Lower Murray Canoe Trail

A 21 km one-way paddle from Tailem Bend to Wellington — through river history, sheltered backwater wetlands and the country of the Ngarrindjeri people, in four flexible sections to suit any ability or schedule.

35.2566°S 139.4535°E · near Tailem Bend

Distance: 21 km one-way
Difficulty: Easy – Moderate
From Adelaide: 97 km south-east

The Lower Murray Canoe Trail is the most accessible and flexible multi-section paddle in the Murray region — a 21 km one-way journey downstream from Tailem Bend to Wellington, with well-equipped launch sites and quiet backwaters at each end. Developed by Coorong District Council, the trail is divided into four sections that can be paddled in sequence as a full-day adventure or tackled individually with a vehicle pick-up arranged at any intermediate exit point.

About This Trail

This is a one-way downstream trail from Dickson Reserve in Tailem Bend to Wellington, following the River Murray as it makes its wide southward arc toward Lake Alexandrina. The trail is rated easy to moderate and has been designed to cater for all ages and skill levels — though paddlers should have some prior experience on open water. Facilities are excellent throughout, with toilets and picnic areas at every launch and exit point.

The trail’s greatest rewards are in its backwater sections — Sections 1 and 4 diverge from the main river into sheltered wetland channels with abundant birdlife. The open river sections (2 and 3) follow the main channel past tall limestone cliffs and historic river towns. Educational signage is positioned at five locations along the trail, covering the 1956 floods, river weirs and locks, and native fish.

🌿 Five Educational Signs Along the TrailLook out for five interpretive signs positioned along the route, each offering insight into the lower Murray’s history and environment — from the great 1956 floods and the construction of river weirs and locks, to the native fish that depend on this waterway. Their approximate locations are shown on the Avenza trail map.

⚠️ Strong Afternoon Winds — Plan Your TimingA warning is provided to canoe and kayak paddlers to expect strong winds in the late afternoon. This may significantly affect paddling times for each section. Check wind and weather predictions before departing and aim to complete open river sections in the morning.

About Paddle SA

Paddle SA is the governing body of paddle sport and recreation in South Australia. It leads and supports paddling in South Australia and encourages the safe exploration of our waterways.

Paddling Trails South Australia has a range of trails to suit different abilities. Know your ability.

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Launch Sites & Sections

Site	Location	Notes
Dickson Reserve Main launch — Tailem Bend	Beside the Tailem Bend Ferry, Princes Highway GPS: 35.2566 S; 139.4535 E Directions	Free BBQ, pontoon, picnic table, toilets, shelter. Old Tailem Bend ferry ruins visible on site.
Fred’s Landing Section 2 exit / Section 3 launch	GPS: 35.2883 S; 139.4441 E Directions	Picnic table and toilets. Good lunch stop. Popular fishing spot.
Wellington East Marina Section 3 exit / Section 4 launch	GPS: 35.3191 S; 139.3901 E Directions	Marina access. Pangarinda Botanic Garden nearby (walking distance).
Baker Reserve, Wellington Final exit	Jervois Road, Wellington GPS: 35.3192 S; 139.3772 E Directions	Picnic facilities, BBQ shelter, boat ramp, car park, public toilets. Wellington Ferry and Courthouse nearby.

Trail Sections at a Glance

Section 1 — Dickson Reserve → Backwater Wetlands & Return · ~4.7 km return · ~2 hours

From Dickson Reserve (GPS: 35.2566 S; 139.4535 E), paddle upstream into the sheltered backwater wetlands. The entry point to the wetland is Point A (GPS: 35.2372 S; 139.4265 E). This section is the trail’s premier birdwatching destination — the quiet, reed-lined channels provide sheltered habitat for a wide variety of waterbirds. Return to Dickson Reserve via the same route. This section can be done independently or combined with Sections 2–4 as the start of a full-day paddle.

Section 2 — Dickson Reserve → Fred’s Landing · ~4 km · ~1–1.5 hours

From the Tailem Bend ferry pontoon at Dickson Reserve, paddle downstream along the main river channel to Fred’s Landing (GPS: 35.2883 S; 139.4441 E). The river runs south through limestone cliffs and broad curves here. Fred’s Landing has a picnic table and toilets and makes a natural lunch stop. This section can serve as a stand-alone half-morning paddle or the starting point for Sections 3 and 4.

Section 3 — Fred’s Landing → Wellington East · ~8.5 km · ~2–2.5 hours

The longest section of the trail follows the Murray south to Wellington East Marina (GPS: 35.3191 S; 139.3901 E). The river is wide and open through much of this section — watch for afternoon winds, which can make this stretch challenging. Fred’s Landing at the start of this section is noted as a productive fishing spot for Murray cod, golden perch and bream before setting out. The Pangarinda Botanic Garden is a short walk from Wellington East Marina at the end of this section.

Section 4 — Wellington East → Wellington via Backwaters · ~4 km · ~1 hour

The final section leaves Wellington East and enters the backwater channels between the main river and Baker Reserve — the second of the trail’s premium birdwatching sections. The sheltered backwaters here offer a peaceful contrast to the open river before arriving at Baker Reserve in Wellington (Jervois Road, GPS: 35.3192 S; 139.3772 E). Baker Reserve has full facilities including BBQ shelter, boat ramp, car park and toilets. The Wellington Ferry and historic Courthouse are a short walk away.

Wildlife & Environment

Birdlife is the natural highlight of the Lower Murray Canoe Trail. The backwater sections — Sections 1 and 4 — offer the best wildlife encounters, where sheltered reed-lined channels slow the pace and give paddlers the opportunity to approach waterbirds quietly. The diversity of habitats along the trail — open river, limestone cliffs, flooded red gum woodland and shallow wetland channels — supports a wide range of species.

Common sightings include Australian Pelicans, Great Cormorants, Little Black Cormorants, Darters, Sacred Kingfishers, Rainbow Bee-eaters, Yellow Rosellas, Mallee Ringnecks, Black Swans, Pacific Black Ducks and various herons and egrets. The backwater wetland entered via Point A (Section 1) has been identified as a particularly productive birdwatching location by Coorong District Council, which has produced a bird identification sheet for the trail — available from the Tailem Info Station on Railway Terrace.

The Murray River through this stretch supports Murray cod, golden perch and bream as the main recreational fish species. Fishing is popular from Fred’s Landing and from the Wellington stretch. The River Red Gums lining the banks are among the most significant trees in the Murray system — providing nesting hollows for dozens of bird species and supporting the entire food web of the floodplain.

History & Heritage

Tailem Bend — River Town & Railway Hub

The town’s name comes from the Ngarrindjeri word thelim, meaning “bend” — a reference to the distinctive curve the Murray makes here. Before European settlement the area was inhabited by Ngarrindjeri people who made bark and reed canoes and lived on the fish and animals of the river. The 1927 Tailem Bend Ferry Landing — whose heritage-listed ruins are visible at Dickson Reserve at the trail’s start — is the most intact example of a timber river ferry landing remaining on the Murray River, protected as a significant State Heritage Place.

The town itself grew from a railway camp established in 1884 when the mainline to the eastern states was being laid. By 1886 the railway had arrived, and Tailem Bend became a major refuelling, servicing and maintenance hub for interstate and rural lines for most of the following century. The railway character is still visible in the town’s layout and the heritage station building.

Wellington — The Original River Crossing

Wellington, at the downstream end of the trail, holds a remarkable place in South Australian history. By 1839 it had become the only point where traffic could cross the Murray, and it quickly grew into one of the most important settlements on the river. During the 1850s gold rush, eighteen shipments of gold escorted by South Australian Police from the Victorian goldfields crossed the Murray at Wellington — the river at this point is about 25 metres deep, and the surface only a metre or so above sea level. At the peak of its use in February 1852, the ferry carried more than 1,200 people and 1,200 horses and bullocks in a single month.

The free government ferry still operates at Wellington today — one of the oldest and most historically significant ferry crossings in Australia. The Wellington Courthouse (1861), a National Trust building, stands near the Baker Reserve exit point. At Wellington East, adjacent to the Section 4 launch, the Pangarinda Botanic Garden conserves more than 100,000 specimens of native flora from the lower rainfall regions of Australia. In Ngarrindjeri language, Pangarinda means “sunset”.

Ngarrindjeri Country & David Unaipon

This entire trail paddles through Ngarrindjeri Country — the traditional lands of the Aboriginal peoples of the lower Murray River, lower lakes and Coorong. The Ngarrindjeri made bark and reed canoes and lived on the extraordinary abundance of this river system for tens of thousands of years. The river, the backwaters, the wetlands, and the cliffs you paddle past are all places of deep cultural significance. Paddling Trails South Australia acknowledges the Ngarrindjeri people as the traditional custodians of this Country and pays respect to Elders past, present and emerging.

📜 David Unaipon — Australia’s LeonardoOne of Australia’s most remarkable figures is intimately connected to this stretch of the Murray. David Unaipon (1872–1967) was a Ngarrindjeri man born at Point McLeay Mission (Raukkan) on the banks of Lake Alexandrina — just downstream from where this trail ends. He was a preacher, inventor, author, musician and tireless advocate for Aboriginal rights. Among his 19 provisional patents was the design for an improved sheep-shearing handpiece that became the basis of modern mechanical shears — yet he received no financial reward and little credit in his lifetime. He also drew a helicopter design before World War I based on the flight principles of the boomerang, and spent decades working on a perpetual motion machine. Known as “Australia’s Leonardo,” he was the first Aboriginal Australian to publish writing in English. David Unaipon died in the Tailem Bend Hospital — at the start of this trail — on 7 February 1967. He is honoured on the Australian $50 note, which features his image alongside Ngarrindjeri shields and the design of his shearing invention.