We fly from Sydney to Adelaide, where our adventure begins with a scenic drive to Glenelg. Our tour takes in Cement Hill, Ocean Boulevard, Brighton, the beachfront, Adelaide Shores and even a glimpse of Lleyton’s House before we enjoy lunch together by the sea. In the afternoon, we begin an Adelaide City Tour, with time to wander along North Terrace and soak in its cultural treasures. Later, we journey to Murray Bridge to board the Proud Mary. After you have settled into your superb river view accommodation, there is time to enjoy a drink at the bar before dinner is served.  As you cruise, floodlights illuminate the shore providing an excellent opportunity to see the river environment from a different perspective and may allow for a view of some of the nocturnal wildlife, such as night herons, owls and coots.

Overnight: Proud Mary Cruise
Meals Included: Lunch, Dinner

This morning, we cruise past lagoons alive with birdlife before arriving in Mannum, birthplace of paddle steamers on the Murray.  A guided town tour and visit to the Mannum Dock Museum bring history vividly to life, from the Paddle Steamer Marion to the Randell Dry Dock.  After lunch back on board, we continue upstream. Early in the evening we moor at Walker Flat to enjoy our Australiana Night, featuring some traditional bush foods, such as emu, kangaroo, damper bread, lemon myrtle, wild bush tomatoes, and quandongs (wild peaches), transformed into exciting creations by our chefs to showcase a new evolving Australian cuisine.  After dinner you will have the rare opportunity to experience the Australian bush on a nocturnal Southern Hairy Nosed Wombat spotting coach tour, lead by our onshore ecologist.

Overnight: Proud Mary Cruise
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

This morning breakfast is served while cruising further upstream through Wongulla, where some fifty years ago, the fossil of a 20 million year old shark was found.  We continue through the townships of Nildottie and Big Bend and while morning tea is served in the dining room the Captain will give us a talk on the Murray River – its history, current water usage practices and the ecology of this vital water source.   You can also watch a video about the famous 1956 floods that devastated the area.

Later this morning, we will arrive at the pioneering township of Swan Reach, which was originally the port of the large Portee Sheep Station settled as a township in 1899.  Here we will disembark and visit the museum, which is housed in the original Swan Reach Area School, built in 1917.  The museum holds a fascinating collection of memorabilia, which portrays the European history and settlement in this magnificent part of South Australia. A key theme displayed by the museum is the collection of educational memorabilia, consisting of vintage school photographs, attendance registers and classroom objects. 

We will then return to the boat to enjoy another wonderful lunch before departing on the coach for our visit to Costa Brothers Almond Farm where we will learn how they use water-recycling technology to limit its direct impact on the river system.   Following our tour we continue on to Blanchetown, site of the Lock and Weir No 1.  The river is dammed by 13 locks built to facilitate the early riverboat trade.  As the water cascades over the lock it provides an excellent feeding place for birdlife evident by the Pelicans and dozens of species of water birds found diving in the water to feed.

 We will reboard the Proud Mary and depart Blanchetown heading back downstream for Sugar Shack.   Sugar Shack is part of the River Murray International Dark Sky Reserve which is an astronomer’s paradise.  The unpolluted skies and isolation from artificial light sources make it one of the best places to gaze at the stars.    Dinner will be served whilst cruising and once we are moored at Sugar Shack we will commence our fun Trivia Night.

Overnight: Proud Mary Cruise
Meals Included: Breakfast, Morning Tea, Lunch, Dinner

We will wake this morning in one of the most unspoilt and picturesque areas of the Murray River.  Our captain will escort you on an environmental discovery walk where you will see evidence of ancient Aboriginal civilization in the form of a huge canoe tree still standing. The history of the area began in 1840 when explorer Edward John Eyre established a village named “Sturt” after the famous navigator.  Afterwards, we cruise further downstream, passing magnificent lagoons full of birdlife, majestic cliffs reaching for the sky and spectacular scenery as far as the eye can see.    We will have a brief stop at Swan Reach before we moor alongside the towering cliffs of Big Bend, the tallest anywhere along the River. 

 We will then have a small boat cruise on the tender through the lagoons and inlets to explore the prolific wildlife of the region and see some of the 320 species of birdlife in the area.  The boat allows us to get right up to the riverside cliffs to see nesting birds and examine the geology of the landscape, including the many exposed fossils.  Our dinner tonight will be a traditional Australian barbecue on shore, followed by live Aussie entertainment around a blazing campfire (weather dependent). 

Overnight: Proud Mary Cruise
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Watch the sun rise over the towering cliffs this morning with an early departure to the Ngaut Ngaut Aboriginal conservation area, where we will be met by our local aboriginal guide and shown Australia’s first Aboriginal Archaeological digs.  The site contains galleries of Cave Art, smoke stains from ancient fires and an excavated campsite of a civilisation over 8,000 years old.  The view from the top of the cliffs is astonishing with vistas that stretch for miles in every direction.

Following our tour we cruise further downstream and you can join everyone in the dining room to view an interesting documentary that traces the Murray River from its source high in the snowy Mountains to its entry to the sea in the Coorong or just relax on the top deck to take in the unforgettable scenery.   

 Lunch will be served before our leisurely afternoon as we cruise through Bowhill, Teal Flat and Younghusband for our final night at Mannum.  People who have not seen the “P.S Marion” may visit the fascinating floating museum or stroll the magnificent lawns of lovely Mary Ann Reserve.  This evening we are invited to enjoy cocktails and hors d’oeuvres at the bar followed by our Captain’s Dinner – five sumptuous courses to tempt the most discerning palate.   It’s a chance to dress up a little as we dine with the Captain and Engineer. 

Overnight: Proud Mary Cruise
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

This morning we will be docked at the Mary Ann Reserve for those early risers to go for a morning stroll. The Proud Mary will then depart for Woodlane, where our coach will be waiting to escort us on a tour of the Mypolonga region.    Our first visit will be to the Mypolonga Area School, a small rural school situated close to the banks of the Murray River between Mannum and Murray Bridge, with around 140 students.  You will be shown around the school by the students and learn about their unique education system (bring some cash for purchases from their stalls).   

We then continue on to Aussie Apricots owned by Kathy and Paul Prosser.  Kathy will give us a talk about their 3^rd generation family run orchard after which you will have the chance to purchase some of their products.  Paul will then take us to his magnificent Revolution Motor Museum for a private tour to see the wide range of American muscle cars, bikes and engines on display.

We return to the Proud Mary for the final leg of our cruise back to Murray Bridge enjoying lunch on the way and taking in more spectacular scenery before the vessel moors and we say farewell to the Captain and crew.  On arrival at Murray Bridge our Coach will meet us for our transfer to Adelaide and our final night at the Hilton Adelaide.

Overnight: Hilton Adelaide
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After breakfast, we depart through leafy Hyde Park and into the Adelaide Hills, pausing at Mount Lofty and the Visitors Centre. At the Mount Lofty Botanic Gardens, we enjoy morning tea surrounded by spectacular seasonal colours. From here, we continue to the charming village of Hahndorf, where there is free time to explore its German heritage and find our own lunch. In the afternoon, we travel to Adelaide Airport for our homeward flight, farewelling new friends and wonderful memories.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Morning Tea