Recharge on Australia’s mighty Murray River during your next holiday. It winds its way through the heart of the Murraylands, carves out steep cliffs that turn orange at sunset, passes giant red gums and spills into wild lagoons.
Paddle a canoe through quiet backwaters. Charter your own houseboat, from budget to budget-breaking luxury. Take a five-night cruise on the PS Murray Princess and the MVProud Mary. Take a short day trip out from the historic river ports of Mannum and Murray Bridge. Water ski, swim and fish. Sprawl out with a good book on the banks of the river.
Find exotic wildlife in the open range sanctuary of Monarto Zoological Park. Giraffes, lions, rhinoceros, zebra, antelope and cheetahs roam freely in a bushland setting. You can see them all on a safari bus, walking tour or even by camel. It’s a fantastic family holiday idea.
Lose yourself and find rare birds, flora and fauna on a bushwalking journey through the Ngarkat Group of Conservation Parks. These four adjoining parks, deep in South Australia’s Mallee area, cover a combined area of 270,000 hectares. They are home to a spectacular array of animals including echidnas, pygmy-possums and the endangered Mallee fowl. Walking trails will lead you to ruins and ancient Aboriginal sites.
Watch the sun slip away over the Murray River, as you enjoy a three-course alfresco meal on a Big Bend by Night Eco Tour. Climb aboard a wagon to see kangaroos, hairy-nosed wombats and other native animals. The majestic Big Bend cliffs are the tallest cliffs on the Murray River; they’re about 20 million years old.
Explore Australia’s paddleboat history at the Mannum Dock Museum. The museum is home to the lovingly-restored, 100-year-old PS Marion. The intriguing museum can be found on the banks of the Murray River in Mannum. There’s a lot of history to discover in Mannum.
Take a short river cruise, ride the BMX track, walk the Federation Trail or look out for the Bunyip. Spread out a picnic blanket and sprawl out on the grass of the delightful Sturt Reserve.