Riverland Winter Wine Down long weekend

Swap the city glow for star glow. Head to Walker Flat and ease into the weekend with Friday’s by the Fire – BBQ and Astronomy Session — a bonfire night with an Aussie BBQ, sweet s’mores and guided skywatching in the River Murray International Dark Sky Reserve.
After work? This one’s made for it: arrive, unplug, and let the Milky Way do the rest.

If you’re taking Friday off: turn the drive into a slow roll — pack snacks, pull over when the river flashes into view, and arrive early enough for a golden-hour wander before the fire is lit.

Wake up riverside, then point the car toward Renmark for a winter party with a view. Gin Fest sets the tone, with nearby Winter Wine Down Festival offering another way to settle in — bringing premium Riverland reds, live music, fire pits, food trucks and a purpose‑built marquee right on the riverfront. 

From there, time-travel in Loxton at Loxton Historical Village Alive Day — where you can watch live demonstrations like sheep shearing, blacksmithing and old-school rope making as history springs into action around you.

Start the day with a true Riverland spectacle at Barmera Sheep Dog Trial. It’s equal parts skill and showmanship — a celebration of working dogs, with a proud local following (and even a “running of the sheep” down the main street on Saturday).

Then warm up the easy way at Fire and Fortified in Glossop — sample a flight of fortified wines by the cellar door fire, hands wrapped around a cup of mulled wine and settle in like you’ve got nowhere else to be.

Before heading home, ease into one last Riverland ritual at Winter at the Home of Stone’s Green Ginger Wine: Visit and Win — a warm farewell anchored in a drink that’s been part of Riverland winters for generations.

From here, the way back is yours to choose. Take the scenic route through the Adelaide Hills, stretching the weekend with a relaxed dinner among cool‑climate vineyards and leafy villages — or set the cruise control and head straight home, carrying a little Riverland warmth into the week ahead. Life’s good either way.