Murray River Cruises in South Australia

Spirit Australia Cruises

• The longest cruises, up to eight days, are aboard the fast-moving catamaran Spirit of The Murray, which takes up to 43 people on The Great Murray River Run. Passengers stop for lunch and spend evenings and nights ashore at the many towns along the way.The Spirit of The Murray covers more distance than any other tour, according to the Spirit Australia website.
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  Spirit Australia Cruises
  Main Wharf, River Port of Goolwa
  South Australia 5214
  +61-8-8555-2203
  .coorongcruises.com.au

Mildura Water Cruises Ltd

• From Mildura, Victoria, the steamboats P.S. Melbourne and P.V. Rothbury offer two-hour lunch cruises, five-hour winery cruises (with tastings), and three-hour dinner cruises past flood-light red gum trees.
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  Mildura Water Cruises
  Mildura Wharf, Hugh King Drive
  PO Box 640
  Mildura VIC 3502
  +61-3-5023-2200
  paddlesteamers.com.au/

Captain Cook Cruises

• Take a seven-, four- or three-night cruise on paddle steamer The Murray Princess, from Mannum, South Australia. The seven-night trip covers up to 200 miles. Capacity is 120, in 60 double cabins, with private facilities, spas, saunas and sundeck. The dining room and bar ensure a relaxed, even luxurious, cruise.

  Captain Cook Cruises
  96 Randell Street Mannum, South Australia 5238
  +61-8-8569 2511
  captaincook.com.au

River of Australia Expeditions

• The Murray Expedition's 40-passenger capacity puts it on the boutique side. Cruises are two or five nights. They leave from Murray Bridge, an hour's drive from South Australia's capital, Adelaide. Each of the 20 cabins fronts the river and cruises include time for bush walks, fishing or canoeing. The bar, lounge and dining area complete the experience.

  River of Australia Expeditions
  Murray Bridge, South Australia 5253
  18-20 Grenfell Street, Adelaide SA 5000
  +61-8-8217- 6100
  riverofaustralia.com.au

Ozhouseboats

• Houseboat hire requires just a current car license. Come as a group, because most houseboats take from six to 12 people who can share the cost. Every town on the river has hires, from Goolwa at the mouth to Albury on the Victoria-New South Wales border, which is 1,000 miles away by river. The Ozhouseboats website is typical of the many options.

  Ozhouseboats
  Long Island Marina - Roper Road Murray Bridge, South Australia 5253
  12 Woodlands Road, Athelstone SA 5076
  +61-8-8365-7776
  ozhouseboats.com.au

Odyssey River Cruises

• Sitting high at the top end of the houseboat market is the luxury Odyssey, at Murray Bridge, South Australia. It aims more at the corporate/conference market than regular family cruising. Watch the scenery change but the serenity remain, as the master does the driving, the chef prepares exquisite cuisine and the housekeeper caters for every need.

  Odyssey
  18 Randell Street, Mannum, SA, Australia
  +61-8-8361-7890
  odysseyrivercruises.com.au