Big Bend, South Australia facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Big Bend South Australia
Big Bend Location in South Australia
Postcode(s)	5238
Time zone	ACST (UTC+9:30)
• Summer (DST)	ACDT (UTC+10:30)
LGA(s)	Mid Murray Council
State electorate(s)	Chaffey
Federal Division(s)	Barker
Localities around Big Bend: Swan Reach Big Bend Sunnydale

Big Bend is a special place in South Australia. It is known for a very long bend in the Murray River. This area has amazing riverside cliffs. These cliffs are the tallest along the Murray River.

Discovering Big Bend's Wonders

The cliffs at Big Bend are made of limestone. They are full of millions of ancient ocean fossils. These cliffs are also home to many colonies of bats.

Ancient Caves and History

There are caves in the Big Bend area. People have lived in these caves for at least 8,000 years. These caves are very important to the local Aboriginal community. They are considered sacred places.

Where is Big Bend?

The official area of Big Bend is on the left side of the Murray River. This is when you are looking upstream. The land on the other side of the river is called Sunnydale.

The name "Big Bend" comes from a group of holiday homes. These homes are built on low ground near the river. They are located downstream from the town of Swan Reach. You can see great views of the river's bend from the road. This road runs along the top of the cliffs. It connects Swan Reach and Nildottie.

How the River Bends

The Murray River makes some interesting turns here. Just past the holiday homes, the river turns towards the northwest. It then passes a small lake, called a lagoon. After that, the river makes its famous Big Bend. This turn is a wide sweep of about 180 degrees. Then, after a fairly straight part, it turns again for another 90 degrees. Finally, it makes a left turn around Ngaut Ngaut Conservation Park.