One hundred kilometres inland from Adelaide on the main South Eastern Highway, Tailem Bend is a old railway town set on shores of the famous Murray River. The town's main attraction is Old Tailem Town, an interesting collection of old buildings and residences which allow visitors to temporarily step beck into the 19th century. Only a few kilometres further east of Tailem Bend, the South Eastern Highway splits into three separate routes. The Dukes and Princes Highways head towards South Australia's southern most stretches (see Lower South Australia), while the Mallee Highway heads directly east towards Pinnaroo and the Victorian border.

The Mallee Highway

The Mallee Highway represents the fastest route into the Victorian countryside and the popular Wyperfield and Murray-Sunset National Parks (see Outback Victoria). Along the way, the highway passes through several tiny rural villages including Sherlock and Lameroo , before arriving at Pinnaroo, just six kilometres from the state line. Pinnaroo can't boast much size either, but it does make an excellent rest stop before travelling into the relatively sparse Victorian outback.