Waikerie SA 5330 (Pop 2 000)

Waikerie, in the heart of SA’s Riverland district, is known as the ‘Citrus Centre of Australia’. This small attractive cliff top town sits above the Murray River and is located 173 km n-e of Adelaide. Early settlement began from 1880s and prospered with the thousands of fruit trees and vines planted. Today Waikerie has one of the Southern Hemisphere’s largest fruit processing operations. Rotary Food Fair (Mar), Horse Show (Easter), Riverland Rock‘n Roll Festival (May), Riverland Field Days (Sept).

Tourist Attractions & Info:
Scenic Lookout, Goodchild St excellent cliff top views. Harts Lagoon, Ramco Rd beautiful wetlands with a bird hide.

Nearby:
Maize Island Conservation Park (2 km north) unique waterbird reserve of cliffs and lagoons. Pooginook Conservation Park (12 km n-e) mallee reserve with kangaroos, wombats and malleefowl. Sunlands Pumping Station (10 km n-w) excellent district views. Broken Cliffs (15 km n-e) popular spot for anglers with numerous gypsum fossils. Birds Australia Gluepot Reserve (64 km north) is part of the Bookmark Biosphere Reserve, has over a dozen excellent walking trails and is home and refuge to many bird species.

Accommodation:
Waikerie has a motel, a hotel/motel, a B&B, 3 caravan parks and houseboats for hire. Visitor Information Centre: Orange Tree Giftmania, Sturt Hwy. Tel (08) 8541 2332.

Airports:
Waikerie Aerodrome, off Sturt Hwy; Renmark Airport (RMK), off Sturt Hwy. (75 km east).

Hospital:
Waikerie Hospital & Health Services, Lawrie Terrace. Tel (08) 8541 0555.