Berri - Places to See

Berri Ltd
Berri Fruit Juices are manufacturers of Daily Juice and the Gardener label of condiments. Visitors can pick up the relevant products and watch a video on the Riverland, its horticulture industry and how the locally grown fruit is processed from tree to supermarket shelf. It is located on the Old Sturt Highway and entry is free. Opening hours are 9.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. daily, tel: (08) 8582 3321.

Glossop was named after Vice Admiral Glossop, Commander of the HMAS Sydney during World War I.

Berri Estates Winery
No visit to the district would be complete without seeing the huge Berri winery. It is reputedly the largest winery and distillery in the Southern Hemisphere and certainly is the largest in Australia. Located on the Old Sturt Highway at Glossop, 13 km west of Berri, it was founded in 1922, became part of the Berri Renmano group in 1982 and was taken over by the Hardy group of wine companies in 1992. It specialises in premium quality red and white table wines, brandy and fortified wines derived from all grape varieties grown in the Murray Valley. Familiar brands are Nottage Hill and Banrock Station.

The cellar door is adjacent a 70-year-old lemon-scented gum and is open weekdays from 9.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m., Saturdays from 9.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m., Sundays of long weekends from 10.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m. and public holidays from 10.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m., tel: (08) 8582 0340.

Sculpture in honour of Jimmy James
Located on Riverview Drive (not surprisingly it is the road which runs beside the Murray River) is a sculpture made out of two large slabs of black, finely-polished granite with engravings of birds and animals which were part of the spirit world of Aboriginal tracker, Jimmy James, who, for more than thirty years, tracked escapees, felons and missing persons for the police forces of South Australia, the Northern Territory, New South Wales and Victoria. He belonged to the Pitjantjatjara people and was born around 1910. Jimmy arrived in the district in the 1940s and took his name from his well-known father-in-law. He died a few years ago and is buried at Gerard, the Aboriginal settlement near Winkie. For details, contact the Berri Visitor and Information Centre, tel: (08) 8582 5511.

Murray River National Park - Katarapko
Katarapko, just south of Berri, offers an opportunity to explore the district's mallee and floodplain. Visitors can enjoy camping, fishing, canoeing, birdwatching, picnicking and bushwalking along such trails as the Kai Kai Nature Trail and the Cragg's Hut Walk (both 30-minute easy strolls) and the one-hour Ngak Indau Walking Trail. There is also the 6-km Mallee Drive, which offers glimpses of multi-stemmed trees, sand goannas, parrots and kangaroos. Open 24 hours a day, the camping fees are $6.50 per vehicle per night, $4 per person per night without vehicle and $4 per motorcycle per night. Ring (08) 8595 2111 for further information.

Monash Adventure Park
This popular family attraction is located five minutes north of Berri, at Monash, a small town which was originally known as 'Lone Gum', after the solitary river red gum that still grows there. The Park has such attractions as leaning towers, a Burmese rope bridge, a wave bridge, a maze, mini-basketball, a slippery dip and much more. It has free electric barbecues and picnic facilities, together with a paddleboat kiosk. Located in Madison Avenue, it is open from 10.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. daily and there is no entry fee, tel: (08) 8582 5511.

Monash was originally known as 'Lone Gum,' after the solitary river red gum that still peculiarly grows at some distance from the river.

Chocolates and More
Over the road from the Adventure Park, in Madison Avenue, is a factory producing handmade chocolates. It is open every day but Monday (except on long weekends) from 10.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. and entry is free, tel: (08) 8583 6099.