Relax on board our purpose-built riverboat as you discover the beauty and fascination of the fourth longest river system in the world.
Come cruising...
Join us aboard the superbly appointed riverboat, the Proud Mary, for a fantastic 2 night Murray River discovery cruise. Departing every Friday evening, you'll feel relaxed in an instant as we immediately glide gracefully up the breathtaking River Murray.
The 2 night discovery cruise includes all meals, tours and live entertainment. Let our brilliant chefs delight your senses with modern Australian and European cuisine made from the highest quality seasonal produce.
Abundant wildlife and magnificent scenery will be seen throughout your entire stay aboard. River Gums and Willows line the banks of this famous river and provide a perfect safe haven for birds and wildlife. Take in the towering cliffs and beautiful sandy beaches as the Proud Mary idly cruises by. At night, the Proud Mary's powerful floodlights provide a rare glimpse of nocturnal wildlife, especially birds such as night herons, owls and coots.
Lagoon cruises, a guided Mannum township tour and an Australian themed bush barbeque with live entertainment make up the highlights of this tremendous 2 night discovery cruise (more details on cruise highlights below).
For when you choose to retire to the private contemporary ensuite accommodation provided, all cabins onboard feature stunning river views so you can stay immersed in the beauty of nature.
2 night discovery cruise highlights include:
Lagoon cruises
Australian themed bush barbeque
Night cruising
Live entertainment
Note: some times and activities may be subject to change without notice.
Friday
7pm You are welcomed aboard by the friendly Proud Mary crew. Having settled into your comfortable, river-view cabin, you may like to join fellow passengers in the Dining Room & enjoy a drink before a delicious hot supper is served. Proud Mary cruises to its overnight mooring point and your Captain introduces the crew. Cruising the river at night is a magical experience and the Proud Mary’s powerful floodlights illuminate the graceful willows and dark waters as you glide past. This is an excellent opportunity to see the River environment from a completely different perspective and may allow you to view some of the nocturnal wildlife, especially birds such as night herons, owls, and coots.
10pm Proud Mary ties up at Woodlane, our overnight mooring, for a night of peace and tranquillity in the Australian bush.
11.30pm Dining Room is closed.
Saturday
7am The Dining Room is opened. Tea, coffee and continental breakfast available.
8am A hearty cooked breakfast is served, whilst Proud Mary departs Woodlane and continues upstream through some of the most spectacular scenery on the entire Murray River system. In the early days of riverboats, the inland lagoons were so immense that captains could often not find clear channels to navigate, so in the early 1900s riverboat captains planted willow trees along the banks to clearly mark the main river. Today the willows provide the perfect haven for a prolific range of birdlife. There are some 320 species in this area and, with the aid of binoculars and your well-informed guide, you will be able to study these beautiful creatures at close range.
10.00am The Proud Mary berths in Mannum allowing time for a morning stroll through this historic town. Details on three historic walks, explaining significant places and heritage buildings, can be obtained at the Visitor Information Centre. Alternatively relax with a coffee and enjoy the main street which looks over the majestic Murray.
12.00pm The vessel departs Mannum. Enjoy a delicious lunch prepared by the Proud Mary chefs as you cruise upstream through Younghusband and Teal Flat. Your menu may include dishes such as Lamb Rack with Tomato Chutney, NT Barrumundi with Lemon Myrtle, Spinach and Yam Chips or beautiful Grilled Prawns with an Italian salad.
2.30pm Proud Mary ties up at Teal Flat, located alongside towering cliffs and beautiful sandy beaches. Here, you will enjoy an informative guided cruise aboard a small boat as our expert ecologist leads you through the shallows and up close with the cliffs of the Murray River. This amazing experience allows you to immerse yourself in the beauty and tranquillity of the river environment while your guide provides fascinating information about the River and its ecology. It’s a truly memorable experience.
5.30pm The Bar opens onshore. Enjoy a relaxing drink as you bask in the beauty of your surroundings and chat to fellow passengers. There’s also time to take a walk around the nearby riverbank area to immerse yourself in peace of your surroundings.
6.00pm This evening delivers another memorable experience… a traditional gourmet Aussie barbeque prepared by our chefs and eaten under a canopy of stars amidst the restful sounds of the nearby river. Afterwards enjoy an evening of live entertainment around a blazing campfire, provided by our resident musician. Request a song and sing along into the night as the stars of the Australian sky hover above, almost close enough to touch.
11.30pm Dining Room closes.
Sunday
7am The Dining Room is opened. Tea, coffee and continental breakfast available.
7.15am Depart Teal Flat ready to cruise downstream to Mannum.
8.00am A hearty cooked breakfast is served, whilst you enjoy the scenery this beautiful section of the Mighty Murray River. You will pass through the townships of Younghusband, Pellaring Flat and Cowirra.
10.00am Arrive back at picturesque Mannum. Here you’ll board a waiting coach for a history tour of this small township that has played a significant role in the development of South Australia. Captain William Randell launched the first paddle steamer, the “Mary Ann”, on the Murray River in 1853. By the late 1880s, there were over 250 paddle steamers and barges trading on the Murray River and Mannum became an industrious inland port. On the 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 Mannum Dock museum in Mannum, where you will find a fascinating collection of historical memorabilia. Mannum is also famous as the site of the production of the first steam car in Australia with a differential, built by the Shearer brothers.
12.00pm We depart from Mannum.
12.30pm A delicious lunch is served featuring fresh local produce. This afternoon there will be more spectacular scenery while the Proud Mary cruises past Ponde, Caloote, Woodlane, Mypolonga and Willow Banks. An interesting video on Murray River 1956 Flood will be shown during the afternoon.
3.30pm Late afternoon, the Vessel secures back at Murray Bridge. We hope you have enjoyed your time with us and will return for another River Murray experience in the future.
Getting there...
The Proud Mary departs from Murray Bridge, just an hour from Adelaide. Return coach transfers are available to take you to the wharf at Clark Street Car Park where you will board the vessel. For self-drive passengers, secure undercover lock-up garaging facilities are available adjacent to the wharf. Embarkation is available from 7.00pm.
Garaging
Upon arrival, make your way to the vessel where our crew will meet you for check-in. After that, our Cruise Director will ask you to drive your vehicle to the garaging facility just a few minutes from the wharf where your vehicle will be securely locked away and our coach will bring you back to the boat. Cost is $110.
Coach transfers
These are available to and from Murray Bridge at the small cost of $65 each way ($130 return). The coach departs from the Adelaide Central bus station, 85 Franklin Street. Check-in is 30 minutes prior to departure. For directions to Adelaide Central Bus Station please contact reservations 1800 677 683 or +61 8 8406 4444.
- Friday and Sunday coach departure times from Adelaide for cruises departing from Murray Bridge – 6:00pm
- Friday and Sunday coach arrival times into Adelaide for cruises disembarking in Murray Bridge – 5:30pm
Self-drive passengers
Travelling from Adelaide, South Australia to Murray Bridge – Take the South Eastern freeway out of Adelaide to the Murray Bridge exit. Carry on into Murray Bridge and turn right at the third set of traffic lights. This is East Street with the Bridge Port Hotel on the corner. Turn left onto Olympic Drive, left onto Wharf Road and slightly left onto Clark Street leading to the Clark Street public car park.
Travelling from the Australian Eastern States to Murray Bridge – After travelling through Tailem Bend take the Murray Bridge exit and continue onto the township over the bridge. Take the 1st left once off the bridge. This is East Street with the Bridge Port Hotel on the corner. Turn left onto Olympic Drive, left onto Wharf Road and slightly left onto Clark Street leading to the Clark Street public car park.
Thank you to the Proud Mary crew for making our Murray River adventure so special and memorable. What a beautiful cruise to experience with my husband and our new friends now made. We will be back for the 5 night cruise very soon!