Recharge on Australia's mighty Murray River during your next holiday, as it winds its way through the heart of the Murraylands, carving out steep cliffs that turn orange at sunset, winding past giant red gums and spilling into wild lagoons.
There are so many ways to take it all in when you travel to the Murray River. You can paddle a canoe through quiet backwaters; charter your own houseboat, from budget to budget-breaking luxury; take a five-night cruise on the PS Murray Princess and the MV Expedition; or take a short day trip out from the historic river ports of Mannum and Murray Bridge. You can water ski, swim and fish, or sprawl out with a good book on the banks.
But a Murraylands holiday doesn't begin and end on the water. You can find exotic wildlife in the open range sanctuary of Monarto Zoological Park. Search for rare antiques in historic towns. Or get off the beaten track for bushwalking, bird watching and four-wheel-driving through Mallee conservation parks.
And many of the best holiday attractions in the Murraylands are within an easy hour's drive of Adelaide.
Monarto Zoological Park:
Travel the world of wildlife at Monarto Zoological Park, where giraffes, lions, rhinoceros, zebra, antelope and cheetahs roam freely in a bushland setting. The 1000 hectare open-range sanctuary has long been at the forefront of international breeding programs for rare and endangered species, and you can see them all on a safari bus, walking tour or even by camel. It's a fantastic family holiday idea.
Go Bush:
Lose yourself and find rare birds, flora and fauna on a bushwalking journey through the Ngarkat Group of Conservation Parks. These four adjoining parks, deep in South Australia's Mallee, cover a combined area of 270,000 hectares and are home to a spectacular array of animals including echidnas, pygmy-possums and the endangered Mallee fowl. Walking trails will also lead you to ruins and ancient Aboriginal sites.
Big Bend by Night Eco Tours:
Watch the sun slip away over the Murray River as you enjoy a three-course alfresco meal on a Big Bend by Night Eco Tour, just outside Swan Reach. Then climb aboard a wagon to see kangaroos, hairy-nosed wombats and other native animals as they go about their nightly business. The majestic Big Bend cliffs are the tallest cliffs on the Murray River and up to 20 million years old.
Mannum Dock Museum:
Explore Australia's paddleboat history at the Mannum Dock Museum, home to the lovingly-restored, 100-year-old PS Marion. The intriguing museum can be found on the banks of the Murray River in Mannum – the birthplace of paddle-steamers on Australia's greatest waterway and now a bustling riverside town.
Murray Bridge's Sturt Reserve:
Take a short river cruise, ride the BMX track, walk the Federation Trail or look out for the bunyip. Then spread the picnic blanket and sprawl out with the family at the delightful Sturt Reserve on the banks of the Murray River.
Beds and Berths:
Indulge in a five-night cruise aboard the PS Murray Princess or take a nature cruise on the MV Proud Mary. Join the Murray River Run – staying in great country hotels as you journey right along South Australia's strip of the river. Relax in super-luxury aboard the River Dream Boatel, take your own chef along with Odyssey Charter Cruises, or take a dozen mates away to fish and enjoy a few beers around your houseboat barbecue. There's a Murray River cruise to suit every taste and budget – most within an hour of Adelaide.
