The River Bend Heritage Trail is a unique 28 kilometre loop from Tailem Bend to Wellington along the Murray River. Highlights include clifftop views of the river, two nature reserves, a botanic garden, the historic town of Wellington and ten kilometres of smooth and flat levee banks.
As a cycling loop, it’s best started at the northern end in Tailem Bend. From there, you can ride in a clockwise direction, meaning that you get the more challenging section through Mowantjie Willauwar Conservation Park done while you are fresh.
While the entire route is sign-posted with the official white River Bend Heritage Trail markers,
it is helpful to keep an eye out for the more frequent Murray Coorong Trail markers on the eastern side of the river.
Tailem Bend
Many of us are familiar with Tailem Bend from the Princes Highway between Adelaide and Melbourne, but not so many people are aware of the attractive country town centre that lies only two blocks from the highway.
A convenient place to start your ride is the carpark in front of the Tailem Bend Rail Museum and Information Centre.
Once you leave the town of Tailem Bend, it’s easy to pick up the orange Murray Coorong Trail markers on the western side of the Princes Highway.
Clifftop Views
As you head south along the highway service road, you can see some great views of the bend in the Murray River which has given Tailem Bend its name.
About two kilometres out of town, the River Bend Heritage Trail turns off the Princes Highway and follows a well-made track along the clifftops.
Mowantjie Willauwar Conservation Park
After six kilometres, you come to one of the highlights of the River Bend Heritage Trail – the Mowantjie Willauwar Conservation Park.
Some of the path through the reserve is on what used to be the old Princes Highway.
It’s surprising and fun to find such a good quality path in what is a fairly remote area.
Even when the track becomes gravel, it’s mostly well packed and very ride-able.
However, there are a few sandy sections where you may have to walk if there has been no rain for a while.
When the River Bend Heritage Trail emerges from Mowantjie Willauwar, you pass the historic Wellington East cemetery. This track past the cemetery is quite rough and the next section is quite sandy, so if you prefer, you can stay on Ferry Road and access Pangardina Botanic Garden from Marra Drive.
Pangarinda Botanic Garden
Local volunteers, aided by the Coorong District Council, have converted this once weed-infested site into an arboretum which specialises in threatened flora from drier regions of southern Australia.
Before you leave East Wellington, be sure to drop in at the Hall Cafe (closed Mondays and Tuesdays) for some excellent food and coffee.
Wellington
At this point on the River Bend Heritage Trail, you cross the Murray Rver by ferry to arrive at the historic Wellington Courthouse, built in 1841.
Formerly a cafe and B&B, it is currently for sale.
Fortunately the Wellington Hotel is open and offers good food with a great view seven days per week.
Murrundi Reserve
About two kilometres north of Wellington on your return trip, the River Bend Heritage Trail enters the Murrundi Reserve wetlands.
This short and scenic track gives you great views of the remnant wetlands.
Jervois Levee Banks or Road
After you leave Murrundi Reserve, you follow the levee banks for two kilometres to Kluske Road. At this point you can choose whether to ride the levee banks for a further eight kilometres
or divert to Jervois Road to enjoy a closer look at the old dairy buildings dotted along the river plains.
To finish your ride, you cross the Murray River again by ferry to return to Tailem Bend.
Map of the River Bend Heritage Trail
Summary of the River Bend Heritage Trail
- Length: 28 km loop
- Difficulty: Easy to moderate (a bit sandy in Mowantjie Willauwar Conservation Park)
- Suitable for: Mountain bikes.
- Surface: Mostly gravel, some paved. A few short sandy sections through Mowantjie Willauwar Conservation Reserve and near the East Wellington cemetery.
- Signage: Clearly marked as the Murray Coorong Trail on the eastern side of the river, intermittent signage as the River Bend Heritage Trail on the western side. I would advise downloading the map above or the official brochure from Walking SA.
- Best Times: In cooler weather as not much shade on the western side.
We have included seventeen kilometres of the River Bend Heritage Trail in our Murray River Cycling Route.
While you are on the southern part of the Murray River, you might also like to try the Nurragi Rail Trail or cycling in the Langhorne Creek Wine Region.
Further north in the Riverland, the Katarapko Trail is an outstandingly beautiful riverside track.
