Proud Mary Indulgence Cruise

After being met by your Aussie Redback Tours team at Adelaide airport, you will be transported to Murray Bridge where you five-night cruise departs from. You will be welcomed aboard by the friendly Proud Mary crew. Enjoy a delicious supper as you cruise this evening and the Proud Mary’s powerful floodlights illuminate the shore. It is a perfect opportunity to view the nocturnal animals of Australia in their natural habitat. Later the Proud Mary ties up for the night at Woodlane.  (S)

Your cruise continues upstream as you enjoy a delicious breakfast before a mid-morning Proud Mary arrival in picturesque Mannum, the birthplace of the river boat trade. Here you may board the waiting coach for an interesting tour of the Historic Mannum. Your guide will provide you with information. Lunch will be served aboard the Proud Mary as you cruise upstream to Walkers Flat. This evening is “Australiana Night” featuring typically Australian dishes. Followed by a guided Nocturnal Discover Tour, an insight into abundant wildlife including the Southern Hairy Nosed Wombat. (B,L,D)

After breakfast the Proud Mary cruises further upstream. In the afternoon arrive Swan Reach and board your waiting coach for a tour to Costa Brothers Almond Farm. Discover how this state of the art almond farm uses water-recycling technology to limit its direct impact on the river system and help secure the diverse ecosystem of the river. Also visit the Swan Reach Museum which is housed in the original school building that was built in 1917. Your cruise this evening takes you to 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 the park one of the best places on earth to gaze at the stars.  (B,L,D)

You will wake this morning in one of the most unspoilt and picturesque areas of the River Murray. You will be taken on an environmental discovery walk of Sugar Shack. A highlight of your cruise is a guided cruise lead by an ecologist aboard a small boat through the lagoons and inlets of Big Bend. Catch the sunset as the evening rays glisten and glow on the limestone walls of the Big Bend Cliffs. This evening there is a traditional Australian barbeque on shore followed by live Aussie entertainment around a blazing campfire.  (B,L,D)

You can see the sunrise over the towering cliffs this morning with an early departure to the Ngaut Ngaut Aboriginal conservation area where you will be met by our local aboriginal guide and shown over Australia’s first Aboriginal Archaeological digs. It contains galleries of Cave Art, smoke stains from ancient fires and an excavated campsite of a civilisation over 8,000 years old. Late afternoon arrive in Mannum for cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and a formal Captain’s Dinner. (B,L,D)

Following breakfast the Proud Mary departs once more. Mid morning arrive Woodlane and board the waiting coach for a tour to the Reedy Creek Environment tour. You will be joined by your guide for a tour of this fascinating area. Discover this permanent watercourse from waterfalls, through swamps and wetlands. Reedy Creek and the waterfalls played a significant part in the lives of the ancient Nganguruku and Ngaralta Aboriginal Tribes. Today, lunch is superbly prepared using fresh local produce. This afternoon there will be more spectacular scenery before the vessel ties up once more in Murray Bridge, the Captain and crew bid farewell to guests and new-found friends . (B,L)

Departing our accommodation we head to the Airport for our flights back to Perth, after a fabulous cruise on the Murray River! (B)