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MURRAY MADNESS SALE
Sunday(s) – Departing from Murray Bridge, just 45 minutes from Adelaide in the heart of the Murraylands, the Captain and crew of the luxurious Murray 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,
Murray 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 Murray 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 Murray Expedition as you cruise upstream past lovely Lake Carlet,
peaceful Bow Hill and Purnong. Early in the evening, Murray 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 Murray 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 Murray 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
Murray 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 Murray
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.  Transfers - A coach departs from the Adelaide Central Bus Station (85 Franklin Street, Adelaide) on Sun at 6.30pm returning Tue at 9.10pm and the cost is $78 per person for a return transfer.
Garaging - Your car can be stored at Murray Bridge for $70 for the duration of your cruise.
Compulsory Extra - Fuel levy of $7 per person per night.
MURRAY MADNESS SALE 01 Apr 2010 - 31 Mar 2011
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Murray River Cruises, Australia © Copyright 2006-2010