Are you heading to our backyard for the Santos Tour Down Under?

The Hahn Men’s Stage 4 race will see Australia’s best cyclists race through Murray Bridge, Wellington, Langhorne Creek, and Goolwa on Friday 19 January.

Spike your adrenaline long after the cyclists have crossed the finish line and stay the weekend for untamed animal encounters, hot laps in a V8 Mustang, and much more.

If you’re looking to get your blood pumping, make Monarto Safari Park your first point of call.

Their Lions 360 experience is out of this world, giving you a prey’s eye view of the Park’s big cats. It’s the only experience of its kind in Australia!

Step into the 360 cage and feed a piece of steak to a pride of lions. They’ll play and pounce above you, peering down for their next meal…

Speaking of exclusive experiences, Shell V-Power Motorsport Park offers Australia’s only Ford factory backed V8 Mustang track experience!

These cars can reach speeds of up to 180km/h, so your heart will race as a professional driver zips you around the world-renowned circuit.

For some friendly rivalry, head over to the Kartdrome and race against your mates. Everyone’s lap times appear on the screen after your session, providing life-long brag rights to whoever tops the leaderboard.

Bringing your kids along? They can test out their pedal power at the Sturt Reserve skate park.

It’ll be the hive of family fun this Saturday. The Station is running a series of skate, BMX, and scooter workshops for kids (ages 4-15) at the skate park, alongside FREE family activities, including:

• X-treme Fun Run Jumping Castle
• SANFL Footy Fun Zone
• Mini Golf
• Stand-Up Paddle Boards
• Smoothie Bike
• Face Painting
• Chalk Art
• Water Tag
• Glitter Tattoos
• Balloon Twisting

Register your family here.

Sprawl out on the lawns with a coffee and pastry from Little Local Co, then end the day at the Bridgeport Hotel for dinner with a river view (and even spoil yourself to a stay in their new Bridgeview Deluxe Suite).

With quiet, shady roads and magnificent cellar doors to stop into, Langhorne Creek is a great place to explore by bike.

Bike About will soon be offering electric bikes to hire, so you can explore the region without pulling a calf.

We recommend following the Grapes for Good trail, stopping into Kimbolton Wines, Bleasdale, Bremerton, Lake Breeze, The Winehouse, and Vineyard Road.

These wineries have all partnered with Monarto Safari Park, using their top drop to raise much-needed funds for animal conservation efforts worldwide.

Pick up where the TDU leaves off and cycle the Encounter Bikeway! Its fully sealed route takes you along the Murray River’s edge to the Goolwa barrage. You’ll pedal under the Hindmarsh Bridge and through the wharf precinct.

Goolwa cafés like Bombora on the River and Kuti Shack make the perfect pitstops for cyclists chasing a cuppa or meal.

For all things fishing, canoeing, and hiking – head South to Coorong National Park!

After something fast-paced? Strap on your helmet and mountain bike the trails, or take the 4WD over the Salt Creek dunes and onto 90 Mile Beach (find tips on navigating the 4WD trails here).

Otherwise, put the boat in and cruise between the Murray Mouth and Mark Point to cast a line and catch some Coorong Mullet or Mulloway.

Tag us in your travels, our Instagram is @murrayriverlakescooorong!