A Nautical New Year on the Murray

Our Carbon Neutral flights arrive to Adelaide, where we board our third party comfort plus coach, travelling responsibly knowing all coach emissions are 100% offset. Enjoy a city tour taking in North Terrace Cultural Boulevard, the Adelaide Oval and St Peters Cathedral. We then head into the Adelaide Hills to the quaint village of Hahndorf, and take time to explore Australias oldest German settlement. Later we make our way to Murray Bridge to be welcomed aboard by the friendly Proud Mary crew. Taking to the river we enjoy a buffet supper as the Proud Mary’s powerful floodlights illuminate the shore giving us ample opportunity to view nocturnal animals in their natural habitat. This evening we tie up for the night at Woodlane.

Cruising upstream, we arrive at picturesque Mannum, the riverboat trade’s birthplace, where we join a guided historical tour by coach. Later, we continue upstream to Walker Flat and this evening after a dinner showcasing typically Australian dishes, we take a guided nocturnal discovery tour. The tour gives an insight into abundant wildlife in this region, including the Southern Hairy Nosed Wombat. Tonight’s mooring is at Walker Flat.

After a delicious breakfast, the Proud Mary leaves Walker Flat and cruises further upstream. The captain offers an informative talk about the majestic Murray River before a delightful onboard lunch. Later, you’ll experience impressive nautical precision as we navigate Lock 1 at Blanchetown, then moor among towering river red gums.

We depart our mooring and cruise to Morgan, enjoying a scenic lunch. Then, we take the coach to Waikerie to see painted silos, the gliding club, and heritage sites, before ending with on-board trivia.

After breakfast, explore historic Morgan, once a bustling Murray River port, visiting heritage sights like the customs house and courthouse. Then, cruise through Lock 1 to Sugar Shack and celebrate New Year’s Eve with food and live entertainment.

Wake this morning in one of the most unspoilt and picturesque areas of the river and take a guided walk before we continue on downstream. Mid-afternoon, marvel at Big Bend’s stunning cliffs before we dock at Swan Reach and board a coach to visit the Swan Reach Museum and Almond Farm. We return to Proud Mary and end the day with live entertainment and a campfire BBQ on Big Bend’s riverbank.

This morning we continue downstream through some of the most spectacular scenery on the entire river system to arrive at Ngaut Ngaut – a historical Aboriginal site. Here an indigenous guide explains the carvings and paintings on cliff faces made up to 20,000 years ago. Later in the afternoon we arrive in Mannum for cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and a formal Captain’s Dinner.

Begin your day at Woodlane with a guided tour of watercourses, waterfalls, swamps, and wetlands central to the ancient Nganguruku and Ngaralta tribes. Enjoy more stunning scenery in the afternoon before returning to Murray Bridge to bid farewell to the Proud Mary, then travel to Adelaide for an overnight stay.

Today we head to Cape Jervis and board the ferry to the pristine wilderness of Kangaroo Island. At Emu Ridge Eucalyptus Distillery we ignite our senses and tour the facilities, then enjoy a hearty BBQ lunch before experiencing the Birds of Prey display at Raptor Domain. In the afternoon, we visit Seal Bay Conservation Park, where Australian sea lions bask in the sun and frolic along the beach. A guided walk brings us closer to the colony, home to around 600 of these rare creatures.

This morning, explore Flinders Chase National Park and Kangaroo Island’s iconic sites, Remarkable Rocks and Admirals Arch. Later, visit Emu Bay Lavender Farm to see, smell, and taste the herb, followed by a tour at Island Beehive to learn about organic honey production.