Page 361 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Australia

THE SOUTHEAST  359

result of the fossil wine (see pp342–3). It is also
deposits discovered a popular destination for
here in 1969 (see houseboating, water­skiing
pp30–31). The site and fishing.
offers self­ers self­ers self guided,
off
off The town of Renmark, close
guided and to the Victoria border, lies at
adventure­caving the heart of the Murray River
tours year­round. irrigation area and is home to
From November to the Riverlands’ first winery. At
February thousands the town’s wharf is the restored
of bent­wing bats paddlesteamer Industry, now Industry, now Industry
come to breed in a floating museum and a
Sharam’s Cottage, the first house built in Penola the Bat Cave. They reminder of days gone by.
can be seen leaving Just south of Renmark, Berri
0Penola the cave en masse at dusk to feed is the area’s commercial centre
in summer. Entrance to this cave and site of the largest combined
* 1,700. @ n Penola Coonawarra
Visitor Information Centre, 27 Arthur is forbidden, but visitors can view distillery and winery in the
St 1300 045 373. ∑ penola.org via infra­red cameras in the park. southern hemisphere. The
Murray River meanders through
One of the oldest towns in the Berri and on to the small town
Southeast, Penola is the com­ of Loxton before winding up
mercial centre of the Coonawarra towards the citrus centre of
wine region (see pp342–3). The Waikerie. Surrounded by more
region’s first winery was built in than 5,000 ha (12,000 acres) of
1893. There are now some 20 orchards, Waikerie is a favourite
wineries, most of which are gliding centre and has hosted
open for sales and tastings. world gliding championships.
Penola itself is a quiet town Another 40 km (25 miles)
which takes great pride in its his­ downstream, the Murray River
tory. A heritage walk takes visitors reaches the town of Morgan, its
past most of its early buildings, northernmost point in South
including the restored Sharam’s Ancient stalactites inside one of the Australia, before it turns south
Cottage, which was built in 1850 Naracoorte caves towards the ocean. The Morgan
as the first dwelling in Penola. Museum, located in the old
wMurray River landseer warehouse, aims to
Environs @ from Adelaide. recapture the river­trading days,
Situated 40 km (25 miles) north n Renmark 1300 661 704. telling the story of what was
of Penola, Bool Lagoon Game ∑ murrayriver.com.au once the second­busiest port in
Reserve (designated a wetland the state. Local crafts are for sale
of international significance by Australia’s largest river is a vital in the original railway ticket office.
UNESCO), is an important refuge source of water in this, the
for an assortment of native driest state in Australia. As well E Morgan Museum
wildlife including more than 150 as supplying water for Adelaide Railway Terrace, Morgan.
species of birds. The park provides it supports a vigorous local Tel (08) 8540 2641 or 8540 2643.
an opportunity to observe at agricultural industry that produces Open Call for opening times.
close quarters many of these local 40 per cent of all Australian Closed 25 Dec. &
and migratory birds (see p341).
qNaracoorte Caves
National Park
Tel (08) 8760 1210. @ from Adelaide.
Open 9am–5pm daily (last tour
3:30pm). Closed 25 Dec. & 8 -
∑ naracoortecaves.sa.gov.au
Located 19 km (12 miles) south
of Naracoorte is the Naracoorte
Caves National Park. Within this
600­ha (1,500­acre) park, there are
28 known caves (only four are
open to the public), most notably
Victoria Fossil Cave, which is
on the World Heritage List as a An old paddlesteamer cruising along the Murray River