Murray River Cruise & Kangaroo Island Hopping
22 Apr 2017
The Murray River and Kangaroo Island are two of South Australia’s treasures. Now you can experience these two wildly different destinations in one satisfying trip.
Sitting on deck of the PS Murray Princess, sipping a sundowner and rocking to the rhythm of the river as a flock of pelicans skim its surface, is an experience not soon forgotten.
On the starboard side, chattering corellas have returned to roost in the fiery-orange, 20-million-year-old cliffs pockmarked with nesting holes. Their chorus continues until the sun has sunk below the horizon. Time to join my fellow travellers for pre-dinner cocktails.
The Murray Princess is an authentic paddlewheeler and the largest sternwheeler in the Southern Hemisphere. Her magnificent colonial-style interior evokes the era of Australia’s historic riverboat transport.
The three-day river cruise begins in Mannum, where guests board the Murray Princess. She meanders up to Piggy Flat, Salt Bush Flat, then loops back to Mannum from Fromms Landing.
The beauty is in the journey – ambling past riverside homes (almost all with jetties), around majestic river bends and remnant red gums. A mini-tour along the river’s edge on a small boat called Dragonfly allows close-ups of native flora and fauna.
Each night the Murray Princess moors in some tranquil setting. Everyone heads aloft to swap yarns over a pint or the cocktail of the day, before a three-course dinner in the ambience of the Sturt Dining Saloon. Afterwards, there’s live music and dancing, or simply time to marvel at the starry spectacle of the night sky from the upper deck.
Rugged beauty
Back on terra firma, all that separates mainland Australia from Kangaroo Island, Australia’s third largest island, is a 45-minute ferry crossing from Cape Jervis to Penneshaw.
In stark contrast to our river reverie, our two-day tour delivers wild, rugged beauty and encounters with local wildlife, either in their native habitat or in sanctuaries. Kangaroo Island is one of Australia’s most precious wild places, with 30 per cent of the area protected as parks – the largest being Flinders Chase.
The coastline sees huge swells thrash the island’s rocky contours, which is why there are several still-functioning lighthouses.
Famous navigators Matthew Flinders and Nicholas Baudin, who were English and French respectively, put the island on the map following their encounter in 1802. While their respective countries were at war, the two had a civil exchange. The island’s ‘Frenchness’ is conspicuous in many place names.
At Seal Bay, spectators can view the antics of a colony of sea lions from a respectful distance. You can almost stumble over them snoozing in the sand hills on your way to the beach. Another treat is the free-flight demonstrations at Raptor Domain. Here, wedge-tailed eagles, falcons and owls exhibit their prowess.
But what about the island’s namesake? Kangaroos, Tammar wallabies (including several albino Bennett’s wallabies) and koalas can be seen at close range at Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park or spotted in the trees at Hanson Bay Wildlife Sanctuary. And at Admiral’s Arch in Flinders Chase National Park, long-nosed fur seals have staked their claim.
But nothing beats the grand finale – the spectacular, slightly eerie, Remarkable Rocks. ••
Maggy Oehlbeck travelled courtesy of Captain Cook Cruises and Sealink.
MURRAY RIVER CRUISE
Captain Cook Cruises operate three-, four- and seven-night Murray River cruises onboard the PS Murray Princess departing weekly. Cruises include twin-share accommodation, all meals, eco-excursions, onboard presentations, Wi-Fi, live entertainment, and scenic coach transfers from Adelaide.
SEALINK KANGAROO ISLAND COACH TOUR
The two-day Best of Kangaroo Island Tour operates daily from Adelaide. Access to the island is by SeaLink ferry from Cape Jervis to Penneshaw. Tour includes coach transfer, choice of accommodation, breakfast, lunch, two days touring in air-conditioned coach, park entry and guided tours.
For more information visit: murrayprincess.com.au
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