneering past 

• Grab tickets for the heritage Cockle Train – an 1854 line that rattles along towering dunes to Victor Harbour.   

• Wander around the revived Goolwa Wharf Precinct, now buzzing with microbreweries, art studios and distillery doors.  

• Stretch your legs on the sandy track to the legendary Murray Mouth, where the river finally meets the Southern Ocean – a goose-bump moment on any Mighty Murray River Drive.   

Where to stay in Goolwa

Park up for the night at Discovery Parks – Goolwa, five minutes from surf-washed Middleton Beach. Expect shady powered sites, a bouncing pillow for the kids, and sunset walks where pelicans patrol the lagoon.