Murray River 5 Night Wildlife Expedition Cruise

Australia’s River Murray is one of the world’s legendary rivers, in fact, the fourth longest river system in the world. Mysterious, massive and meandering 3,700 kilometres, it ranks with the Mississippi, the Nile and the Amazon. Boasting some of the most spectacular and rugged Australian landscapes, the River Murray is home to an array of abundant wildlife and birdlife. It is aboard River of Australia Expeditions intimate cruising vessel, Murray Expedition, that you can discover the River Murray's eco-system at its best.

Operating 2 & 5 night cruises 365 days of the year, departing from Murray Bridge, just one hour out of Adelaide, The Murray Expedition caters for a maximum of only 40 passengers, this boutique product provides the ideal environment for passengers to explore, experience, indulge and discover. The well appointed bar, lounge and dining area provides the perfect location for indulging in the culinary delights of the resident chef, while viewing the passing Australian scenery.

Daily itinerary

Day 1 - Sunday (S)

Just 45 minutes from Adelaide in the heart of the Murraylands, the Captain and crew of the luxurious Murray Expedition look forward to welcoming you aboard. Upon boarding at 8pm you will be shown to your superb Riverview accommodation with time to settle in and enjoy a drink at the bar before a delicious supper is served.

As you cruise, Expedition’s powerful floodlights illuminate the shore. This is an excellent opportunity to see the River environment in a different perspective and may allow you to view of some of the nocturnal wildlife, especially birds such as night herons, owls and coots. Later, Murray Expedition ties up for a night of peace and tranquillity in the Australian bush.

Day 2 - Monday (BLD)

Your cruise continues upstream as you enjoy a delicious buffet breakfast. You will pass huge lagoons teeming with birdlife. During floods these inland lagoons were so immense that in the early riverboat days, Captains could not find the true channels. In many cases the water expanded for miles. In the early 1900’s riverboat Captains planted willow trees along the banks to clearly mark the main river channel. Today the willows provide the perfect haven for the prolific and colourful birdlife. Mid morning Murray Expedition arrives in picturesque Mannum. Here you will board the waiting coach for a history tour of this small township which played a significant role in the development of South Australia. Captain William Randell launched the 1st Paddle Steamer on The Murray River the “Mary Ann” in 1853. By the late 1880’s there were over 250 Paddle Steamers and barges trading on the River Murray, and Mannum became an industrious inland port. On tour you will re-trace the colourful history of several pioneering families whose efforts shaped the successful development of this region. Your tour includes a visit to the ‘Olden Days, Olden Ways’ Museum in Mannum, here you will find a large collection of historic memorabilia. Lunch will be served aboard Murray Expedition as you cruise upstream past lovely Lake Carlet, peaceful Bow Hill and Purnong. Early in the evening, Murray Expedition moors at Walker Flat. The Bird and wildlife here is prolific, including wallabies, wild ducks and bush turkeys. This evening is “Australiana Night” and we will be featuring the use of some traditional “Bush foods” such as emu, kangaroo, damper bread, fresh water crustaceans (yabbies), lemon myrtle, wild bush tomatoes and quandongs (wild peaches), combined into exciting creations by our chefs to showcase a new evolving Australian cuisine. This evening join our resident ecologist for a Nocturnal Discovery Tour. This tour provides an insight to the abundant wildlife, including the Southern Hairy Nosed Wombat; floodlights illuminate the secluded outback enabling you to easily view the native flora and fauna.

Day 3 - Tuesday (BLD)

After breakfast Murray Expedition continues upstream. You will pass fascinating Wongulla where, some fifty years ago, men found the petrified remains of a shark. It was twenty million years old. Mid Morning Murray Expedition arrives at the pioneering township of Swan Reach. The settlement was originally the port of the large Portee Sheep Station and was settled as a township in 1899. Here you will disembark Murray Expedition and with a local guide visit Murray Aquaculture, one of the most ambitious aquaculture projects undertaken in Australia. The fresh water crustacean is uniquely Australian and is only one of many species of crayfish found in Australia. Australia has the second largest and most diverse number of crayfish species in the world. With a local guide passengers are taken through the complex covering 10,000 sq metres of ponds, nurseries and an interpretive information centre. Eco – guides provide an informative commentary relating to fresh water crustacean biology, production and marketing. On Board, you may have the opportunity to sample Murray Aquaculture fresh water crustaceans. Late afternoon Murray Expedition arrives at Blanchetown, site of the Lock and Weir No. 1 on the River Murray. The River Murray is dammed by 13 locks built for the early riverboat trade. Water cascades over the lock creating an excellent feeding place for birdlife. Pelicans and dozens of species of water birds are found diving in the water to feed.

Tonight enjoy a delicious dinner prepared by Murray Expedition’s chefs as your evening cruise takes you to your overnight mooring spot of Portee Landing marvel at the surrounding floodlit shores, towering River Gums and sheer cliff faces illuminated by Murray Expedition.

Day 3 - Wednesday (BLD)

You will wake this morning in one of the most unspoilt and picturesque areas of the River Murray. You will be taken on an environmental discovery walk where even today you will see evidence of an ancient Aboriginal civilisation – a huge canoe tree still stands. Learn about Moorundie Creek, named after the Aboriginal tribe that lived there. In native dialect moorundie means sand or sandy, the site where the history of the area began in 1840 when explorer Edward John Eyre established a village named “Sturt” after the famous navigator. As Murray Expedition cruises downstream, you will pass magnificent lagoons teeming with birdlife, awesome cliffs reaching for the sky and spectacular scenery as far as the eye can see. This afternoon your vessel ties alongside the towering cliffs of Big Bend. A highlight of your expedition is a guided cruise led by our ecologist aboard a small boat through the lagoons and inlets. There are some 320 species of birdlife in this area and with the aid of binoculars and your well informed guide, you will study at close range the prolific birdlife as well as the wildlife of the region including kangaroos, wombats, emus, echidnas and goannas. This evening there is a traditional Australian barbecue on shore followed by live entertainment around a blazing campfire.

Day 3 - Thursday (BLD)

An early departure this morning you will see the sun rise over the towering cliffs while you enjoy your breakfast. The Murray Expedition berths at the Ngaut Ngaut Aboriginal conversation area where you will be met by a local Aboriginal guide and shown over Australia’s first Aboriginal Archaeological digs. It contains galleries of Cave Art, smoke stains from ancient fires and an excavated campsite of a civilisation over 8,000 years old. As you cruise this afternoon there will be on-board activities organised by the Cruise Director, time to relax and view the River environment and the associated birdlife, or browse through our library resources and learn more about this fascinating environment before an afternoon arrival in Mannum. Passengers who have not seen the “P.S Marion” may visit the fascinating floating museum or stroll the magnificent lawns of lovely Mary Ann Reserve. This evening you are invited to enjoy cocktails and hors d’oeuvres at the bar followed by our Captain’s Dinner – five sumptuous courses to tempt the most discerning palate.

Day 3 - Friday (BL)

A Chance for a short stroll on Many Ann Reserve prior to boarding the waiting coach for a tour of Reedy Creek Environmental Park. Discover this permanent water course from waterfalls, through swamps and wetlands. Reedy Creek and the waterfalls played a significant part in the lives of the ancient Nganguruku and Ngaralta Aboriginal tribes. As well as natural rock shelters, the area offered permanent water and an abundance of wild game for hunting. As part of your Expedition Cruise experience you will have the opportunity to take a fascinating bush walk through the Reedy Creek Gorge. Your guide will provide you with information enabling you to identify significant rock formations and the abundant native vegetation and birdlife. Re-board the Murray Expedition as we begin the final leg of your journey. Today, lunch is a superb buffet of fresh local produce. This afternoon there will be more spectacular scenery before the vessel ties up once more in Murray Bridge, the Captain and crew bid farewell to guests and new-found friends before a late afternoon disembarkation.

Shore Excursions

Join our resident ecologist to explore the River Murray at its best through our nature based cruise highlights.

Abundant wildlife will be seen throughout your entire expedition cruise. River Gums and Willows line the banks of this famous river and provide a perfect safe haven for birds and wildlife. Take a closer look with the aid of binoculars. Not only by day but also by night, the Murray Expedition’s powerful floodlights illuminate the graceful willows and dark waters as you cruise. View nocturnal wildlife, especially birds such as night herons, owls and coots.

Some of the informative tours include:

• A journey aboard a small boat to cruise the River’s secluded lagoons and inlets, here you will view some of the 320 species of birdlife in this region and discover the intricacies of the ancient cliff face.
• The Nocturnal Discovery is an insight to abundant wildlife, including the Southern Hairy Nosed Wombat, floodlights illuminate the secluded outback enabling you to easily view the native flora & fauna.
• Murray Aquaculture, one of the most ambitious aquaculture projects undertaken in Australia. With a local guide visit the interpretation centre, ponds and nurseries, which house the yabby, a uniquely Australian freshwater crustacean.
• Take a fascinating guided nature walk through Reedy Creek Gorge more commonly known as Mannum Waterfalls. Discover this permamnet water course from waterfalls, through swamps and wetlands.
• Aboriginal Dimension - Journey into history at Ngaut Ngaut Aboriginal Conservation Park, one of the oldest archaeological digs in Australia. In 1929, burial grounds, tools and art were discovered revealing facts about life on the River over 8,000 years ago. Here you are met by a local Aboriginal Guide and will discover galleries of cave art and smoke stains from ancient fires and artifacts uneartherd by archaeologists.
• Australian Theme - As dusk falls, enjoy and evening around a blazing campfire. A delicious bush barbeque is prepared using local produce, including billy tea and damper. Along with evening entertainment under the stars on the golden sands of the river bank.

The Vessel

The Murray Expedition boasts 18 spacious riverview rooms, a lounge, dining area and well appointed bar.

Order a drink and venture out onto Murray Expedition’s spacious open decks or enjoy the intimate lounge and dining area. The captains commentary may spark an interest to peruse the vessel’s resource centre and learn more from one of the many books available.

You may like to enjoy a cuppa from the continuous tea and coffee available in the dining room or browse the souvenirs available for purchase.

Explore at your leisure any of the spectacular mooring locations; enjoy a walk through the bushland or discover the backwaters in one of the available canoes. For those who like a spot of fishing, reels and bait are available, simply ask one of the Expedition crew.

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