Directions to get to Wilkadene
Allow about 3 hours from the outskirts of Adelaide by car. Make your way to Renmark and then cross the river to Paringa. Turn left into Murtho Road at the Paringa Hotel. Go up the hill and continue for 15kms where you turn left into Wilkinson Road (still bitumen for another 500m). Wilkadene is on the left. Come through the gateway and turn left past our sheds. Drive along the front lawn on the riverbank to where the boats are moored.
State of the River
Despite the drought, the river in our section will continue to look the same as it always has since the lock system was built in the late 1920's. That is except for the death of many trees on the flood plain away from the river bank, due to the lack of flooding in recent years. The normal pool level is being maintained in the Upper Riverland to act as an extra storage for SA and to prevent salt entering the river from the creeks and underground aquifers. This is to ensure that the water remains suitable for drinking for Adelaide and country towns Whyalla, Pt Augusta etc. Unfortunately pool levels cannot be maintained below the last lock (Lock 1) at Blanchetown.
Houseboating will continue to be the same in our area as it always has been. The only difference for houseboat customers is that there is even more dead wood available for campfires. This is because Lock 5 and 6 in our area are in close proximity to each other which maintains pool level regardless of flow rates. SA's guaranteed restricted flow ensures dilution of salt and keeps the river attractive for recreational purposes.