Take Me To The River

Meandering down the Murray aboard an iconic paddle-wheeler is a mighty fine way to explore regional South Australia, writes Rosa Senese.

- Rosa Senese

‘Mighty’ is a word that crops up often when talking about the Murray, Australia’s longest river. This 2500km-long waterway is a natural wonder, surrounded by world-class food and wine production, and looms large in local history, both ancient and modern. As our introduction to the magic of the Murray, we’ve opted for a four-night cruise along the South Australian stretch, from Mannum to Blanchetown, on a suitably majestic vessel, the Murray Princess.

After a 90-minute drive from Adelaide, we pull up to the dock at Mannum and are rewarded with our first sighting of the Princess. A 67m five-decker with giant paddlewheel at the stern, she combines old-world romance and modern efficiency. Once passengers and bags are all aboard, the captain sounds the musical horn, causing hundreds of startled corellas to take to the skies, and we’re away, skimming along tree-lined riverbanks as we wave to passing ferries and houseboats.

The afternoon is spent settling into our cosy cabin and exploring. The onboard facilities, spread across four decks, are impressive: an open-air top deck with bar, elegant lounge, library, cafe and compact gym. Over dinner, in the wood-panelled Sturt dining room, we swap tales with our well-travelled fellow passengers, drawn to the Murray from as far afield as Canada and Ireland. Meals on board uphold South Australia’s reputation for its culinary bounty, with a drinks list that proudly offers tipples from Riverland, Clare Valley and other local wine regions.