Top 15 Attractions and Activities in Murray Bridge, Australia

The inaugural permanent bridge on the lower Murray River was constructed at this location in 1879. Murray Bridge represents the concluding segment of a watercourse that rivals the Nile or the Mississippi.

The river arrives at this site following a journey of nearly 2,500 kilometers, serving as the demarcation between Victoria and New South Wales along much of its length.

Murray Bridge is a city characterized by a mild Mediterranean climate, featuring a serene park beside the expansive river, as well as one of Australia’s premier zoos situated just outside the city.

From this location, one may embark on hikes into the hilly bushland, enjoy a paddle boat cruise upstream, and marvel at the spectacular night sky in this sparsely populated area with minimal light pollution.

1. Monarto Safari Park

Located in the bush just ten minutes west of Murray Bridge is one of the world’s largest open-range zoos.

This attraction spans 1,500 hectares and has always prioritized conservation.

Originally established in the 1980s as a breeding facility and sanctuary for endangered species, it was not opened to the public until 1993. Monarto Safari Park has achieved numerous conservation milestones, with the most notable being the giraffe breeding program, which features the largest giraffe herd in Australia roaming the grounds today.

Highlights include a 360° walk-in lion enclosure, an impressive white rhino habitat, and a drive-through cheetah enclosure.

Home to over 500 animals from 50 species, visitors can also encounter native Australian animals such as Tasmanian devils and yellow-footed rock wallabies.

For intimate encounters, visitors should check the daily schedule for feeding times and keeper presentations.

2. Sturt Reserve

Murray Bridge’s premier feature is this expansive public green space located on the river’s west bank.

A paved path along the foreshore provides opportunities to observe a diverse array of waterbirds and houseboats anchored along the shore, while contemplating the impressive 2,500-kilometer journey the Murray has traveled to reach this point.

During the summer months, the riverside serves as an ideal refuge from the heat, offering temperatures typically a degree or two cooler by the water.

Sturt Reserve is equipped with various amenities, including fenced and shaded playgrounds, numerous sports facilities, a skate park, picnic areas, and barbecue spots.

A boat ramp is also available for aquatic activities, along with a resident bunyip, which will be discussed further in the next section.

3. Murray Bridge Bunyip

The Sturt Reserve also hosts a mythical river creature from Aboriginal tradition.

To the Ngarrindjeri people of the lower Murray River, this creature is referred to as the Mulyawonk.

The Dreaming stories associated with Mulyawonk vary across clans, but the central narrative involves a greedy man who overfished and disregarded the Ngarrindjeri laws concerning sustainable practices.

As a result, the elders transformed him into a hybrid creature—part man, part fish—and exiled him to the river.

This legend serves as a cautionary tale for children, warning them against swimming alone or overfishing, lest the Mulyawonk takes them.

Murray Bridge’s mechanical Bunyip was first installed in a manmade cave within the park in 1972 and has undergone several renovations over the past five decades.

The latest updates have eliminated the coin-operated mechanism, allowing visitors to simply press a button and watch as it emerges from the water, complete with sound effects, at no cost.

4. Murray Bridge Town Hall

With its striking main façade on Bridge Street, the historic Town Hall of Murray Bridge functions as a central landmark in the CBD.

This limestone structure was completed in 1911 after slightly over six months of construction, having undergone several expansions over its more than 110 years of existence.

The Town Hall has featured an auditorium complete with a proscenium and stage since its inception.

Following renovations in 2010, governmental chambers vacated the premises, and the Town Hall now serves exclusively as a venue for cultural and artistic events.

The event lineup includes a variety of tribute acts, acclaimed recording artists, musicals, plays, live comedy, dance, and educational performances for children.

5. Murray Bridge Regional Gallery

The regional platform for contemporary visual arts is situated in a compact yet spacious extension at the rear of the Town Hall.

This building, in its current form since 2005, features three unique exhibition spaces and a substantial gift shop offering an array of arts and crafts from local artists.

Exhibitions include a mix of national touring exhibits and themed or solo displays by South Australian artists.

The gallery also maintains a lively agenda of workshops and events, including the three-day Murray Fringe festival in late summer, arts and crafts markets, and classes covering lino, acrylic, and silk printing.

6. Captain’s Cottage Museum

The history of Murray Bridge and its vicinity is preserved within this captivating museum housed in a 19th-century cottage.

The property, constructed in 1890 by Captain Adam Johnstone (1834-1905) for himself, his wife Mary, and their nine children, plays a significant role in the regional narrative.

Johnstone holds a notable position in local history, having arrived from Scotland in 1856 with the initial two paddlesteamers for the River Murray, a mode of transport that would come to define the river.

The museum offers insights into the origins of local industries such as dairy farming, livestock husbandry, and river trade, along with a diverse collection of intriguing artifacts.

The exhibits include antique toys, relics from the paddlesteamers, farm machinery, historical engines, black and white photographs, and an array of model boats and trains.

The cottage is nestled within spacious grassy gardens, allowing visitors to enjoy a picnic on the lawns or beneath the gazebo.

7. Old Tailem Town Pioneer Village

A 20-kilometer drive along the Princes Highway leads to one of the country’s largest pioneer villages.

At Old Tailem Town, visitors may explore the early days of European settlement along the lower Murray River, wandering through 14 distinct streets featuring 114 buildings.

Many of these structures are original, dating over a century, and include a post office, pub, dentist, corner store, hospital, church, hotel, newsagent, and police station.

The village is divided into English and German settlements and offers numerous interactive experiences.

Moreover, one can delve into local railway history at a historical station and view displays of vintage rolling stock, including 19 carriages.

8. Lavender Federation Walking Trail

Sturt Reserve serves as the southern trailhead for a 325-kilometer walking path that meanders along the eastern slopes of South Australia’s Mount Lofty Ranges.

Now fully realized, this long-term project progressed in sections over nearly two decades, concluding in 2018. After traversing the riverbank and adjacent wetlands, the trail ascends into the range, navigating rocky gullies and remnants of abandoned copper mines and farms.

Along the trail, one will encounter native bushland, cultivated fields, grazing lands, and picturesque vineyards.

For shorter excursions, it is possible to tackle a single segment or navigate various loops off the main trail, located at Point Pass, Moculta, Springton, Eden Valley, Toculta, or right at Murray Bridge’s doorstep at Rocky Gully.

9. River Cruises

There are few locations more suitable for embarking on a river expedition than Murray Bridge.

On a leisurely cruise, one can appreciate the vast skies and splendor of the Murray’s lower regions, as well as the untamed natural beauty along the banks.

The local operator, Captain Proud Paddle Boat Cruises, offers a period-style vessel complete with a fully stocked bar, departing daily from the Main Wharf.

A diverse array of packages is available, including breakfast, lunch, dinner, live music cruises, and special discounted trips on “Cheap Tuesday.” Most excursions chart a course around Mannum, where the river is lined with breathtaking golden cliffs.

An informative commentary is provided, and those interested can even learn about steering a paddleboat.

10. Rocky Gully Wetlands

While walking the Lavender Federation Trail, a detour can be made to this bird-rich protected area located just north of Murray Bridge’s CBD.

The Rocky Gully Wetlands span 4.5 hectares and can be explored via the 1.8-kilometer Sanders Loop.

This wetland habitat has recorded approximately 75 species of birds.

Depending on the season, visitors may observe pelicans, cormorants, a variety of ducks, egrets, and numerous other waterbirds.

Advisably, approach quietly and take your time, as you may spot an echidna foraging along the water’s edge, and the waters host the critically endangered Murray hardyhead fish.

11. Murray Bridge Round House

Perched on an elevated position above Murray Bridge’s riverfront is one of the city’s oldest edifices.

Despite its name, the Round House (constructed in 1876) does not relate to locomotive storage; however, it does have ties to the region’s early infrastructure.

This was the residence of Henry Parker, who oversaw the construction of the first bridge over the River Murray, situated below, between 1873 and 1879. Over the years, this structure has served as a church, post office, school, and council chambers, and now contains a local history museum dedicated to the inaugural crossing as well as Murray Bridge during the Victorian era.

Children can engage in historical role-playing by donning period attire, practicing writing with a quill and ink, sitting at an antique school desk with slate, playing Victorian games, and trying to decipher various Victorian household items.

12. Murray Bridge Marketplace

Murray Bridge’s shopping and dining options are primarily located within a couple of shopping centers, the largest of which opened near the river in 2011. Murray Bridge Marketplace serves as a discount regional shopping hub, housing a public library along with Woolworths, BIG W, The Reject Shop, Best & Less, and The Reject.

Furthermore, over 40 smaller specialty stores and chains operate within the marketplace, ranging from Millers to Intersport, Specsavers, and Lowes.

For casual visitors, the highlight might be the food court situated high above the east bank of the Murray, offering a selection including sushi, Vietnamese, pan-Asian cuisine, pasta, and a variety of coffee.

13. Murray Bridge Golf Club

One of the premier country golf courses in the state is nestled within eucalypt woodland, adjacent to the CBD.

Murray Bridge Golf Club boasts over 500 members but warmly welcomes visiting players to its well-designed 18-hole course, featuring pristine fairways and greens.

The gently rolling terrain offers several challenges, with certain tees necessitating powerful drives to bypass difficult patches of rough before reaching the fairway.

With enough obstacles to maintain engagement, and several shorter par-3 holes introducing variety, golfers will find plenty to challenge them.

Green fees in 2020 were set at $39 on weekends and public holidays, while Monday to Friday fees were $29.

14. Lake Alexandrina

The northern shore of this expansive freshwater lake is less than 20 minutes from Murray Bridge, accessible via the town of Wellington.

Here, the Murray River widens into a 65,000-hectare lake, although the official mouth of the river, where it meets the Southern Ocean, is situated at the far western side of the lake outside Goolwa.

Lake Alexandrina serves as a destination for various water-based activities, including waterskiing, boating, windsurfing, swimming, and paddleboarding, while also offering excellent stargazing opportunities due to its lack of light pollution.

One of the lake’s most charming spots is the historic port town of Milang, renowned for its well-preserved 19th-century buildings, conveniently located southwest of Murray Bridge.

In Milang, one can indulge in treats from the famous bakery and enjoy a leisurely picnic on the grassy foreshore.

15. SA Skydiving

The northern shore of Lake Alexandrina is host to the Langhorne Creek facility of SA Skydiving, which presents an extensive array of skydiving packages in this breathtaking setting.

Budding skydivers can choose from tandem jumps at altitudes of 9,000, 12,000, and 15,000 feet.

Depending on the chosen height, participants will experience a free-fall lasting 25, 45, or 75 seconds before parachuting safely back to the ground for up to six additional minutes, all while secured to a seasoned instructor.

During the descent, adventurers will be treated to stunning views of Lake Alexandrina and the protective barrier island that separates it from the Southern Ocean.

SA Skydiving conducts jumps seven days a week, and for accompanying family and friends, a café, clubhouse, viewing area, and playground are available on-site.