Laurie Shearer

A 4-day 3-night guided experience where you’ll discover the wildlife of one of the most beautiful, remote and highly conserved reaches of Australia’s longest river.

Itinerary:
Day 1 - At 11.30am meet your guides in the Nanya Function Space at the Hotel Renmark. Your guides will provide a brief introduction to the Murray River before you board our pontoon cruiser and begin a 25km cruise upstream through old growth redgum forests and red ochre-coloured cliffs that flank the river. You’ll be welcomed to your ecohouseboat accommodation where you’ll enjoy lunch and settle in before setting off on a cultural walk through river country. The evening is spent on the houseboat admiring the cliff colours at sunset from the top deck or in the spa before your guides prepare a dinner paired with local wines to complete the day. Cruise 25km, approx 2.5 hours, Walk 2km, approx 2 hours

Day 2 - Rise before the sun to hear the dawn birdsong and walk a gentle slope to the rim of the Murray River valley for a spectacular sunrise. Watch the vibrant colours of the river come to life. After Breakfast, meet your canoe guide for an easy downstream paddle through peaceful creeks and billabongs. Arriving back at the houseboat, you’ll start a two-hour houseboat cruise upstream to Chowilla Creek. After lunch you’ll explore on foot the forests and wetlands at your new location.
 Kayaking approx 2 hours, Houseboat cruising 2 hours

Day 3 - After an early breakfast, you’ll set off on a driving tour of the great ephemeral lake system on the outer floodplain. The lakes are a destination for thousands of waterbirds including migratory birds that have flown from the northern hemisphere. Driving across the plains between lakes we see magnificent Red Kangaroos. We return to find the houseboat in a new location opposite the spectacular Bunyip Reach Cliffs above lock 6. Driving tour 8am-2pm

Day 4 - After breakfast, we cruise leisurely down river and transfer through lock 6 on the way to a former woolshed turned micro brewery hidden away on a backwater. We then finish up with a farewell BBQ and return to the Hotel Renmark at 2pm. Houseboat cruising 2 hours.