Tucked away in a dark and handsome room next to the bistro in the Renmark Hotel, Temperance finally gives Riverland’s food and wine the platform it deserves. Chef Anthony Cresp creates artfully constructed plates full of local goodies such as pomegranates, dried figs and capers. Even the scourge of the Murray River system, carp, is used in an inspired spring roll with pumpkin XO. Exemplary wine matches and a switched-on service team complete the package. Temperance will reopen after a winter break in mid-August. Hotelrenmark.com.au

Don’t be put off by the unusual location in a motor inn alongside the golf course on the old highway into Berri. Earth is full of surprises, as Peter Kent calls upon a lifetime in kitchens here and abroad in compiling a menu that still feels connected to its surrounds. Adventurous diners will be rewarded when choosing the ox tongue skewer with tomatillo salsa verde or abalone with XO butter, but there are also simpler options (seafood pasta, steak) to keep everyone happy. earthrestaurant.com.au

Mallee Estate winery founders Peter and Eleni Markeas came to the Riverland from southern Greece in the sixties and this cheerful cellar door celebrates their heritage. Expect a range of alternative varieties from across the globe, including a nod to their Greek heritage with their latest collection, Kãti Ãllo. malleeestate.com.au

This coffee roaster and café in Renmark’s old fire station is where savvy locals and visitors head for their morning caffeine. Co-owner Callum Benda travels around the world to source the best beans for his products – a dedication to quality you can taste in everything from that early-morning flat white, to special single origin blends, to capsules and bottles of cold-drip concentrate that are perfect for an espresso martini. With plenty of space to sit inside and out, the uber-friendly café also offers a range of fresh muffins and cakes, as well as a brekky burger on weekends. arrostocoffee.com.au

Set up among the gum branches, with the Murray meandering below, the deck of this riverside brewery is one of the most memorable places to sip a pint in Australia. Ideally, you will have arrived during a dreamy houseboat holiday; otherwise it is a short drive from Renmark, with a cottage available for those who want to make a weekend of it. Either way enjoy a wide range of ales, stouts and specialty beers, or even a hard (8.1% abv!) lemonade, all coming from the tanks in the original shearing shed next door. wilkadene.com.au

Set in a bushland retreat above an offshoot of the Murray, this large cellar door is the best way to sample a range of regional wines without all the driving. As well as their own Pike River label (try the fiano), the Riverland Wine Centre offers tastings of reds, whites and sparklings from more than 20 different producers. A choice of platters, pizzas and a burger will sort any hunger issues. riverlandwinecentre.com.au

Ricca Terra producer Ashley Ratcliffe shows what is possible when growing varieties more suited to the regional conditions, with a range of lesser-known names including vermentino and aglianico. The biggest statement, however, is made by his $100 Una Vita blend of souzao, nero d’avola and shiraz, a red that is the epitome of medium-bodied elegance. Pop-up events, vineyard tastings and special collaborations can be found across the Riverland and beyond. riccaterra.com.au

This brilliantly restored old cellar complex is, as they say, steeped in the history of more than 100 years of wine and spirit making. Now brought back to life with some Grand Designs-style thinking, it serves as the production hub and sales outlet for 23rd Street Distillery. Visitors can sit down to taste a flight of their favourite tipple, perhaps a selection of “Bold and Brave” whiskies or fruit-infused gins. A restaurant specialising in wood oven pizzas, some utilising indigenous flavours, completes the package. 23rdstreetdistillery.com.au

Set in the shadow of Waikerie’s painted silos, this one-stop-shop for Riverland food products is popular with passing travellers. Break a road trip up with a cup of Arrosto coffee and piece of cake or more substantial panini, then stock up with local dried fruits, nuts, honey, olive oil and other essentials. A cliff trail along the Murray is a short stroll away, while the Nippy’s factory, where you can squeeze your own fresh orange juice, is directly across the road. illalangi.com.au

This sprawling premises on the main road into Renmark really does have everything under one roof. Cater for your holiday stay with fresh and dried fruits, meat and seafood, pastries, ready-made meals and pantry staples. Sunfresh also runs a café that has coffee and cakes through the day, as well as a more substantial menu including pizzas, yiros and fish and chips to eat in or take away. riverlandsunfresh.net.au

The Heyward family has been growing fruit outside Renmark for four generations and their sun-dried figs, peaches, quinces and other products are sought by chefs around the country. Give one of their beautifully packaged gift boxes to someone special. singingmagpieproduce.com.au

One of the great Australian holidays, a houseboat journey, particularly upriver from Renmark, is a combination of enforced relaxation and awesome landscapes. Sit back with a book or chat over a quiet beverage as you tootle by awe-inspiring cliffs, hidden tributaries and lakes (take a canoe if possible) and ancient red gums. Pull in to the bank for a night around the campfire (when conditions allow) and hopefully make it as far as the Woolshed brewery (see above).

Take a guided walk through the bushland and clifftops bordering the Murray and you will appreciate its natural splendour at a different level. The Murray River Trails team will point out birdlife, edible plants, and traditional scar trees, weaving together the area’s extraordinary geological backstory and significance to First Nations people. A range of walking and other touring options include fully catered stays on a luxurious houseboat. murrayrivertrails.com.au

Whether it is exploring hidden inlets and lakes or drifting downriver with the current, a simple kayak allows you to discover the sights of the Murray from water level. And, with no noisy engines for competition, the gentle splashing of the paddle and vast array of bird calls make for a memorable soundtrack to your experience. Berri-based Canoe Adventures have everything you need to get going. canoeadventure.com.au

This landmark hotel is so proud of its remarkable history it has a museum upstairs full of photographs, artefacts and tales of derring do such as when Breaker Morant rode into the bar on horseback to buy a drink. Accommodation is spread between renovated rooms in the original structure (preferred) to those spread across a rambling extension that are a time capsule in themselves. While Temperance (see above) provides an elevated dining experience on Friday and Saturday nights, the more accessible Nanya bistro can still be recommended with some cross-fertilisation of ingredients and ideas occurring. hotelrenmark.com.au