Fast: Spend a day, night or whole weekend tearing up the track at The Bend Motorsport Park. These guys have just released a tonne of packages for singles, couples and small groups to ensure there’s something for everyone at the world’s best motorsport facility.

And while hotlaps in supreme supercars are some of their more popular experiences at The Bend, it’s far more than just cars you can play with out there. Their world-class karting experience is the perfect opportunity for competitive and fun-loving groups to race around – and are open to people anywhere from 5 years and older! Or you can ride on the back of a superbike too (just be prepared to lose your breath a few times around the corners).

Seriously though, if you’ve never been for a look, you have to go for a drive out to The Bend for a sticky beak (only an hour from the Adelaide tollgate). Grab yourself lunch at the Fuel Restaurant and Bar or Apex Lounge (their burgers are sensational), and if you want to stay the night – you can grab a room at the on-site Rydges Pit Lane Hotel or spend the night at their Big4 Holiday Park (there’s even a five bedroom cabin there for a group getaway, or a couple of motorsport-mad families).

Slow: Motorsport is not just for those who love the fast-lane though, and if cruising is more your thing, then why not follow the Mighty Murray Way at your own leisure, stopping to soak up the view of the magnificent Murray River, Lower Lakes and Coorong stretches. Depending on which end of the region you start in, you might want to take one of the Wheels’ top road trips in Australia and head from Angaston on to Swan Reach. Stop and laze in the beer garden at the historic Murray River pub when you get there, overlooking the ferry as it glides from bank-to-bank. There’s also plenty of great holiday rentals to stay in over at Swan Reach too (check out River Shack Rentals). The added bonus is that if you stay just outside of town on the river, you’ll likely be somewhere very close to Australia’s first ever River Murray International Dark Sky Reserve – and trust us, this evening view will be worth the roadtrip!

Just pack your binoculars and look up!

If you want to make a weekend out of it, swing home via Big Bend, where you can take in some of the most magnificent views the Murray River has on offer. This is a popular spot for photographers and instagrammers, so make sure you pack some sort of lens to capture the moment!

From here, meander your way back via the Bowhill General Store for lunch on the new river’s edge deck, and then drop in to historic Mannum for a coffee before you head home (and if the sun is shining, we’d suggest that coffee might want to be sitting out the front of the Pretoria Hotel, with its magnificent lawns and redgums only making way for views of the water and passing houseboats.

Fast: Strap the mountain bike on to the back of the car and head for Kinchina Conservation Park. This place is becoming more and more popular each week with the big-tyres, and trails are constantly being upgraded to ensure a fantastic ride in pristine parkland.

Above: Kinchina Conservation Park is fast being a popular spot for mountain bikers.

If you want to make a weekend of it, why not stay the night at a holiday house on the river, or local caravan park, and head out for a trail run or ride in the Monarto Woodlands or Mannum Waterfalls (the team from Murraylands Multisports are always up to speed on the best spots to visit – follow them on Facebook here).

While you’re here, grab your weekend brekky and coffee from one of our favourite places like MOJO’s in the Marketplace, or Mystical Flair on Bridge Street.

Slow: If you’re up for more a smooth cruise in lycra (or even with the kids-in-tow), then why not hit up the Mannum to Kia Marina cycling/walking trail. Most of this path is off the road, sealed, and even includes a free ferry crossing!! And if you don’t have bikes, don’t fear, you can hire them from the local Mannum Visitor Information Centre.

The local bike club does this ride most weekends, and locals love to walk along it as well.

Our best advice is to stay the night in Mannum and wake up early for a ride. Start in the main street of town, before heading across one of Australia’s only Murray River dual ferries, and then follow the sealed path past Haythorpe Reserve, along the levy banks and onwards through Cowirra to East Front Road. This magnificent path will take you all the way to Kia Marina, past lush riverside environs. (And keep your ear out for frog sounds in the morning, or later in the afternoon, they’ll be calling out to you.)

If you love nature, then pack your binoculars and head out to the Herman Gass Reserve and bird hide at the end of the day. This beautiful spot on sunset is the perfect dose of nature that we can all do with right now.

Above: The Encounter Bikeway trail gives you maximum river views as you walk/cycle.

Otherwise, our other favourite is the Encounter Bikeway which starts in Goolwa along the river. You can take this one as far or slow as you like (and there’s plenty of coffee spots along the way!).