Murray Princess Outback Heritage Cruise & Kangaroo Island Explorer

Today we travel down to Cape Jervis to board the 9.00am Kangaroo Island Sea Link Ferry for our crossing to Kangaroo Island. After our arrival in Penneshaw we begin our adventure of the Island as we make our way to the Raptor Domain and Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park. Here we step inside the KI Wildlife Park for our ‘Interactive Experience’, which allows us to experience the park at our own pace and leisure. Enjoy a 15-minute koala talk and interaction with the experienced staff, get to hold a koala and hand feed the kangaroos and wallabies. Following our own light lunch, we step inside the Raptor Domain for the 2.30pm Free Flight Birds of Prey Display, see the cockatoos fly throughout the crowd, spot the camouflaged tawny frogmouths and volunteer holding a range of birds including owls, meet wedgetailed eagles and learn how everyone can help care for and save these incredible birds. Our last stop for the day is at Clifford’s Honey Farm where we learn about the Ligurian Bees, their breeding, and the production of the pure honey. We also get to taste the different honey varieties and enjoy some of Jenny’s famous honey ice cream. Across in Kingscote we check in for our 2-night Kangaroo Island stay before gathering for dinner in the restaurant.

Overnight Kingscote: Kangaroo Island Seaside Inn

Another wonderful day begins as we head down to the Emu Ridge Eucalyptus Oil Distillery where incredibly, the distilling process operates exactly as it did in the 1890’s. After our tour and cuppa, we continue down to the magnificent Flinders Chase National Park which is recovering naturally following the January 2020 bushfires which burnt 96 per cent of the park. The park is home to the Cape du Couedic Lighthouse and keeper’s residences, New Zealand Fur Seals, Admirals Arc and Weirs Cove plus the spectacular Remarkable Rocks. Inside the new state-of-the-art Flinders Chase National Park Visitors Centre, built with a $19.5 million investment after the devastating 2019–20 bushfires, we enjoy a light lunch from the Rocks Cafe and view the stunning interpretation gallery that connects visitors with the park through the fusion of science and art. We then leave Flinders Chase and make our way up to Pandana for a short stop at the Parndana Soldier Settlement Museum, a modern historical display telling the stories of the development of the soldier settlement scheme in the early 1950s. Our final stop for the day is at the Emu Bay Lavender Farm for a little shopping, to learn about lavender production and taste some homemade goodies. We then return to our motel late afternoon to refresh before dinner.

Overnight Kingscote: Kangaroo Island Seaside Inn

After breakfast and checkout, we take a drive around Kingscote taking in Reeves Point, Old Mulberry Tree, The Jetty, Silo Mural and Hope Cottage. We then we head back across to Penneshaw to board the 10.30am Kangaroo Island Sea Link Ferry, for our return journey to Cape Jervis. We then continue our journey up to the Murray River Port of Mannum, birthplace of the Murray River trade and communication. It’s here we board the PS Murray Princess, after settling into our cabins we cruise downriver, while we enjoy our Welcome Dinner. As we cruise under floodlight toour overnight mooring at Mundurra, we may see nocturnal wildlife on the riverbank such as kangaroos, hairynosed wombats, tortoises, egrets, and many other species. The on-board entertainer provides music for the night owls.

Overnight Murray Princess: Outside Cabins 

Daybreak comes alive on the Murray River and its time for the keen photographers to be out on deck to capture the special light and the morning movement of wildlife. Prolific bird life can be seen from the decks of the P.S. Murray Princess and includes pelicans, blue wrens and black swans. After breakfast our Murray Princess cruise continues, this time the paddle steamer will cruise up-stream to Blanchetown, through one of 13 locks which maintain the flow of the Murray River and levels of water. This afternoon we moor opposite the township of Blanchetown for our overnight anchorage. As the last rays of the sun fade, we join a guided tour of Burk Salter Boutique Winery and surrounding vineyard and enjoy wine tasting at the cellar door which is fitted out with beautiful red gum bars. After dinner, join us for all the fun and excitement, and participate in our “Murray River Cup”.

Overnight Murray Princess: Outside Cabins

After breakfast we cruise up-river to picturesque Swan Reach. The town was first settled in the 1850s and was originally the largest of five sheep and cattle stations in the area and is now home to native flower and fruit growers. The original Swan Reach homestead is now the Swan Reach Hotel where we can enjoy a beer, wine or cappuccino overlooking the Murray River. Join the guided walking tour and visit the Swan Reach Museum. Cruise downriver after lunch and take in the tranquillity as the landscape slides by. We arrive at Sunnydale and make our way ashore for the unique Woolshed Show as we recreate typical Australian woolshed history. Later we visit the Native Wildlife Shelter where some of South Australia’s most interesting native animals are cared for. And then, of course, there is the great Aussie Barbecue - cooked and served in a bush setting on the banks of the mighty Murray River. An optional “Nocturnal tour” (additional cost) in a comfortable purpose built cart is available after dinner where we may see kangaroos, wombats, foxes, bats and owls.

Overnight Murray Princess: Outside Cabins 

Enjoy breakfast on-board or an optional early morning “Bush Tucker Breakfast” (additional cost) or a bush walk with the Captain. The vessel then cruises slowly downriver past magnificent cliffs scoured by the river over millions of years. We reach Ngaut Ngaut Aboriginal Reserve, one of Australia’s most significant archaeological sites, for a step back in time – tens of thousands of years – for a guided boardwalk tour to view ancient rock carvings and to learn about Aboriginal history in the area. We return to the vessel and cruise downriver to Younghusband. Along the way, adventure seekers can also take a speedboat ride. We pass large billabongs, open expanses of water, surrounded by cliffs and reeds. Tonight the Captain and his officers host a spectacular Farewell Captain’s Buffet. Dress up and dance the night away to celebrate our last night of our wonderful Murray River Cruise.

Overnight Murray Princess: Outside Cabins

After breakfast, the PS Murray Princess arrives in Mannum, where we farewell the crew and make our way across the historic German Village of Hahndorf, Australia’s oldest surviving German settlement. Enjoy some time at leisure to soak up the unique shops, cafés and pubs. On our way back into Adelaide we stop by the Mount Lofty Summit Lookout, which provides us with amazing panoramic views across the city of Adelaide and its seaside suburbs. The Summit Cafe provides the perfect venue to relax and enjoy a cuppa as we enjoy the views. We then transfer down to the Adelaide Airport for our afternoon flight back home after enjoying a wonderful few days away exploring Kangaroo Island and cruising the Murray River with Trade Travel.

Flight Details: Adelaide - Homeport (To Be Advised)