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Barmera
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If you haven't followed the river to Loxton,
BARMERA
, on the shores of Lake Bonney, is the next major stopping point along the highway. Its claims to fame are varied and dubious: at
Pelican Point
, on the lake's western shore, there's an official
nudist beach
(and a nearby nudist resort with camping, and one on-site van $35-50; tel 08/8588 7366, bookings essential), while every June, over the long weekend, the
South Australian Country Music Awards
are held in the lovely old Bonney Theatre. For more about the music awards, and
tourist information
in general, contact the Barmera Travel Centre, Barwell Avenue (Mon-Fri 9am-5.15pm, Sat 9am-noon; tel 08/8588 2289). The
Barmera Hotel/Motel
(tel 08/8588 2111; $20-70) is not the most attractive of the big Riverland community hotels. A cut above is the expensive
Barmera Country Club
, on Hawdon Street (tel 08/8588 2888, fax 8588 2785,
www.countryclubs.com.au/barmera
; $90-150), overlooking the golf course, with a pool, spa, tennis courts and restaurant. The extensive
Lake Bonney Holiday Park
, on Lakeside Drive, is a scenic alternative (tel 08/8588 2234; cottage $50-70, cabins $20-70). Eating options include the
Pagoda Chinese Restaurant
(tel 08/8588 3167; closed Tues & Sun lunch). If you want to get on the water at Barmera, Riverland Leisure Canoe Tours, Thelma Road (tel 08/8588 2053), rents out
canoes
for $15 per day or you can take a day or overnight guided tour.
Just under 20km from town towards Morgan, a bend in the river was dubbed Overland Corner from 1838, as it was the crossing point for the overland cattle trade to New South Wales. The restful and delightfully isolated
Overland Corner Hotel
(tel 08/8588 7021; $50-70 including breakfast), opened in 1859, serves food and drink and has
accommodation
. You can camp and bushwalk in adjacent Herons Bend Reserve, where an eight-kilometre trail (around 3hr) takes you past old Aboriginal campsites. A pamphlet detailing sites on the walk can be purchased from the pub (50?). Look at the flood level from the incredible 1956 flood, practically up to the roof. Other useful information
for tourists (each section contains more specific sub-sections): |
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Australia,
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