Murray River Wilderness Cruise

Trip Type
Bird Watching, Nature & Wildlife, Conservation & Citizen Science
Twin Share
Maximum of two adults
$ 3310
Single
$ 4965

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Tony Sharley

Tony is a proud Riverlander with a passion for a healthy Murray River. Growing up on the Murray River created a lifelong passion for rivers and wetlands. His career spanned working in the tropical wetlands of Kakadu, mountain rivers in Kosciuszko National Park, policy and project management at the Murray Darling Basin Commission, initiating Ramsar listed wetlands at Banrock Station, supporting vital species reintroductions and wetland conservation on wetlands in 14 countries, and advocating for environmental flows in “the Murray”. In 2016 Tony and his wife Susie started Murray River Trails to help people discover the magic of the Murray River.

Duration

4 Days

Group Size

10 Peoples

Activity Level

Easy to Moderate

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About This Tour

Guided by ecologists, naturalists and local experts, explore thriving wetlands, ancient river country and wildlife returning to restored habitat.

Join expert guides on a four-day journey through the culture, wildlife and ecology of the Murray River. Walk along ancient river bends, wander through red gum forests and billabongs and learn how environmental flows are revitalising wetlands, restoring habitat and supporting threatened species such as the southern bell frog and Regent parrot.

Explore diverse landscapes in search of red kangaroos, emus, koalas, goannas and more than 180 bird species found throughout this region.

A luxury houseboat will be your comfortable base, where you’ll enjoy creative regional cuisine with Riverland wines and relaxed evenings on deck as the river settles into twilight. With small groups and hands-on interpretation, this journey offers a rare chance to see the Murray thriving and to understand the conservation work behind its recovery.

Please note: Some departures can be combined with our Mungo Outback & Conservation Journey.

Who is this tour perfect for?

Perfect for travellers seeking a relaxed yet immersive wildlife journey, guided interpretation, comfortable accommodation and a deeper understanding of river conservation.

Highlights

Cruise the river on your private pontoon spotting koalas, kangaroos and diverse birdlife across ancient floodplain forests.
Canoe through quiet backwaters lined with red gums, watching for darters, cormorants and whistling kites.
Walk woodland trails and mallee country searching for kangaroos, emus, whistlers, honeyeaters, parrots and migratory rainbow bee-eaters.
Visit ephemeral lakes for spectacular birdwatching, including migratory waders, black swans, stilts, avocets and spoonbills.
Enjoy cruising the river by night spotting brush-tailed possums and listening for calling boobook owls beneath an outback sky.
Enjoy superb local food with native-inspired flavours and premium Riverland wines.

Included/Excluded

Included
Excluded

Experienced, knowledgeable naturalist guides.
Three nights aboard a luxury houseboat with lodge-style comforts.
Secure carparking at Hotel Renmark (meeting point).
Luggage transfer to your onboard cabin.
All meals showcasing regional produce, plus premium Riverland wine, beer, juice and coffee.
All sleeping linen and bath towels.
Optional walking poles.
Access to a library of wildlife field guides.
All canoeing equipment, if desired.
Wi-Fi on the houseboat.

Domestic or international airfares.
Pre- or post-tour accommodation.
Guide services other than specified.
Meals and beverages other than specified.
Tips and gratuities.

Itinerary

At 11:30am, meet your Murray River guides at Hotel Renmark for a welcome briefing before boarding the pontoon cruiser. Cruise 25km upstream through old-growth red gum forests and ochre-coloured cliffs, scanning the tree line for koalas and parrots. Settle into your luxury houseboat, then join a guided cliff-top walk overlooking river country. Enjoy a gourmet dinner paired with local wines as sunset washes across the water.

Rise before dawn to watch the cliffs glow with first light and look for rainbow bee-eaters nesting nearby. After breakfast, join your canoe guide for a gentle paddle through quiet creeks and billabongs lined with mighty red gums, listening for waterbirds and frog calls. Return to the houseboat for a two-hour cruise toward Chowilla Creek and lunch on deck. In the afternoon, explore forested riverbanks in search of the vulnerable Regent parrot.

After breakfast, travel by 4WD to a vast ephemeral lake system - a magnet for migratory waders arriving from the northern hemisphere. Scan for ducks, black swans, pied stilts, red-necked avocets, spoonbills and the occasional musk duck. Look for the delicate white-winged fairy-wren as you drive between mallee shrubs and open plains. Return to the houseboat at a new mooring beneath the dramatic Bunyip Reach Cliffs above Lock 6.