Discover the beauty of the Riverland

Berri features a gorgeous riverfront with plenty of area for picnics or playing sport and also includes floating wharf platforms, lookouts, historic monuments and an indigenous bridge mural. The town is situated on the banks of the Murray River right in the heart of the Riverland and is a good base for visiting other Riverland towns within 45 minutes of Berri.

Berri was originally part of Cobdogla Station and a mooring place for paddle steamers. The town of Berri takes its name from the Aboriginal word 'bery bery' meaning 'bend in the river' and was proclaimed in 1911.

Today, Berri boasts one the finest towns in South Australia with a population of about 7,500. It is 240 kms from Adelaide by road and 525 kms by river from the lake entrance below Wellington.

Berri is surrounded by over 3000 hectares of irrigated orchards and has become notable as a fruit processing town. A large percentage of canned fruit and juice come from Berri.

For something tantalising you can't miss the award-winning Mallee Fowl Restaurant, the Berri Resort Hotel's bistro offering pub classics along with popular Asian and Italian dishes, and the Cragg's Creek Cafe offering alfresco informal dining on the riverfront decking right next to the Visitor Information Centre. There is also a wide range of shops within the town centre and nearby Riverland Plaza if you get the urge for a bit of retail therapy!

It has one of the most modern Hotels/Motels in Australia which leaves nothing to be desired in the way of service, facilities etc. There is a Tourist Information Centre, a Hotel/Motel, swimming facilities, and excellent sporting facilities catering for such sports as golf, cricket and hockey among others.

There are many things to do in the Berri area including excellent fishing, Lock 4, Lookout Tower, Martin Bend, Berri Limited (producer of the famous Berri fruit juices and many other famous products), Berri Estates (the largest winery in Australia) and the Big Orange.

This popular riverside town and its surrounds host a number of big attractions worth visiting.

Things to do and see

Take a scenic flight

Sometimes the best way to see something is from the air. Berri Air offer great scenic flights over the Riverland and beyond. There’s a lot to see from the air in the Riverland – towns clustered along the Murray River, the orchards growing around them, and extensive vineyards now established: irrigated areas that meet the vast areas of dry-land farms: wetlands, the Bookmark Biosphere, the lakes and lagoons where flocks of waterbirds live, and colorful river cliffs We have some pictures and sample tours to give you an idea of what you can expect.

Arts, Wine and Produce

Local produce outlets with notable names such as Angas Park and Berri Direct are located on the outskirts of the town, including Berri Estates, the largest winery and distillery in Australia and Cobb Webb Leadlight Studio.

Dining Out

There’s a wide choice of dining in and around Berri. The multi-award-winning Mallee Fowl Restaurant is a rare experience: good food served inside an old shearing shed filled with an eclectic array of memorabilia and Australiana. Hamley House Restaurant prides itself on red carpet treatment and the romance of warm wood fires, silver service and gastronomic expertise.

Cragg's Creek Café, unmistakable with its modern leaning architecture, offers alfresco informal dining on the riverfront decking – just follow the aroma of coffee. The smartly renovated Berri Resort Hotel has a good bistro offering pub classics, along with popular Asian and Italian dishes. A number of other restaurants, cafés and eateries are spread throughout the town.

Water Tower Lookout

Climb the water tower lookout in Berri for a different view of the river.

Riverside Walks

Inspect the mural under the bridge that depicts the Aboriginal heritage of the area and visit the monument that stands in tribute to Australia’s famous Aboriginal tracker, Jimmy James. Walk the meandering two-kilometre riverfront walk from Berri to the popular recreational and camping reserve at Martins Bend, where you can sit back and relax.

Accommodation

Accommodation in the Berri area includes a country club, motels, hotel, houseboats, bed & breakfasts, a riverside caravan park and a backpacker hostel. Alternatively, pitch a tent or go canoeing at any of the numerous locations along the river, including the Murray River National Park – Katarapko.

The Berri Bridge opening
Thursday, October 03, 2002

The Berri Bridge was opened in July 1997 by the Premier John Olsen. It is the largest of its type in South Australia. Over 13,000 people attended the opening creating the biggest crowd ever brought together in the town. The bridge cost $17 million dollars after 30 years of lobbying. The bridge spans the Murray River between Berri and Loxton. Travelling from one side of the region to the other can now be done in less than 30 minutes. This replaces the old dual ferry system which transported vehicles from one side of the river to the other.

Monash (Down River) - Renmark (Up River) | Visit the Riverland