Waikerie, South Australia - Cliff-Top Views, Silo Art & Riverland Tranquillity

Wander * Explore * Discover
Jun 17, 2023
3 min read

Updated: 2 days ago

Waikerie, South Australia - Cliff-Top Views, Silo Art & Riverland Tranquillity

Perched high above the Murray River, Waikerie is a relaxed Riverland town known for its sweeping cliff-top views, vibrant public art, and strong connection to the river. Located around 177 kilometres northeast of Adelaide, Waikerie sits in the heart of South Australia’s Riverland, surrounded by broad-acre farms, vineyards, and citrus groves that thrive along the fertile river flats below. With its scenic walking trails, welcoming town centre, and striking silo art, Waikerie is a rewarding stop for anyone exploring the Riverland.

A Town Shaped by the River

Waikerie was established in 1894, when the first settlers arrived by paddle steamer along the Murray River. Like many Riverland towns, the river played a vital role in its development — transporting people, supplies, and produce and shaping daily life in the region.

Today, Waikerie remains a popular holiday destination, especially for visitors drawn to fishing, boating, water skiing, and kayaking on the Murray River. The town has all the essentials, including a supermarket, fuel station, bakery, hotel, cafés, and a welcoming community atmosphere that makes visitors feel right at home.

Art, Street Murals & Local Culture

Waikerie has a strong creative spirit, reflected in its local art gallery, colourful street art, and impressive large-scale public artworks. Wandering through town, you’ll discover murals and artistic touches that celebrate the Riverland’s landscape, wildlife, and community. The town centre is compact and easy to explore on foot, making it perfect for a relaxed wander and a browse through local shops.

Waikerie Silo Art: Healthy River, Healthy Community

One of Waikerie’s standout attractions is its striking silo art, located near the town centre. Painted by artists Jimmy Dvate and Garry Duncan, the artwork took 16 weeks to complete and used nearly 500 litres of paint.

Titled Healthy River, Healthy Community, the mural celebrates the natural environment and features local flora and fauna, including a giant yabby, the endangered regent parrot, and the rain moth. The artwork is a powerful reminder of the importance of caring for the Murray River and the ecosystems it supports.

Waikerie Cliff Top Walk: Views Over the Murray

To truly appreciate Waikerie’s unique position above the river, the Waikerie Cliff Top Walk is a must-do. This scenic 3.6-kilometre trail takes around one hour to complete and follows the cliffs from the silo art area down toward the riverfront.

The track is gently undulating and well worth the effort, with multiple lookout points offering stunning views across the Murray River, surrounding floodplains, and distant river red gums. It’s a fantastic walk for photography, birdwatching, or simply enjoying the wide-open Riverland landscape.

Riverfront Relaxation

At the end of the cliff-top walk, the trail leads you down to the riverfront, where the pace slows even further. This is a lovely spot to relax by the water, enjoy a picnic, watch boats drift past, or cast a fishing line into the Murray. The contrast between the elevated cliff-top views and the calm riverbanks below is one of Waikerie’s greatest charms.

Why Visit Waikerie?

Waikerie offers a beautiful balance of art, history, nature, and river life. Whether you’re admiring the silo art, strolling the main street, walking high above the river, or relaxing by the water’s edge, Waikerie delivers a classic Riverland experience with memorable scenery at every turn. It’s a town that invites you to slow down, look out over the river, and appreciate the simple pleasures of life along the Murray.