Drive time: 5 hours 30 mins
Distance from Newy: 1296km
Sighted: Emu, Australian pelican, black swan, black kite, welcome swallow, great egret, various cormorants, ibis, treecreeper.
We’ve been cruising the Murray River from for just a few hours, and we’re blown away already. Not literally – the river is flowing gently today (not always the case) and Rob is steering like a ship’s captain. So it’s all steady as she goes.
But the sights along the river are just next level.
Day 1: Pushed off from Paringa and meandered past Renmark en route to the first set of red cliffs, where we moored. On the way, we saw water birds of every possible description, everywhere. What a thrill! Fish are jumping and the scenery is just so picturesque.
We arrived around 4.30pm to moor opposite the fire-like sunset cliffs, with lovely scrubby bush at our front door. Dinner was spent on the front deck, admiring the bush sounds and sights. Just like camping but with a couch, bed and shower!
Out back, our bedroom has those cliff and river views (see below), with birds twittering around the water and resting on the balcony to sing. This morning around 8.30am, the biggest thrill of all – a mob of emus outside our front door (video below)!
Day 2: We untied and headed upriver to Heading Cliffs. On the way, we saw the most amazing array of birds and a mob of emus swimming across river! Two of welcome swallows that were swooping around the boat on the first day joined us for the whole journey and sang every morning on the railings of the back deck. So sweet!
Day 3: Spectacular Heading Cliffs again for a lazy day on the water, a short bushwalk, kayaking and more emu visitors.
Day 4: We’re back at the first mooring site, preparing for a 2-hour meander along the river and back to civilisation.
Travel Mum 