A little about Meningie, SA

South Australia’s iconic Coorong environment is a place like no other in the world. It’s embedded with the beautifully rich history of the Ngarrindjeri people, while offering up the magnificence of its famous waterways, interconnecting the river, lakes, lagoons and ocean.

At the intersection of these waterways lies a small tourism town acting as its entry point – Meningie. People who have travelled to or through Meningie are captured by the area’s natural beauty, as it provides calm sunsets over the Lake, abundant birdlife from every view, the freshest Coorong Mullet you could ever find and nearby salt lakes, sandhills and national parks to explore.

Here you can wake up for a serene morning paddle in your kayak, indulge in breakfast at a restored lakefront cheese factory, take a chartered fishing trip through untouched parts of the Coorong, walk through a giant pink salt lake, glide down golden sandhills and be back at your accommodation before the sun sets.

So whether you’re craving the peace and quiet of nature’s awe - or the thrill of taking new adventures – you might have just found the spot. Grab your device and drop a pin in Meningie, because this should be your base to access the magic of the Coorong.

The main part of the township is perched on the edge of Lake Albert (Yarli) alongside it’s twin Lake Alexandrina. Together, these two Lower Lakes help connect Australia’s Murray River to the lagoon waters of the Coorong, and out to sea at the Murray Mouth.

There’s plenty of places to enjoy what it has on offer as well. Don’t for a second think that it’s just your 4WD and camper as the only accommodation on offer (although they’re great for exploring deep into the Coorong National Park and nearby Ngarkat Conservation Park). Here in Meningie you can also stay in luxury water front and eco-friendly cabins. Or you might prefer a simpler style of budget caravan park cabin or motel room perhaps? An emerging accommodation experience is also the growing number of lakefront holiday homes as well – including some with their own farm stay and beach!

Otherwise, if it’s a day trip from Adelaide that you’re scouting, this two-hour cruise up the South Eastern Freeway might be the perfect day out for you and the crew – all ages will find something to fall in love with down here.

If a day is all you have, then exploring the Meningie township and around Lake Albert are your best bet. You’ll want to start with the Bird Man of the Coorong as you drive into town. Flanked by the local jetty, this giant ostrich statue is a much-loved tribute to the fable of a historic bandit who robbed banks as he rode the unruly bird around the streets (the locals are yet to confirm or deny if it’s a true story – but in the meantime, it’s the perfect photo opportunity for you to perch yourself upon).

After this, you can spend time exploring the recently upgraded lakefront park. Right on the waterfront, this beautifully greened open space includes the town jetty, boat ramp, Pelican Path walk (which connects to the longer Murray Coorong Trail), interpretative signage on the town’s history and Ngarrindjeri culture, nature playground (including it’s much-loved wooden boat ‘Storm Buoy’), moving sailboat sculpture, loo stop and more.

From here, you only need to walk a few metres and you’ll come to a pelican viewing platform, local cafes and shops, the local pub, bakery and more. But if you want to stretch your legs a little further (or just jump in the car for a quick 2-minute drive), then head out of town towards the Coorong, where on the edge of Meningie you’ll find Freshies Café- this should be your lunch stop. Here, in the gorgeously restored Meningie Cheese Factory you’ll be served up delicious local food (we can’t go past the Coorong Mullet dish) and drinks, while you overlook the lake and the kids can play in the garden or with the other novelties set up in the outdoor beer garden.

If you have more than a day, extend your Meningie holiday with time for birdwatching, bushwalks, paddle boarding, fishing, 4WDing, exploring local artwork (including that of Guido van Helten at nearby Coonalypn and Raukkan), head out to the historic Pt Malcolm lighthouse near the Narrung Ferry (the only inland lighthouse in the Southern Hemisphere), go geocaching, learn to sail or ski on the lake, hire a bike and pedal out to Noonameena on the edge of the Coorong, go for a drive and explore Jack’s Point Lookout (inspired by Colin Thiele’s famous Storm Boy book). Or – simply grab a cuppa and a good book while you sit back and relax watching the world float by.

Meningie Two day itinerary Meningie Life is Better by the Lake Brochure

Is Meningie South Australia's Top Tiny Tourism Town?

In 2022 Council chose to nominate Meningie in the Tiny Tourism Town Category of the Tourism Industry Council of South Australia's Top Tourism Town program.

The SA Top Tourism Town program recognises South Australian towns that offer amazing visitor experiences and are committed to working collectively with business and industry to increase visitation to their region.
The Tiny category is ideal for emerging towns in the process of establishing a visitor strategy and developing their tourist offerings, with under 1,500 people. In the case of Meningie, this will complement the work being undertaken with the development of the Coorong Visitor Experience Masterplan and if successful will really shine the spotlight on Meningie, the Coorong and surrounding areas.

The award program was the first to allow Council's to submit nominations and had a short window of opportunity to nominate, prepare and submit an application. The submission included an 800 word article, a two day itinerary showcasing the best of the region and a two minute promotional video that can be viewed on YouTube (see below)