Many visitors to Barmera in the Riverland go there for the freshwater Lake Bonney which covers an area of around 1700 hectares. People are drawn there as you’d expect for water sports, and boating but also for one unique feature…the dead trees.

Yes believe it or not, this lake around 220 kilometres north east of Adelaide in South Australia is a well-known spot for photographers to put on their must visit list, purely for the fact that stands of dead River Red Gums make a fantastic subject to photograph, especially with a spectacular sunset to highlight their silhouetted structures and reflections.

The lake is connected to the Murray River via Chambers Creek and is a favourite holiday spot for families with plenty of safe water activities for kids and adults to enjoy in this 7 kilometre long and 3.5 kilometre wide lake. It is safe to swim in and is popular for sailing, windsurfing, canoeing, jet skiing and pretty much anything else you can name to do on water.

The caravan park is in an ideal spot on the lake and is quite huge with a variety of cabins to stay in from basic to deluxe as well as caravan and camping sites right along the riverfront. It’s a very family friendly park with lots of things for the kids too with the usual bouncing pillow, plus a pool and water park and pump track. Being on the lake they also hire out water bikes, paddle boats and kayaks. Facilities in the park include a camp kitchen and pizza oven as well as BBQs located throughout the park. As a sign of the times when we visited we were greeted with not only excellent friendly service but along with our map and instructions we received our very own complimentary hand sanitiser.

From the caravan park it’s an easy walk along the foreshore area which has exercise equipment, a beach volleyball court, picnic tables and benches and then into the centre of town. The town is compact enough to discover on foot and you can pick up a walking tour map from the visitor centre. One interesting place to stop in and visit is the Bonney Theatre, a beautifully restored art deco theatre which was opened in 1938. Today it is used as an exhibition space and art gallery and is staffed by friendly volunteers who will happily let you have a look around inside this grand old building.Barmera has sheep dog trials normally held in June every year and a country music festival also held in June, but at any time of the year, those trees are a mecca for photographers to capture and one of the popular ‘Instaworthy’ places to show off in South Australia. The dark sky nights are another reason that photographers love it, giving astro photographers a challenge too.

Cheers

Glenys