2 Night Outback Explorer Cruise
- departs Sunday returns Tuesday
SUNDAY (s)
Just 45 minutes from Adelaide in the heart of the Murraylands,
the Captain and crew of the luxurious MV 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, MV Expedition ties
up for a night of peace and tranquillity in the Australian
bush.
MONDAY ( b, l, d )
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 MV 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 MV Expedition
as you cruise upstream past lovely Lake Carlet, peaceful Bow
Hill and Purnong. Early in the evening, MV 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.
TUESDAY( b, l, d )
After breakfast
MV 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 MV 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 MV 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 MV 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. Passengers travelling on
the two night outback explorer cruise disembark here for the return
journey to Adelaide (a light dinner snack will be provided for
your return journey to Adelaide). Passengers travelling on the
five night cruise remain on board to greet new friends travelling
on the three night cruise.
3 Night Nature Adventure
Cruise - departs Tuesday returns Friday
TUESDAY (d)
Passengers travelling
on the three night midweek cruise will be welcomed aboard MV
Expedition at 7:30pm. Tonight enjoy a
delicious dinner prepared by MV 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 MV
Expedition.
WEDNESDAY ( b, l, d )
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 MV 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.
THURSDAY( b, l, d )
An early departure
this morning you will see the sun rise over the towering cliffs
while you enjoy your breakfast. The MV 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.
FRIDAY( b, l )
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 MV 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.
