Blanchetown Riverside Holiday Park (CP)

OVERVIEW
There is something about pulling up at Blanchetown Riverside Holiday Park that makes your shoulders drop and your pace slow right down. The park sits on a wide, lawned riverfront on the edge of the mighty River Murray, in the small Mid Murray town of Blanchetown, South Australia. I rate riverside parks on how close they put you to the water, and this one is hard to beat – the grassed sites roll right down toward the bank, with broad water views opening up in front of most vans and cabins.

What gives this spot its real character is the position right beside Lock 1, the first lock ever built on the Murray back in 1922. Park yourself here and you can watch paddle steamers and houseboats ease through the lock on their runs upstream, which is the kind of slow-moving river theatre you do not get at your average caravan park. The birdlife alone is worth the trip. Early mornings and evenings bring squadrons of pelicans gliding in, noisy cockatoos carrying on in the gums, and kangaroos drifting through the surrounds at dusk.

The park has been reborn under new ownership, who have rebuilt the cabins and reworked the park’s structure after the major 2022 River Murray floods. There is still finishing work going on, so a little patience pays off, but the bones of a genuinely lovely riverside retreat are all here – clean amenities, a camp kitchen, two pontoons reaching out over the water, and plenty of open lawn to spread out on.

Location is another quiet win. Blanchetown sits roughly midway between Waikerie in the Riverland and Nuriootpa in the Barossa Valley, so you are only about half an hour from two very different wine regions, each with their own cellar doors, restaurants, golf courses and historic sights. Yet the park itself feels a world away from all that – peaceful, unhurried and built around the river.

It is a short stroll from your site to the oldest hotel on the Murray, the historic Blanchetown Hotel, where a cold drink and a counter meal cap off a day on the water nicely. Anglers love the easy bank and pontoon access, boaters appreciate the nearby ramps, and anyone who just wants to sit with a book and watch the river slide past will feel right at home.

If your idea of a good time is fishing lines in the water, a fire crackling as the sun drops, and pelicans for company, Blanchetown Riverside Holiday Park delivers exactly that – simple, scenic and proudly riverside.

FEES & BOOKINGS
* Powered sites have recently been priced from around $45 up to $70 per night, depending on the site and season – confirm the current rate when you book.
* Pricing is charged per site, with per-person fees that may apply on top, so it pays to clarify the total for your group before arrival.
* Unpowered tent and camper sites are available – rates are not published online, so call the office for an up-to-date quote.
* Cabins (11 in total, progressively refurbished) are offered for those who would rather not bring gear – phone for current nightly cabin rates and availability.
* Longer-stay and multi-night arrangements are best negotiated directly with the owners, as there is no fixed online deal listed.
* Extra adult and children’s fees are handled case by case – ask when you book so there are no surprises.
* Payment is taken directly at the park, with cash preferred by the current operators.
* Bookings are made directly with the park rather than through an online system, so a phone call is the surest way to secure a spot, especially on long weekends and during school holidays.

Booking contacts:
* Phone: 08 8540 5070
* Email: [email protected]
* Website: blanchetownriverside.com.au

FACILITIES
* Grassed, riverfront powered sites with broad water views from most positions
* Unpowered sites suitable for tents and camper trailers
* Cabin accommodation, currently being refurbished under the new owners
* Clean amenities block with hot showers and good water pressure
* Camp kitchen for shared cooking and meals
* Coin-operated laundry / washing machines (around $4 per load)
* Two pontoons giving direct river access for fishing or a swim
* BBQ areas
* Dump point (located across the road)
* Pet-friendly for campers – dogs welcome
* Boat ramps close by
* Canoe and kayak hire available on site
* Open lawn areas right on the riverbank

THINGS TO DO
* Fishing – drop a line straight from the bank or the pontoons, a long-time favourite of guests chasing Murray cod, callop and redfin.
* Boating and paddling – launch from the nearby ramps, or hire a canoe or kayak and explore the river’s quiet backwaters at your own pace.
* Watch the lock in action – settle in beside Lock 1 and watch paddle steamers, houseboats and cruisers pass through the historic 1922 structure.
* Birdwatching and wildlife – pelicans, cockatoos and kangaroos are regular company around the park, especially at dawn and dusk.
* Visit the Blanchetown Hotel – the oldest pub on the Murray sits just a short walk away, perfect for a meal and a yarn with locals.
* Burk Salter Boutique Wines – call into this nearby family cellar door for tastings, and ask about their vineyard and wetland tour aboard a restored 1927 Chevrolet truck.
* Brookfield Conservation Park – head out to this reserve known as a stronghold for the southern hairy-nosed wombat, with bushwalking and wildlife spotting.
* Wine country day trips – the Riverland around Waikerie and the Barossa around Nuriootpa are each roughly 30 minutes away, stacked with cellar doors, eateries and historic sites.
* Riverbank walks – wander south along the river road and through the natural bush, taking in the cemetery, bridge and lock along the way.

GUIDELINES
* Standard South Australian fire restrictions and total fire ban days apply – always check conditions before lighting any fire, particularly over the warmer months.
* Campfires and fire pits have traditionally been part of the experience here, but their use is at the owners’ discretion and subject to seasonal fire bans, so ask on arrival.
* Dogs are welcome for campers, but should be kept under control and owners are expected to clean up after them out of respect for other guests and the riverfront lawns.
* The owners direct guests to specific sites rather than letting you self-select, so follow their guidance on where to set up.
* Parking on the grass beside your van and laying mats on the lawn may not be permitted, as the operators are working to protect and restore the turf.
* The park is still partly under restoration after the 2022 floods, so expect some works in progress and give crews room where needed.
* Keep noise down at night so everyone can enjoy the quiet, peaceful riverside setting the park is known for.
* As the town is small with limited services, come prepared with supplies, fuel and any medications you may need.

HOW TO GET THERE
Blanchetown Riverside Holiday Park is at 161 Sanders Street, Blanchetown SA 5357, sitting right beside Lock 1 on the River Murray. The town is on the Sturt Highway (A20), about 130 km north-east of Adelaide, which is roughly a 1.5-hour drive. From Adelaide, head out through Gawler and follow the Sturt Highway via Truro toward the river.

As you come into Blanchetown, turn off the highway into the town and make your way to Sanders Street, which runs down toward the lock and the riverfront where the park is located. Coming from the Riverland, Blanchetown is around 30 minutes south-west of Waikerie along the Sturt Highway, while the Barossa town of Nuriootpa is about 30 minutes away to the west.

Look for the park on the riverbank, a short walk from the historic Blanchetown Hotel and the lock.