Adelaide to Mildura

Follow this itinerary to see the highlights of the Sturt Highway. Weaving your way through gorgeous countryside stretching from the City of Adelaide to the centre of Victoria’s Food Bowl, you’ll explore the likes of the Barossa Valley, Riverland and Millewa. Make the most of your travels and discover all the fantastic experiences you can have in this unique part of Australia.

Your trip at a glance Tanunda Barossa Visitor Information Centre Lutheran Churches Mengler’s Hill Lookout Sculpture Park Nuriootpa Maggie Beer’s Farmshop Penfolds Waikerie Illalangi Gourmet Foods Waikerie Silo Art Caudo Vineyard Renmark Twenty Third Street Distillery Taylor Riverfront Precinct Renmark Club Ruston’s Woolshed Brewery Meringur Millewa Pioneer Village Historical Lutheran Church Werrimull Werrimull Hotel Pioneer Plantation Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church Cullulleraine Lake Cullulleraine Store Lock 9 Mildura Mildura Visitor Information Centre

Insider tips

• Help us keep Fruit Fly out! To help protect fruit and vegetables growing in our region, we are protected by the Greater Sunraysia Pest Free Area (VIC/NSW). Find out more on the Australian Interstate Quarantine website or contact 1800 084 881.
• When planning your trip to Mildura, we want to see you to arrive safely. Ensure that you plan a TAC Pause Stop to rest and recharge. There is a SES Driver Reviver site located at Cullulleraine.
• Make sure your phone and camera are charged so you don’t miss an amazing shot!
• Don’t forget to check your clock! You will be crossing time zones when you travel from South Australia (ACST time) to Victoria (AEST time).

Tanunda

Travel time: 1 hour
Distance: 70km from Adelaide

Where better to start off your journey than to sample a small taste of the Barossa Valley. Just a short one-hour drive north of Adelaide, explore the historic town of Tanunda. With jutting church spires, picturesque wineries, and delicious eateries, you’re in for a real treat here. The Barossa Visitor Information Centre (66-68 Murray Street, Tanunda SA) should be your first stop. Pick up some maps and guides to give you inspiration for your next visit to the region! Wander down Murray Street which has a great range of quaint little shops and cafes. For something different, explore Tanunda’s religious past though the three Lutheran churches you’ll find here – Tabor (77 Murray Street, Tanunda SA), Langmeil (7 Maria Street, Tanunda SA) and St. John’s (11-13 Jane Place, Tanunda SA). If you’re not rushed for time, soak up an incredible view of endless vineyards and lush greenery at Mengler’s Hill Lookout Sculpture Park (Menglers Hill Road, Vine Vale SA).

Nurioopta

Travel time: 9 mins
Distance: 7km from Tanunda

Only a short drive from Tanunda, past rows of gorgeous grapevines, you’ll enter a foodie’s dream at Nuriootpa. Stroll down the historic main street and explore the array of boutique shops and cafes on offer. Home to some of the most famous wineries and distilleries in the country, get excited and enjoy a couple of incredible culinary experiences before continuing your way. Maggie Beer’s Farmshop (50 Pheasant Farm Road, Nuriootpa SA) is the place to drop in for a light lunch or snack, and to buy the full range of Maggie’s products. Make sure to drive by one of Australia’s most celebrated wineries, Penfolds (30 Tanunda Road, Nuriootpa SA). Prepare yourself for a unique experience at the Cellar Door, where you can sample their iconic wines whilst taking in idyllic vineyard views.

Waikerie

Travel time: 1 hour & 10 mins
Distance: 102km from Nurioopta

Hop back on the highway and head north. Your next stop is at the small, pleasant township of Waikerie. Sitting on the cliffs above the Murray River, Waikerie is the unofficial fruit capital of South Australia, surrounded by a plethora of citrus orchards and extensive stands of fruits including apricots, peaches, pears and plums. If you’re keen to sample the finest Riverland produce shop at Illalangi Gourmet Foods (12915 Sturt Highway, Waikerie SA). Make sure to fetch a bottle of their award-winning Caramelised Wattleseed Balsamic Vinegar, which is a great addition to your pantry. Another must see while in town is the Waikerie Silo Art (Ian Oliver Drive, Waikerie SA). Located in a unique clifftop position in the heart of town, the two silos showcase artworks on both sides, providing a spectacular land view and a river view too. If you want to stick around a little longer, make sure to take a short trip out to Caudo Vineyard (Hogwash Bend Conservation Park, Cadell SA). An iconic stop on your Riverland adventure, relax and enjoy on a glass of their delicious sangria whilst taking in picturesque views of the mighty Murray.

Book ahead - Plan a stay along the way

 

Whatever your style and whatever your budget, there’s something to suit everyone. Here’s a few suggestions:

 

Berri Hotel

Located on the banks of the Murray, the Berri Hotel is the perfect place for your next getaway. They offer a range of accommodation options, from luxury villas to budget-friendly rooms. Have a meal at the award-winning bistro which serves an exceptional selection of food and local wine.

Riverview Drive, Berri SA. T: 08 8582 1411

 

Big4 Renmark Riverfront Holiday Park

With one kilometre of river frontage, a water park, outdoor movie theatre and modular pump track, it’s easy to see why this holiday park is one of the best. This holiday park has everything from three-bedroom riverfront villas to ensuite tent sites.

Corner of Patey Drive & Sturt Highway, Renmark SA. T: 1300 664 612

 

The Frames

Suitable for couples, these self-contained luxury retreats are perfect if you’re looking for a bit of relaxation and serenity. Treat yourself to your own private pool, spa, and balcony with unobstructed views of the Murray. Arrange your own personal chef who’ll cook a three-course meal for you.

Lot 7 Panorama Court, Paringa SA. T: 0418 862 260

Renmark

Travel time: 53 mins
Distance: 78km from Waikerie

From Waikerie, follow the Mighty Murray to the heart of the Riverland, Renmark. Begin your exploration of the township with a visit to the Twenty Third Street Distillery (Twenty Third Street, Renmark SA), a revitalised 100-year-old cellar door producing one of South Australia’s best gin. Taylor Riverfront Precinct (Renmark Riverfront, Murray Avenue, Renmark SA) is the perfect place to stretch your legs and walk around the town centre, or to simply admire the tranquil waters of the Murray. Drop into the Renmark Club (160 Murray Avenue, Renmark SA) for a bistro style meal for lunch and let the kids roam free in the playroom. If you prefer the pub scene, have a meal at the recently renovated Hotel Renmark (Murray Avenue, Renmark SA). You may like to plan a visit to home of the National Rose Collection, Ruston’s (70 Moorna Street, Renmark), a beautiful rose garden and gin distillery. On your way out of town, don’t forget to make a detour to the historic shearing sheds of the Woolshed Brewery (65 Wilkinson Road, Paringa SA) and take home the ever-so-delicious Hard Lemonade.

Meringur

Travel time: 53 mins
Distance: 73km from Renmark

Now that you’ve made it across the South Australian-Victorian border, continue along the highway through the Millewa, Victorian outback country. Travel back in time and discover the changing landscapes, indigenous history and early farming settlement. Your first stop in Victoria is at the small town of Meringur. Plan a visit to the Millewa Pioneer Village (Meringur North Road, Meringur VIC), an open-air museum run entirely by volunteers. It aims to preserve the heritage, environment, and the history of the Millewa community. Also, worth seeing to is the Historic Lutheran Church (Meringur North Road, Meringur VIC) which was constructed from local limestone in 1929.

Werrimull

Travel time: 16 mins
Distance: 25km from Meringur

Continue to make you way through the Millewa, making a pit stop a little further up the road at Werrimull. If you haven’t already had a feed, it is highly recommended that you book a table or have a beer at the Werrimull Hotel (5543 Millewa Road, Werrimull VIC), Victoria’s Most Outback Pub. East of the township, you can visit a Pioneer Plantation (Millewa Road, Werrimull VIC) with individual trees marked with the names of the early settlers and their descendants. You might also come across the Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church (Werrimull South Road, Werrimull VIC), an unusual building made from local limestone. A National Trust listed building; the church’s unique design was inspired by Romanesque architecture found in Italy.

Cullulleraine

Travel time: 10 mins
Distance: 14km from Werrimull

Returning to the Sturt Highway, you’ll come across a great little oasis between Mildura and Renmark. Cullulleraine is a small but thriving community with a stunning freshwater lake. Grab some fish and chips, or a quick snack from the Lake Cullulleraine Store (5370 Sturt Highway, Cullulleraine VIC) and take it down to the scenic foreshore. If you have a bit of time up your sleeve, make a little detour about 15 kilometres north of Cullulleraine and catch a glimpse of Lock 9 (Lock 9 Road, Cullulleraine VIC) and the old pumping station restored by the Steam Preservation Society.

Mildura

Travel time:41 mins
Distance: 56km from Cullulleraine

From Cullulleraine, it is a relatively easy drive into Mildura, only 40-minutes. As you approach, take in the vineyards and palm trees you pass. Once you arrive and have settled into your accommodation, pop into the Mildura Visitor Information Centre (180-190 Deakin Avenue, Mildura) for an insider’s guided on where to go, what to see and what not to miss in Mildura and surrounds.

More information: Swan Hill Region Information Centre, Corner of McCrae Street & Curlewis Street, Swan Hill VIC. T: 03 5032 3033. Robinvale-Euston Visitor Information Centre, 101 Bromley Road, Robinvale VIC. T: 03 5026 1388. Euston Visitor Information Centre, Euston Club Resort, Nixon Street, Euston NSW. T: 03 5026 4244. Mildura Visitor Information Centre, 180-190 Deakin Avenue, Mildura. T: 03 5018 8380.

Images courtesy of South Australian Tourism Commission & Visit Mildura.