The Riverland town of Berri in South Australia takes its name from the Aboriginal word “bery bery”, meaning “bend in the river”. The Murray River remains central to life here today, shaping both the landscape and the relaxed pace of the region.
Located around 250 kilometres northeast of Adelaide, Berri is a natural stop for travellers exploring South Australia’s Riverland.
The region was established as a major citrus and stone fruit growing area in the late 1800s, and orchards and vineyards still surround the town today. In fact, the Riverland produces around a third of Australia’s citrus crop, making agriculture an important part of the local identity.
One of the best ways to get an overview of Berri is by climbing the Water Tower Lookout. A staircase winds around the exterior of the disused tower before continuing inside to the viewing platform at the top. From here, visitors are rewarded with sweeping views across the town and the winding Murray River in the distance.
The tower is only a short walk from the town centre, where visitors will find cafés, shops and several colourful public murals. One of the most recognisable pieces is a vibrant river scene painted on a public toilet block by Adelaide artist Sarah Boese. A second mural, created in collaboration with local artist Suzanne Macpherson, can be found nearby.
From here it’s just a short walk down to the riverfront walking trail.
Following the riverbank offers a different perspective of Berri and the wide Murray River.
If you walk towards the bridge that crosses the Murray, you’ll find more artwork beneath the bridge as well as a striking cut-out metal mural telling an Aboriginal Dreaming story. The artwork depicts Ngurunderi and the giant Murray River cod known as Ponde, a creation story explaining the formation of the Murray River, the Lower Lakes and the Coorong.
Heading back along the riverfront in the opposite direction takes you past the visitor information centre, a riverfront café and boat mooring facilities before reaching the town’s grassy riverside parklands.
Continuing along the riverfront brings you to a small bush park that is home to a memorial dedicated to Jimmy James, a highly respected Aboriginal tracker who worked with the South Australian Police.
During a remarkable 37-year career, Jimmy James assisted with the capture of more than 40 criminals and helped rescue ten missing people through his extraordinary tracking abilities. In recognition of his service, he was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia before his passing in 1991.
The memorial features a granite boulder carved with animal figures and surrounded by smaller stones etched with animal, human and vehicle tracks — representing the remarkable detail he could read from the landscape. A bronze sculpture shows Jimmy in the kneeling position he often adopted while tracking.
A short distance further along the river sits BIG4 Berri Riverside Holiday Park, a popular base for exploring the Riverland. The park is located right on the banks of the Murray River and offers a mix of powered and unpowered sites, as well as cabins for those travelling without a caravan.
The park’s riverfront setting makes it easy to launch a kayak, enjoy a riverside walk or simply relax and watch the boats pass by. Families will find plenty to keep everyone entertained, with a swimming pool, playground and open grassy areas throughout the park.
Martin Bend Reserve, located just a short drive from Berri’s town centre, is a peaceful riverside park popular for picnics, fishing and relaxing by the Murray River. The reserve features wide grassy areas, shaded picnic spots and easy access to the riverbank.
From Martin Bend you can also access the Lion Allan Thurmer Recreational Trail, which follows the Murray River back towards town. The trail can also be explored as a loop of just over three kilometres, passing through woodland and wetland lagoons.
Birdlife is abundant here, with black box trees, river red gums and flowering shrubs providing habitat for a variety of species. Western grey kangaroos are also occasionally spotted moving through the reserve.
A visit to nearby Barmera, around 15 kilometres west of Berri, is well worth adding to your itinerary.
Barmera sits on the shores of Lake Bonney, a large freshwater lake fed by the Murray River. The lake is popular for water sports including kayaking, sailing and waterskiing, while its shoreline also attracts photographers and nature lovers.
One of the lake’s most distinctive features is the collection of dead river red gums standing in the water. These trees are the result of historic droughts and rising salinity levels and have become a striking photographic subject, particularly at sunset when their silhouettes reflect across the lake’s still surface.
Discovery Parks – Lake Bonney sits right on the lakefront, making it an ideal base for sunrise or sunset photography.
With its riverfront scenery, relaxed atmosphere and easy access to nearby towns and natural attractions, Berri offers a rewarding stop on any South Australian road trip through the Riverland.
For more caravan and camping inspiration across Australia, explore more road trip ideas on the Let’s Go Caravan & Camping website.
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