Drive the Mid Murray Meander, South Australia

Reprinted with permission of Graeme McVitty

The Mid Murray Meander is a new tourism destination in South Australia designed for the ordinary motorist, bike-rider and long-distant walker / adventurer. It encompasses many points of interest and captivating vision as it winds across the extensive Murray Flats.

The 250 kilometre tourism trail commences at the car park adjacent to the Mannum Ferry and meanders northwards across the vast Murray Flats to Morgan via Eudunda.

It is designed to take the explorer through broad-acre farm lands, along natural avenues, touches historic locations and an array of interesting sculptures and hues of nature topped by distant and in some spots, striking views.

Although some sections of the Trail are along sealed roads, the route has been specifically designed to envelope the person with a sense of peace, tranquility and even intense isolation as the many quiet back roads and tracks of gravel or dirt surfaces are followed.

However, while some may be rough in places and might appear to be only suitable for a 4wd vehicle, all are readily accessible by the ordinary family car and all are within easy access to “civilization”.

The Trail could be unsuitable for travel during periods of wet weather as some of the roads and creek crossings become impassable.

Although the trail begins and ends within the Mid Murray Council area, it does however sneak into the lower reaches of the Goyder Regional Council at Eudunda before returning back to the Mid Murray Council area at Bower.

The entry into the Goyder Regional Council area is to introduce the traveller to some points of interest and visual influence in addition to visiting an historical site connected with the tragic Mt Bryan Expedition, which could not be omitted from the Trail due to its significance. And even Edward John Eyre camp near Eudunda on his way to the Murray River during his epic May – June 1839 expedition, which was supposed to have been to find a suitable road to Port Lincoln but on being forced off that task he turned his attention to exploring in the eastward direction instead.

Although the Trail is designed to help discover the region you'll make your own adventures in this pioneering part of South Australia's heritage!

People with that sense of adventure, curiosity or interest in history are encouraged to come along and experience for themselves what this hidden, even forgotten region of South Australia has to offer. There are many places to stay along the way; in fact, this Trail will become equal to none for the motorist and bike rider plus a ‘must-do destination’ for serious long-distance walkers.

However, while all due care has been taken in the design of the trail, changes to the state of roads and tracks are ever occurring, thus it is up to the driver to ensure their own safety and that of others is paramount at all times.

For more information visit : www.midmurray.com