Last week, I was once again in South Australia – it is always a joy to visit this delightful state with so much to offer the traveller. This trip, of course included some time in Adelaide (my son’s graduation) and purchases at the Smelly Cheese Shop and Haigh’s chocolates before we headed northeast about 3 hours’ drive to Renmark and the banks of the Murray River. With years of La Nina weather patterns, the river is full and flowing. The countryside is green and the crops are giving farmers the harvests of the decade.

The region is worth the drive, and is quite different from the cellar door areas of South Australia. We visited The Woolshed brewery, where it was a joy to sit in the spring sunshine on the banks of the river, sipping on a hard pink lemonade, listening to a band play and watching the houseboats float by. For lunch we headed to 23rd Street, made famous as a gin distillery but now serving delicious lunches.

We found The Frames perched high on a clifftop opposite Renmark, with magnificent views down the river and extraordinary accommodation. With only three luxury retreats, The Frames pods offer travellers a spacious sanctuary to escape the busy world. Complete with a private pool, sauna and spa pool, we could choose to sit in our private courtyard and cook a barbecue or watch the magnificent scorched red sunset from the veranda overlooking the river. Most guests stay 3 or 4 nights in this beautifully designed accommodation; you will find spacious bedrooms and large ensuite bathrooms, an open plan living room, full kitchen and dining room. Provisions are supplied to make your stay easy and the produce is locally grown and produced.

Cathy and Rick developed The Frames to showcase the beautiful region they have spent their lives enjoying, the wine in your retreat is produced by them, the fresh juice in the fridge squeezed from their seasonal crop. They give you a wonderful down to earth insight into the local community, and they are happy to share their world with visitors. You can choose to retreat from the world and enjoy your fabulous accommodation, or I suggest you enjoy some or all of the exclusive experiences.

These private experiences are a delight. We cruised along the river on the comfortable vessel Rick has designed to suit the region. Kangaroos and emus were coming down close to the river, kingfishers and hawks flying above, fields of wildflowers were glimpsed through the river gums and weeping willows.

Other excursions include a sunset cruise on the river on another of Ricks’s vessels, this time a charming wooden boat, as you glide along with a glass of champagne and canapés. Enjoy a full day flavour safari, meeting local producers and discovering the region. A visit to Calperum Station opens an insight into the environment that has been developing for millennia.

The region is a delight. The only disappointment I have is that we didn’t stay longer!

Contact Travelling Places
P: 07 5545 1600
E: travel@travellingplaces.com.au