GAZING ACROSS A cracked mud plain stretching all the way to the horizon while occasionally peering into a spotting scope to try to spy wildlife at a faraway waterhole, you could be forgiven for thinking you’re on the African savannah. So it’s little surprise this five-day, four-night tour of the River Murray in South Australia is described by its operators as a safari.
The Murray River Safari is a small-group luxury experience operated by Tony Sharley, a former officer with the Murray-Darling Basin Authority. His deep knowledge of this iconic aquatic system, coupled with his passion for the environment, has crafted the perfect short break that’s rich in history and nature, and with just enough adventure to provide a challenge without putting anyone under too much pressure.
IT’S A LONG drive from Adelaide to the starting point on Day 1 but we’re not too far up the road before the river begins to weave its way into our hearts when we cross our first bridge over the Murray at Blanchetown. The view of the river and its side channel Cumbunga Creek to our left is startling in its scale; it’s the first hint that everything about the Murray is big. The road mostly follows the river from Waikerie onwards, and we catch the occasional glimpse of magnificent red cliffs as we draw closer to our houseboat mooring a few kilometres upstream of the port of Renmark, where we’ll spend the first two nights of our adventure.
The impacts of a recent major flooding event are evident. The riverbanks are uniformly dressed with a thick layer of dried grey mud, and the high-water mark is clearly visible on the trunks of stately river red gums, some of which still have their feet in the water. The river level remains high as floodwater continues to drain down through the Murray–Darling system from as far away as central Queensland.
Denne historien er fra May - June 2023-utgaven av Australian Geographic Magazine.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra May - June 2023-utgaven av Australian Geographic Magazine.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Loveday Internment Camp, SA A
DURING WORLD WAR II, civilians n Australia deemed \"enemy aliens\" - mostly those of German, Italian and Japanese descent were housed in internment camps.
THE STORYTELLERS OF THE GREAT BARRIER REEF
More than 100 dedicated Master Reef Guides are sharing the GBR's most important stories with visitors in a bid to inspire its greater protection.
A BEAUTIFUL DISASTER
Does last summer's mass coral bleaching event sound a death knell for Australia's beloved Great Barrier Reef? \"Not on my watch!\" is the message coming from he army of heartbroken, but resolute, marine scientists who've responded to the crisis by doubling down on their research.
AROUND AUSTRALIA IN 44 DAYS
This year marks the 100th anniversary of the first aerial circumnavigation of Australia. Aviator Michael Smith retraces the flight in his unique amphibious flying boat, Southern Sun, starting and finishing at RAAF Base Point Cook, on Melbourne's Port Phillip, taking in 15,000km of vast, diverse and stunning coastline in between.
CLEAR-CUTTING KOALA COUNTRY
More than 3000sq.km of forests on NSW's Mid North Coast have been earmarked for the Great Koala National Park. But there's still work to be done before this proposed reserve becomes the safe haven koalas desperately need.
MORE THAN QUOKKAS
Sure, you can't avoid those cute little marsupials that made Rottnest Island world-famous, but there's so much more to life on this ocean-ringed jewel off the Western Australian coast.
A WILD POLO TUSSLE
It's an event reminiscent of a Banjo Paterson poem. For 35 years, in the High Country 200km east of Melbourne, city polo players have gathered annually at Cobungra, Victoria's largest cattle station, to vie with a rural team for the Dinner Plain Polo Cup.
Ancient know-how meets a modern challenge
Contemporary marine park management is infused with traditional knowledge to tackle new threats on the Great Barrier Reef.
LOOKING FOR TJAKURA
The search is on across Australia's deserts for a culturally important vulnerable lizard.
RESCUING THE CHUDITCH
After intensive planning, recovery for this endangered marsupial species is being stepped up to secure its future.