Australian Geographic Murray River Luxury Houseboat Safari - A Wildlife Adventure on Water, SA

Join your guides on a journey to discover the cultures, incredible wildlife and ecology of the Murray River. You'll be welcomed to country by Erawirung elder Eric Cook who will take you on a cultural walk along an ancient river oxbow. Your guides will lead you through the forests, creeks, billabongs and outback lakes sharing knowledge of vital conservation work. See the benefits of environmental flows to restore red gum forests and protect wetland species including the vulnerable Southern Bell Frog.

Explore diverse landscapes in search of wildlife including red kangaroos, emus, koalas, goannas and many of the 180 bird species found in this region. Water in the outback attracts diverse wildlife.

A luxury houseboat will be your base for this four day, three night adventure where you'll experience local food with paired wines that showcase the best fare the region has to offer - famed Murray River cod a highlight.Our expert guides help you identify birdlife and plants, and share knowledge of the Murray River system, it's management and the importance of recent environmental flows in creating a flourishing landscape. Don't miss this opportunity to immerse yourself in our greatest river!

Trip Highlights

• Cruise the river on your private pontoon cruiser spotting koalas, kangaroos and diverse birdlife across different floodplain habitats and ephemeral lakes.
• Walk with Erawirung elder Eric Cook and hear stories of a culture dating back 40,000 years.
• Canoe in tranquil backwaters encountering ducks, darters, cormorants and whistling kites.
• Walk through woodlands and around cliffs spotting kangaroos and emus, whistlers, babblers, honeyeaters, parrots and migratory rainbow bee-eaters.
• View floodplain lakes in a high conservancy area where spectacular birdwatching can include migratory waders and rarely seen blue-billed ducks and musk ducks, black swans and their cygnets, pied stilts, red-necked avocets, and yellow-billed spoonbills.
• Cruise by river at night to see the stars of an outback sky while spotting brush tailed possums and listening for boobook owls.
• Enjoy superb local food with a creative native twist.                                                                                        

ITINERARY

DAY 1: River cruise and cliff walk

At 10am meet your guide at the Hotel Renmark's Function Room. Your guide will provide a brief introduction to the landscape as you journey upstream in our pontoon cruiser. You'll familiarise quickly with river country, scanning the tree-line for koalas and waterbirds.

Our guides will welcome you to your luxurious houseboat where you'll familiarise with your room and the spectacular views from your new river home, before settling in to a fresh and flavoursome lunch.

An inspiring afternoon walk with Erawirung elder Eric Cook will reveal stories of an ancient culture evident along the banks of an old stretch of river. The evening is spent on the houseboat admiring the reflections of the sunset from the top deck spa or swim deck as your guides prepare a gourmet dinner paired with local wines to complete the day.

Lunch and dinner provided.

DAY 2: Kayaking, Houseboat Cruising & short walk

Following a relaxed breakfast, you will
meet your canoe guide for a morning paddle through peaceful creeks and
billabongs lined by mighty red gums, rafting up occasionally to drift and
listen to a special place you’ve become more familiar with. The quiet paddling
can be a great way to spot a goanna up and old gum or a sacred kingfisher. Arriving back at the houseboat, you’ll
start a two-hour houseboat cruise upstream to Chowilla Creek. As you cruise
upstream, relax and enjoy the view as lunch is prepared by your guides.

 After lunch you’ll explore your new
location on the banks of Chowilla with a forest walk, sit quietly
in search of the vulnerable Regent Parrot, honeyeaters, and fairy-wrens.

 Breakfast, lunch and dinner provided.    

DAY 3: Birdwatching on ephemeral lakes

After a nourishing breakfast you’ll set off on a driving tour to
the great ephemeral lake system on the outer floodplain where spectacular
birdwatching includes migratory waders that have travelled from the northern
hemisphere, thousands of ducks, black swans and their cygnets, pied stilts,
red-necked avocets, yellow-billed spoonbills and musk ducks. Expect to see
blue-bonnets and magnificent red kangaroos and perhaps a spectacular
white-winged fairy-wren as we drive across country between the lakes. 

Your exclusive guide in the lake system is Tony Sharley. Tony is
an expert who will give you his individual insights into the local wildlife,
fauna and environmental conditions of life in the wetlands. Tony grew up on the
Murray River at Renmark and, driven by his inspiration for the river and its
surrounds, has had a career living and working on wetlands in Australia’s
Murray Darling Basin and around the world.

A packed lunch is enjoyed looking over these vast waterbodies.
Swamp harriers and whistling kites will be busy in this area and an occasional
wedge-tailed eagle or a white-bellied sea eagle may visit.

You’ll return to find the houseboat upstream of lock 6 opposite
the beautiful Bunyip Reach Cliffs. Cruise by pontoon cruiser down to the lock
and discuss how weirs are now being used to recreate the natural highs and lows
of an ephemeral system.

 Breakfast, lunch & dinner provided.

DAY 4: A short walk & houseboat cruising downstream

After breakfast we cruise down through lock 6 and continue down to
the Wilkadene Woolshed Brewery. This is the
perfect time to gather your thoughts and record all your sightings and
inspirations.

You’ll finish with a BBQ lunch at the brewery and say farewell to
the river.

Breakfast
and lunch provided.

WHAT'S INCLUDED:

• Experienced, knowledgeable guides to lead your tour
• Lodge style accommodation for 3 nights on a luxury houseboat
• Secure Parking at Renmark Hotel
• Luggage transfer to your room on the houseboat
• All meals showcasing local produce and all beverages including premium Riverland wines and beer, juice and coffee
• All sleeping linen and 1 bath towel
• Optional 34L daypack
• Optional walking poles
• Access to a library of wildlife field guides
• All equipment for canoeing 
• Wifi on the houseboat

• Domestic or international airfares
• Pre or post tour accommodation
• Guide services other than specified
• Meals/beverages other than specified
• Tips & gratuities
• Optional tours/services