Kangaroo Island Wildlife, Conservation & Murray River Cruise

Depart Adelaide to the ferry terminal at Cape Jervis. After the short journey across to Penneshaw on Kangaroo Island, we will visit a special private garden and meet the owner. Next, visit a local honey farm to learn how organic honey is produced by the Ligurian bees there. Ligurian bees were introduced to Kangaroo Island in the late 1900s, having been brought over from Bologna in Italy for early colonial settlers.

Your day begins amid the beautiful floral displays of another of Kangaroo Island’s private gardens. We then pay a visit to nearby Emu Bay Lavender Farm, whose 51 acres contain an estimated 7,500 lavender plants. Today’s final stop is Seal Bay, home to spectacular coastal views and the largest colony of Australian sea lions.

This morning takes us to Parndana Community Garden. This project was developed by celebrity gardener Sophie Thomson, in response to the 2020 bushfires. It is a place that grows vegetables and community spirit in equal measure. Afterwards, we visit a private garden which was almost completely destroyed by the fires. During our visit, we hear about their plans to rebuild. You will then have free time to explore Kingscote and purchase lunch at a local cafe.

Today we travel to the far end of the Island, to Flinders Chase National Park. This part of the island was badly damaged by the bushfires in 2020. See how the bush is recovering and take in the rugged beauty of the Remarkable Rocks and Admirals Arch. On our way back to the hotel, we enjoy afternoon tea at Emu Ridge Eucalyptus Oil Distillery. We then visit one last local garden, which displays many native Kangaroo Island plants. 

After our final breakfast on Kangaroo Island, we transfer back to the ferry terminal for the return trip to Cape Jervis. Visit the historic town of Victor Harbour, boarding a Cockle Train to nearby Goolwa, gateway to the wetlands of the Murray River Mouth. We then travel to Murray Bridge, where we board the Proud Mary, our home for the next five nights. Enjoy a buffet supper as we cruise along the river, the vessel’s powerful floodlights illuminating the shore. This proves a perfect opportunity to view nocturnal animals in their natural habitat. Later, the Proud Mary ties up for the night at Woodlane.

Arrive in the picturesque town of Mannum, birthplace of the river boat trade. Take a tour of the town before reboarding the Proud Mary to cruise upstream to Walkers Flat. This evening is "Australiana Night", during which typically Australian dishes are served. After dinner, we head out on a guided Nocturnal Discovery Tour, which provides insight into some of the area’s abundant wildlife, including the southern hairy-nosed wombat.

This morning, as you cruise upstream, enjoy a special lecture from your Botanical Guide. Following lunch, we arrive in Swan Reach, where we enjoy a tour to the almond farm, Costa Brothers. Discover how this state-of-the-art almond farm uses water-recycling technology to limit its direct impact upon the river system, helping to protect the diverse ecosystem of the river. We then visit the Swan Reach Museum, housed in the town’s old school building, which was built in 1917. Our cruise this evening takes us to Sugar Shack, an astronomer’s paradise and part of the River Murray International Dark Sky Reserve. The unpolluted skies and isolation from artificial light sources make the park one of the best places on Earth to gaze at the stars.

Wake this morning in one of the most unspoilt and picturesque areas of the Murray River. Today, we are taken out on an environmental discovery walk of Sugar Shack. A highlight is an ecologist-led guided cruise through the lagoons and inlets of Big Bend. Catch the sunset as the evening rays glisten and glow against the limestone cliffs along Big Bend. Enjoy a barbeque along the shore this evening, followed by live Aussie entertainment around a blazing campfire.

This morning, rise early to see the sun emerge gradually over towering cliffs as we travel to the Ngaut Ngaut Conservation Park. Our local Indigenous guide takes us to see Australia's first Aboriginal archaeological dig. Here we’re met with galleries of rock art; smoke stains from ancient fires; and an excavated campsite, once home to a community living here 8,000 years ago. Late in the afternoon, we arrive back in Mannum, where we enjoy cocktails and hors d'oeuvres, followed by a formal Captain's Dinner.

This morning, arrive at Woodlane and take a tour of Reedy Creek Conservation Park. The permanent watercourse here is made up of the area’s waterfalls, swamps and wetlands. Reedy Creek and its waterfalls played a significant part in the lives of the ancient Nganguraku and Ngaralta Aboriginal tribes. Today’s lunch is a superb buffet prepared with fresh local produce. This afternoon, take in more of the spectacular scenery before our vessel ties up once more in Murray Bridge, where we disembark the ship. Having made our way back to Adelaide, our tour concludes at the post-tour hotel at 5pm.