Australia’s longest river, the Murray, is just waiting to be explored by boat. It’s an incredible, once in a lifetime experience that all Australians and international visitors should try at least once. With two different points of departure, three different vessels to choose from and plenty of sights and activities along the way, it’s no wonder so many people love taking a Murray River cruise.
It’s more than just a boat ride, so read on if you’d like to learn more about Murray River Cruises!
Two Points of Departure
Firstly, you’ll need to choose where you’d like to depart from. All Murray River cruises present a great opportunity to add further activities on to the start or back end of your trip, depending on where you depart from.
That majority of trips leave from Adelaide in South Australia. The two larger vessels are used to explore the lower region of the Murray, and it’s a popular departure point. This is because travelers can also experience the wonderful Kangaroo Island before or after their cruise.
For something a little different, there are also cruises operating out of Echuca in Victoria. This experience in the Upper Murray is hugely popular, as the boat used is the only wood-fired paddle steamer in the world that operates overnight journeys. More on that later! Echuca departures are also popular amongst golf fanatics, as there’s a huge number of courses along the way, should you want to hit the fairways.
How Many Nights?
When experiencing the Murray River by boat, you have plenty of options for how long you stay. It may depend slightly on where you leave from, and which vessel you prefer, but cruise companies offer cruises ranging from 1 night through to 7-night experiences.
If you leave from Adelaide on the Murray Princess or Proud Mary, you can choose from 2, 3, 4, 5 or 7-night trips. Alternatively, if you’re setting off from Echuca for an Upper Murray cruise on the Emmylou, you can spend 1, 2, 3, or 4 nights on the river.
However long you choose, we can assure you that you won’t be disappointed!
Three Different Boats
You can have a range of different experiences along the Murray River, and it can all depend on which boat you choose!
The Murray Princess is a traditional style paddleboat that features 3 different room types – inside, outside, and stateroom. The Murray Princess holds up to 120 passengers, leaving from Adelaide for 3, 4, or 7-night journeys.
The Proud Mary has a lower capacity of 36 passengers, making it a quieter experience for the relaxed traveler. You’ll be able to take in the gorgeous scenery from any of the 18 river view rooms. The Proud Mary leaves from Adelaide and has options for 2 or 5-night trips.
For the Upper Murray experience, you’ll board the Emmylou in Echuca. One of the most unique experiences in Australia, the Emmylou is the only wood-fired paddle steamer in the world that offers overnight cruises. Great for small groups of family or friends, the Emmylou offers 1, 2, 3, or 4-night cruises.
So, there you go! It’s that easy to plan an incredible journey along Australia’s longest river. Remember to book ahead though, as seats are limited and this is an experience you don’t want to miss!
