There are two tourism regions around South Australia's Murray River: Murraylands and Riverland. They stretch from Wellington in the west to Paringa in the east and cover landscapes of spectacular river and mallee scenery. Driving from the eastern states, it's only one and half hours from Mildura. The Murraylands incorporates the vast Murray Mallee farming region to the east of the River Murray, reaching right to the Victorian border and sprawling south to the Dukes Highway. The Riverland's restored paddle steamers, museums and villages recapture the history of the River Murray. Wetlands and billabongs teem with wildlife. Parks and reserves offer good walking trails and a range of facilities on site.

Big Bend in South Australia is the longest single bend in the Murray River. It's located in about 9km from from Swan Reach. The area is known for its spectacular riverside cliffs, which are the tallest along the Murray River. The limestone cliffs are rich with millions of ocean fossils and are home to colonies of bats. Caves in the area have been continuously occupied for at least 8,000 years and are sacred to the local aboriginal community. There is a collection of holiday shacks located on the banks. The Big Bend is also a favourite spot for artists and photographers.