Best South Australia Road Trip Stops in the Murray Mallee

Thinking about a South Australian Road trip or a Sunday drive (when we were young, my sister and I called them “dumbday drives”). If you are heading in the Sydney direction, we are on the way! Melbourne travellers can take a detour along the Mallee Highway, stop in for lunch and then take the Ngarkat Highway down to Bordertown.

If you live in Adelaide and have done the Barossa sooooo many times, Mclaren Vale is getting boring and you want to go a bit further than the Adelaide Hills (and lets face it, its always raining in the Hills).

Well, do we have a treat in store for you, here are some of the best road trip stops in the Murray Mallee!

Why Visit the Murray Mallee

The Murray Mallee is a tourist destination like no other.

You can take the 4WD off the bitumen and enjoy the harshness of the Ngarkat Conservation Park or appreciate the diverse farming enterprises that occur along the way.

Did you know that region grows the majority of Australian potatoes!

Stay the Night

Accommodation is available in Lameroo or else you can bring your swag, tent or van and camp out at the distillery. Enjoy the dark sky and the constellations of stars. Count satellites and enjoy a comfort fire (weather permitting). Rudy our distillery dog will also love to keep you company (let us know in advance if you don’t like dogs, he is definitely a teenager at the moment and can be a bit “full on”).

Getting Here from Adelaide

It’s a two hour drive from the Toll Gate (or the bottom of the freeway if you are not local) to drive to Mallee Spirit in Lameroo. If you live in the country – all trips are measured from the Toll Gate. From that point there is the great divide between metro and country!

Head up the South East freeway and enjoy the scenery. Don’t forget to look for the “Big Dipper Billy Goat” who is pretty big on social media, check him out here!

Best Road Trip stops in the Murray Mallee

Coffee stop at Tailem Bend

Two options

1. Grab a coffee and cake from the Tailem Bend bakery and drive down to the ferry landing to enjoy the riverside ambiance

2. Head into the OTR on the eastern side of town. Coffee is reasonable but they have the best view of the river from up on the cliff. Its worth it for the view.

Turn left up the Mallee Highway and put the car on cruise control.

Local Stop: Jabuk and the Silver and Leather Co.

About 30 minutes later you will find Jabuk and the Silver and Leather Co. A little artisan haven blending handmade leather goods and bespoke silverware. The leather bags are amazing as well as unique striking silver jewellery, and distinctive silver objects.

Don’t forget to snag a photo with the whimsical Push-me-Pull-You two-ended mini.

Hidden Gem: Geranium Op Shop

If you are into a bargain or good country op shop, I thoroughly recommend the Geranium Op Shop. Housed in the old primary school that now belongs to the community, the op shop has some pretty impressive clothing and treasures to be found. Its not always open, so just keep an eye out for the signs along the highway at the base of the big green sign into Geranium.

Arriving in Lameroo

2025 Agricultural Town of the Year.

The distillery is well sign posted – but before you cross the railway line, make sure to take a look at our amazing Silos. Both painted by Smug with the help of a lot of community fund raising. The western silo contrasts with the eastern silo: man and woman, past and present, sunrise and sunset, age and

youth, manpower and technology, tradition and innovation, prospecting and propriety.

If it’s a Friday, make sure to check out the local mechanics in the main street as Jetty

will often have her native flower shop open. Most of the flowers are cut locally and being natives, they wont wilt before you get back to Adelaide.

Final Stop: Mallee Spirit

The distillery is about 8 minutes from the silos, mostly along dirt roads.

Take it easy on the drive in and we’ll see you soon for a G&T.

Cheers!