Family adventures in the Coorong
Whether it's just one day or a whole week - a family adventure awaits in the Coorong
There’s only one place in SA that you can ride a giant ostrich, go paddling on a lake, race on a world-class go-kart track, see one of the biggest pelican habitats in the world and go treasure hunting all in the same week… and it’s less than 2 hours from Adelaide.
If you haven’t worked it out yet, your next family holiday is here with us in the Coorong district.
The untouched, wild beauty of the Coorong National Park which connects with the nearby Lower Lakes and Murray River, are like nothing you’ve ever experienced.
Whether you’re heading along the freeway via Tailem Bend, or crossing the ferry at Wellington, this landscape and its adventures provide something for everyone in the family.
No matter if you have a household of mountain-bikers, little ones who love climbing playgrounds, science-buffs who want to explore nature, teenagers with a need for adrenalin – or you’re simply a family who wants to escape the city and see the stars, then we’re ready to welcome you.
And to make it even easier for you to plan your escape, we’ve mapped out the best things to do for a day-trip, weekend getaway, or longer family holiday.
Our top 5 day trip experiences for families
- Tailem Bend Playground: This recently upgraded playground has four different play areas within one giant grassed-reserve, and even includes the cutest little sheep sculptures, resembling Mem Fox’s much-loved children’s book ‘Where’s the Green Sheep?’. And while the colourfully spotted clown sheep is a favourite on paper, it’s more than likely going to be the two little lambs at the back of the reserve that the kids will want to pat, ride and explore when they first arrive.
The playground has two new colourful climbing, sliding and exploring play spaces for different age-groups, making it perfect for families with kids from 0-12 years. It also has a beautifully restored train carriage that they kids can play on, paying homage to the town’s railway history. Alongside there are also giant colourful bubbles poking out of the ground that the kids can test their balancing skills on.
Another thing we love about the playground is its perfect proximity to some of the other local experiences along the main street. Nearby is the ‘Uneek Animals’ sculptures, which local artists have made from scrap metals, and your kids will have fun trying to work out what animal is where.
If you have some time while you’re in town, you should also consider a stop-off at Old Tailem Town on the way home, and for refreshments, we recommend trying out the giant donuts from the Tailem Bend Bakery or coffee from Little Local Co.
- Pangarinda Botanic Garden: If exploring nature is more your thing, then a trip to Pangarinda Botanic Garden at Wellington East is a brilliant (and lesser-known) attraction for families. The garden is cared for by local volunteers, and is made up of colourful natives, which wind their way around trails. The kids (and adults) will love the colour and fun of this place, and if you’re a keen photographer, make sure you take along your equipment to snap some of the birdlife you’re likely to run into as well.
On your way to Pangarinda, you’ll also pass by The Hall Cafe at Wellington. This beautifully restored old church is now a café, specialising in home-cooked goodness, barista coffee and friendly country service. The outdoor decking means you can sit and enjoy the spring weather, and if you’ve got the time (and depending on which direction you came from), you need to take the kids on a return ferry ride at Wellington.
- Mowantjie Willowaur: Heading back towards Tailem Bend from Wellington, you’ll drive directly past the entry to the Mowantjie Willauwar Conservation Park, and its beautiful family-friendly walking trails.
The great thing about this park, is that the kids will feel like they’re exploring a tall forest while still on the 4kms of winding pathways (and even better is that the tracks are graded enough for mountain bikes and prams to comfortably wheel through too).
- The Bend karting: For the kids who are seeking out more of an adrenalin rush, karting at the world’s best racing facility is an experience like no other! There are different packages available for kids aged 5+ including tandem and individual karts. But be prepared to go fast – these karts are something else!
If you’re heading out this way, make sure you head home via the big olive for a look and stop in the main street where you can grab your fix of refreshments. There are cafes, bakeries, chicken shops and even a Foodland that you can use to stock-up supplies before the trip back to the city.
- Lower Murray Canoe Trail: If your kids are older and you’re up for some serious activity (where you might even get a bit wet), then taking on the challenge of the Lower Murray Canoe Trail is for you. If you’ve got your own equipment, then strap on the kayaks, paddles and lifejackets and start your journey from Dickson Reserve (and keep an eye out for the giant rhino on your way).
This newly opened trail is marked with options for beginners through to advanced paddlers, so those with basic kayaking skills can have a go. If you don’t have any equipment, you can always hire some from Freedom Boat Hire in Murray Bridge. These guys can even drop off and pick-up your equipment for you for a small fee in case you don’t have roof racks or a trailer to transport them.
*Important: People should always check weather conditions, safety gear and fitness of participants before the use this trail. See more advice and information here.
Our top 4 weekend adventures for families
- Coorong National Park: One of our most iconic experiences is a weekend spent exploring the Coorong National Park. The home of Colin Thiele’s famous ‘Storm Boy’ film, this place is home to amazing birdlife, plentiful fishing options, calm and shallow lagoons for paddling, bright pink salt lakes for muddy fun, rolling sandhills and of course – 90 Mile Beach.
If you want to camp, we’d suggest crossing through at Tea Tree Crossing or 90 Mile Crossing. BUT if you want to getaway without worrying about setting up camp, why not spend the weekend at the Lake Albert Caravan Park in nearby Meningie. This way you can experience the best of two magic waterways – the Coorong and the Lower Lakes.
In this area, kids can collect shells, explore nature, watch the pelicans, dip their toes in the water, sand and mud, and just get back to all the wild parts of our natural paradise.
- Meningie, Lake Albert: If you’ve never seen a sunset over Lake Albert, then a spring weekend might just be the perfect time. If you have perched at the local caravan park, then all you need to do is open your windows after 6pm to take it in. If you have a kayak or paddleboard with you, why not head out on the edge of the water for the best possible view as the warm orange colours reflect on the water.
Kids will love this gorgeous little country town for its variety of attractions. Along the lakefront, all you need to do is follow the Pelican Path to pass by a lookout, nature playground (including replica Storm Boy boat), a small sandy beach on the lake’s edge, jetty to drop a line-in and a giant ostrich sculpture. Titled ‘The Birdman of the Coorong’ this quirky icon just beckons people to jump on for a ride and a photo, with a saddle literally crafted onto the back of the ostrich. To find out why, you need to head there for a look yourself!
On the other side of the caravan park is also the Meningie Cheese Factory Museum and Freshies Cafe & Bar. The two operate out of the same facility and provide beautiful meals and drinks with a view over to the lake. It’s the perfect spot to switch off while the kids play with the wooden games on the front lawn.
(Note: If you’re an avid walker, runner or cyclist, this stretch also makes up part of the Murray Coorong Trail which stretches out to Noonameena on the edge of the Coorong lagoons. So pack your sneakers if you’re keen to stretch those legs a little more).
- Coonalpyn Waffles and Silos: How far would you drive for waffles? Well, if you’ve ever experienced the freshly-baked, traditional Belgian-style waffles from the team at Waffles and Jaffles in Coonalpyn, we think it would be close to 1 hour and 47 minutes.
Seriously though, if you’re travelling through the district, no matter what direction, you should make an excuse to swing by Coonalpyn and order a stack of waffles, while staring up in awe at the huge silo mural painted by Guido van Helten along the Dukes Highway.
There are also other smaller-scale artworks covering different parts of the town, so if you want to stretch your legs, follow the Creating Coonalpyn Art Trail to see more colour and fun.
- Point Malcolm Lighthouse and ferry: Travelling towards Narrung, you’ll have moments where you might feel like you’re in the middle of nowhere, but it’s definitely worth making the effort. The Narrung ferry runs through the narrows where Lake Albert connects to Lake Alexandrina – and is one of the most beautiful ferry rides you might ever take. Plus the kids will love it, whether you’re on foot, or in the car.
No matter which direction you’re headed, you’ll catch sight of the Point Malcolm Lighthouse, the only inland lighthouse in the Southern Hemisphere. No longer operational, the lighthouse is more of a tourism icon, with people able to walk up to the small hill to the have photos and walk around the heritage icon.
Plus – if you and the kids are into Geocaching, make sure you get prepared for a search, there’s always something to find in this area!
Our top (extended) holiday experiences for families
If you’ve got some extra time to explore, then on top of the experiences listed above, there’s a few extra which take a little more drive time, but will reward those who make the effort.
- Ngarkat National Park: If you have a 4WD, then load it up and head out into Ngarkat. This untouched national park provides beautiful native landscapes and wildlife; and is a long way from the crowds for those who really want to escape the city hustle. (And make sure you keep an eye out for the endangered Mallee Emu Wrens, who tiny little blue bodies have taken up home in this park after being re-released a few years ago.)
- Tintinara Disc Golf: Say what now?
Disc golf is essentially just that. Throwing discs around a golf course.
Also known as ‘frisbee golf’, this game will be loads of fun for the whole family, and was actually the first course of its kind in South Australia. If you don’t have your own equipment, you can borrow a disc golf kit from the local info centre (Tintinara Heart of the Parks) and try your luck at something completely new!
Plus, if you want to spend more time in this Mallee town, there’s a nature playground nearby, plus Lake Indawarra (which is often used by locals for swimming and kayaking).
- Tolmer Rocks: If your family loves to climb and explore, then a trip to the Mallee to visit the Mount Boothby Conservation Park (and its Tolmer Rocks) is a great way to spend a day. The 129 metre high Tolmer Rocks are the highest outcrop of granite overlain with limestone within the park.
The name ‘Tolmer’ comes from a Police Inspector, who pioneered a track from Adelaide to Victoria in the 1850s.
The area here is great all year round, but in spring produces wild orchids, so the kids can explore to see who can find one. They might also stumble across some of the other locals, such as kangaroos, echidnas or an unlikely sighting of a Mallee fowl.