Travel Guide Goolwa

Goolwa, population 8,500, at the mouth of the Murray River (Lake Alexandrina), is the starting point for excursions on the river. The town's name is of Aboriginal origin and means "bend". Despite the river's capricious flow, Goolwa was the country's first river port. The railroad then linked Goolwa to Port Elliot and Victor Harbor, and the development of rail transport gradually put an end to river transport and the town's role as a port. In 1970, a paddle-steamer was built, the Murray River Queen, which cruised the river for many years. Today, this boat serves as a floating hotel in Waikerie, 240 km to the northeast, in Riverland. A visit to the harbour and the adjacent old railway station, which has been successfully restored, is a must. You'll see old steamers docked there and can board the Cockle train. For several years now, usually in April, the town has organized the South Australia Wooden Boat Festival.