Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
( 08-8569 1402; www.mannumcaravanpark.com.au ; Purnong Rd, Mannum; unpowered/powered
sites $25/29, cabins/villas from $64/120; ) A clean-cut caravan park right on the
river next to the Mannum ferry crossing. Ducks and water hens patrol the lawns, and
there's a pool table in the games room if it's raining. Lots of shade-giving gums.
Waikerie Hotel Motel HOTEL-MOTEL $
( 08-8541 2999; www.waikeriehotel.com ; 2 McCoy St, Waikerie; d $79-139; ) Waikerie's
main-street pub has clean, affordable hotel rooms (all with bathroom, rather unusually)
and updated motel rooms out the back. The oldest part of the pub burnt down in 2012,
two days shy of its 100th birthday! The bistro does pub-grub classics (mains $16 to $35,
serving noon to 2pm and 6pm to 8pm).
Murray River Queen RIVERBOAT $
( 08-8541 2651; www.murrayriverqueen.com.au ; Leonard Norman Dr, Waikerie; dm $30, d
without/with bathroom from $55/90) When it's not cruising the Murray, this 1974 paddle-
boat berths at Waikerie and offers basic bunkrooms (a tad shabby and dim but undeniably
novel) and more upmarket doubles. The onboard cafe is good for a light lunch (items $6
to $15, open 8.30am to 4pm Wednesday to Sunday). It's managed by the local caravan
park.
8 DON'T PAY THE FERRYMAN
As the Murray curls abstractly across eastern SA, roads (on far more linear traject-
ories) invariably bump into it. Dating back to the late 19th century, a culture of free,
24-hour, winch-driven ferries has evolved to shunt vehicles across the water. Your
car is guided onto the punts by burly, bearded, fluoro-clad ferrymen, who lock
safety gates into position then shunt you across to the other side. There are 11 fer-
ries in operation, the most useful of which are those at Mannum, Swan Reach and
Waikerie. Turn off your headlights if you're waiting for the ferry at night so you don't
bedazzle the approaching skipper.
Pretoria Hotel PUB $$$
( 08-8569 1109; www.pretoriahotel.com.au ; 50 Randell St, Mannum; mains $16-28;
noon-2pm & 6-8pm) The family-friendly Pretoria (built 1900) has a vast bistro and deck
fronting the river, and plates up big steaks, roo fillets and parmas plus Asian salads and
good seafood. When the 1956 flood swamped the town they kept pouring beer from the
1st-floor balcony!
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