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11 Day - Murray Princess & Riverlands Explorer
Departure Date: Monday, 4th October 2010
Tour Cost: from $3265 per person twin share
The ultimate riverboat adventure occurs when you set sail on the Murray Princess. Experience the untamed spirit of the river as you cruise the mighty Murray through Mallee country, breathtaking gorges and the riverlands. The MURRAY PRINCESS is a grand scale floating palace, the exterior is like a Mississippi Paddlesteamer, but inside the spirit of colonial Australia is reflected in the period décor and fittings. Enjoy an unforgettable, truly relaxed holiday cruising for three nights the scenic riverlands. Be pampered with entertainment, attractions and superb meals; English sideboard breakfasts, smorgasbords lunches and memorable dinners. During the touring sections of your holiday experience our “wide brown land” with stays in Bourke and Broken Hill contrasted with sightseeing of the lush country.
DAY 1 HERVEY BAY–MOREE (LD)
Monday, 4th October 2010: An early for travelling companions joining between Hervey Bay and Caboolture. Brisbane and Gold Coast passengers join at Brisbane Roma Street Transit Centre at 9.00am. Travel to Warwick for a special welcome lunch at the Abbey of the Roses, before our afternoon tour westward to Goodiwindi. See the statue of the famous “Goodiwindi Grey”, Gynsund at Apex Park. Follow the Newell Highway to the cotton and spa town of Moree for our first night together on tour.
DAY 2 MOREE–BOURKE (BLD)
Tuesday, 5th October 2010: Head west today into the outback, along the Gwydir Highway. Pass through Collarenebri, Walgett and Brewarrina for lunch at the Royal Hotel. Brewarrina is rich in Aboriginal culture and we enjoy a guided tour of the town and the Aboriginal Stone Fisheries, estimated to be at least 40,000 years old. It’s then on to Bourke, a town that has become more than a geographic location; it is part of the Australian language and folklore. Free time to explore before dinner at the local Club.
DAY 3 BOURKE–BROKEN HILL (BLD)
Wednesday, 6th October 2010: The Kidman Way leads us to the copper city of Cobar, which at its peak was so prosperous it boasted its own stock exchange! After morning tea we follow the long straight road west through remote scrubland with a picnic lunch at the Emmdale Roadhouse. On to Wilcannia, a small and remote town now, but in its heyday it was a thriving inland river port known as the “Queen City of the West”. Take a tea break here before continuing westward, to arrive in Broken Hill and the comforts of our motel (clocks back half an hour to SA time).
DAY 4 BROKEN HILL–MANNUM (BLD)
Thursday, 7th October 2010: From Broken Hill we cross over the border into South Australia at Cockburn. Our morning break will be in Yunta, a small settlement servicing the surrounding pastoral interests. Continue down the Barrier Highway to historic Burra, one of Australia’s oldest and best preserved mining towns. Lunch at the Old Burra Hotel. The afternoon tour brings us to Gawler where we turn off into the Barossa Valley and travel via the great old winery towns of Lyndoch, Williamstown and Mount Pleasant to Mannum on the River Murray. Enjoy a visit to the Mannum Heritage Centre for some background information for our river cruise tomorrow. Our motel hosts await us for a good nights rest.
DAY 5 MURRAY BRIDGE SIGHTSEEING (BLD)
Friday, 8th October 2010: This morning visit Monarto Zoological Park, a natural wilderness sanctuary and open range zoo for a guided tour. At nearby Callington enjoy a light lunch at a chic French restaurant, which was originally built as a bluestone and sandstone police station. Back to Mannum to board the P.S Murray Princess. Cruise up river while you enjoy pre-dinner drinks and a Welcome Dinner. Floodlights on the riverbanks may reveal nocturnal wildlife on the riverbank. Watch for grey kangaroos, hair-nosed wombats, Murray longnecked tortoises, spoon-beaked egrets and many other species. Night owls will enjoy the on-board entertainer.
DAY 6 MURRAY PRINCESS CRUISING (BLD)
Saturday 9th October 2010: In 1879 the first bridge to span the Murray River was built at Edwards Crossing, which quickly became the bustling township of Murray Bridge. After a hearty breakfast, join a guided tour of the town’s historic landmarks and local attractions. This afternoon we begin our journey upriver, with a special presentation on the bounty of food and wine produced in the riverlands. Tonight moor at Craignook, where dinner and all the fun and excitement of the Murray River Cup awaits.
DAY 7 BIG RIVER GORGES & WILDLIFE (BLD)
Sunday, 10th October 2010: All ashore for a guided nature walk to learn the secrets of the local flora and fauna. Our cruise then enters the big river gorges and the spectacular 90 metre cliffs of the upper Murray River. We pause at Piggy Flat and transfer to smaller vessels for a backwater wildlife tour exploring the maze of backwaters, creeks and lagoons. The birdlife is amazing! Late afternoon, photography enthusiasts can capture the spectacular cliff-top river sunset, before joining the Captain and Officers for pre-dinner drinks and the finale Captain's Dinner and Dance.
DAY 8 MANNUM–MILDURA (BLD)
Monday, 11th October 2010: After breakfast we reluctantly say farewell to the PS Murray Princess, disembarking at Mannum. Back on board our coach we travel to Swan Reach, Blanchetown and Waikerie to reach Kingston and then Banrock Station. This 1,750 hectare property at the junction of Banrock Creek and the Murray was first settled in 1850. In the early 1990’s the beauty of the wetlands lead to a restoration programme incorporating a 250 hectare vineyard. Relax over a light lunch and enjoy a walk on the boardwalk, which allows for close up views of the wildlife. Our afternoon tour is then through the Riverland towns of Barmera and Renmark to the agricultural fruit check point at the border. Back into Victoria (watches forward by half an hour), to reach Mildura for our overnight accommodation.
DAY 9 MILDURA–WEST WYALONG (BLD)
Tuesday, 12th October 2010: Our tour today follows the Sturt Highway through Euston where we leave the Murray River and reach Balranald for a break beside the Murrumbidgee River. The town is the oldest settlement in the Lower Murrumbidgee and caters for the areas vast pastoral holdings. There are five rivers within a half hour drive of town and keen fishermen pay regular visits. Our morning tour resumes travelling through flat country to Hay, also lying alongside the Murrumbidgee. Hay has an interesting history having been the site of an internment camp during World War II, home to a succession of Anglican Bishops and a staging point for the old Cobb & Co coaches. Enjoy a town tour before lunch at Robertson’s Hot Bread Kitchen. This afternoon follow the Mid Western Highway to West Wyalong for our night’s rest.
DAY 10 WEST WYALONG–TAMWORTH (BLD)
Wednesday, 13th October 2010: Up early for our day’s tour to Tamworth. Travel up the Newell Highway through Forbes to the growing community and commercial centre of Parkes, then on to Peak Hill, Dubbo and Gilgandra for lunch at the Services Club. Head eastward through Coonabarabran for a break in Gunnedah before reaching our accommodation in Tamworth , the “Country Music Capital” of Australia. This is our last night together on tour, so freshen up for a wonderful dinner.
DAY 11 TAMWORTH–HOME (B)
Thursday, 14th October 2010: Enjoy an early breakfast this morning, then we follow the New England Highway through the pretty university town of Armidale to the Celtic town of Glenn Innes. We can stretch our legs in town before crossing the border back into sunny Queensland and reaching Warwick for lunch (own expense). Our tour reaches Brisbane mid afternoon and we say farewell to our Brisbane friends and Gold Coast friends. Northbound passengers to Hervey Bay stay on the coach with arrival in Maryborough and Hervey Bay early evening.