Swan Reach, South Australia accommodation and information
Swan Reach, a great place to relax
Read about Swan Reach's history
A great place for travellers to stop and enjoy some good old-fashioned Murraylands hospitality when driving between the Barossa and Riverland. A visit to the hotel is a must, with sweeping views of the mighty Murray River from its prominent location perched on top of golden cliffs.
There were huge floods in this region in 1917 and 1931, with the most devastating occurring in 1956, seeing most of the businesses in the main street of Swan Reach washed away. Since then the town has been proudly rebuilt. The Swan Reach Museum details the history of floods in the area.
Here the river is sheltered by high cliffs and is excellent for water sports of all kinds. Water birds are abundant here, particularly in the backwaters and billabongs fed by the river. An ideal location to relax and enjoy. Spectacular scenery can be found at Big Bend; boasting the tallest cliffs anywhere along the entire length of the Murray River. This area is a rich source of fossils, flora and fauna, and is up to 20 million years old. It conceals many archaeological secrets and botanical marvels, with the majestic cliffs formed from the seabed laid down tens of thousands of years ago.
The Swan Reach Hotel is unique in hotel standards as it was not purpose built, but was formed around the original Swan Reach Station homestead, which was built circa 1865. Today you'll find a well compiled photographic collecton and edited history of the hotel on display throughout the premises and visitors are welcome to come in and browse. The hotel's dining room and shaded beer garden offer unsurpassed views of the Murray River and wildlife where one can relax and enjoy a meal or just sit and enjoy the atmosphere.
When touring through this area, take the opportunity to see the Southern Hairy-nosed Wombats that are abundant on the limestone plains of the Old Devon Downs and Kooloola Stations. The nearby town of Nildottie boasts great panoramic views of one of the most pristine stretches of water on the Murray, so ensure you have film in the camera!
Ngaut Ngaut boardwalk is located at nearby Kroehn's Landing. Site of Australia's first archaeological dig, which revealed rich secrets triggering the 1929 discovery of a 7000-year-old skeleton of a young boy in a rock. In the rock with the boy's skeleton were implements unlike any known Aboriginal tools or weapons and leavings of his meals which showed he had eaten a species of mussel, long extinct. Guided tours are available by appointment. Source
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