Senior Traveller Feb 22 - Murray River

Wednesday February 02, 2022 THE SENIOR - VIC

www.thesenior.com.au

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A river through the heart

BY ROD EIME

AT MORE than 2500 kilometres, it's up there with the Nile and Amazon and has sustained human habitation for 40,000 years. Its catchment spans three states and it provides water and irrigation to more than a million homes, growing fruit, grain and vegies to feed the nation.

Yes, the River Murray is, without doubt, one of the world's great rivers and defines a large portion of our country, in large part due to its riverboat history, which began in 1851 as a challenge between two merchants.

Spurred on by a prize of 4000 pounds offered by SA's governor, William Randell and Francis Cadell kicked off the hectic era of paddlesteamers along the Murray with their own modest vessels. Within just a few years, around 250 craft were plying the river, carrying general goods, wheat, wine and other produce to market.

But those heady days lasted just half a century. The river was fickle and prone to periods of high and low water. Boats were often strand-

FLOAT ON BY: Aboard PS Murray Princess, the largest and grandest vessel on the mighty River Murray, carrying 120 passengers in comfort and style.

ed for weeks with perishable cargo on their decks. Before a series of planned locks could be completed, the river trade was overtaken by the more reliable modes of road and rail. Many boats were aban-

doned where they lay, left to rot in the mud.

It was demand from our first leisure travellers kept the big paddlewheelers turning.

A cruise along the Murray has long been an Australian

Vintage Rail Journeys our urrn neys Holiday here in 2022 on board our newly restored, iconic 1960’s ex-Southern Aurora sleeping train.

Choose from one of three slow rail tours, where off-train experiences, soft drinks and most meals are included.

Coffs Harbour

Binnaway Junction

Werris Creek

Kempsey

Merrygoen

Dubbo

Byron Bay

Casino

Port Macquarie

Gulgong Muswellbrook Parkes

Wallerawang

Katoomba Griffith Temora

Maitland Newcastle

Kandos

Orange Bathurst Mt Victoria

Paterson

Hawkesbury River

Sydney

Stockinbingal

27 February 2022, 27 March 2022, 28 August 2022, 25 September 2022

North Coast Rail Tour 19 June 2022, 23 October 2022

N SO

IN

Book online, call 1300 421 422 or book via your travel agent.

ER PE R

50 P

5 DAYS 4 NIGHTS

TW

For more information and a full copy of the itinerary, please visit vintagerailjourneys.com.au

,2

SH

E

Riverina Rail Tour

$4

13 February 2022, 13 March 2022, 10 April 2022, 11 September 2022, 9 October 2022, 6 November 2022

North Coast Rail Tour Golden West Rail Tour Riverina Rail Tour

Goulburn

GL

Golden West Rail Tour

Wollongong

I ARE OR S

N

Moss Vale Junee

tradition, with comfort and refinement gradually increasing to its peak with PS Murray Princess, the largest and grandest vessel yet.

Capable of carrying 120 passengers, the atmosphere

aboard the vessel probably hasn't changed a great deal since her launch in 1986.

And judging by the mood, there seems little incentive to modify the ambience.

Sure, it's tailored to an older

crowd, with everything you'd expect. Entertainer Bobby Hunter on keyboards rips out all the nostalgic tunes as well as calling the bingo and running the trivia quizzes. Gone, though, are the buffets, with all meals either plated or served and DIY coffee and tea now served at the bar.

These necessary covid precautions mean we don't see a lot of captain Alina Herrmann and her officers, but it's exciting to know we are under the command of one of the very few female riverboat captains appointed.

During the day, there are shore excursions like the woolshed at Sunnydale, Aboriginal heritage at Ngaut Ngaut plus town and museum tours of historic Swan Reach, Morgan and Waikerie. But most of our time is spent relaxing as we watch the spectacular limestone cliffs roll past at six knots.

IF YOU GO...

Three-, four- and seven-night all-inclusive itineraries leave Mannum, 50 kilometres east of Adelaide.

■ www.murrayprincess.com. au