A moored houseboat on the Murray. Photo / Megan Singleton
For a holiday far from the madding crowd, with nary a shop nor restaurant in sight, you’ll love cruising along South Australia’s Murray River. Here are five tips to know before you go.
1. Stop at the Adelaide Central Market on your way out to the river to buy dips and cheeses, breads, olives and cold meats for happy hour nibbles. You may also want to get your driver to detour to Dan Murphy's bottle store to fill the trailer with beer and
wine for your week up the creek, as your opportunities to stock up once on the river are limited.
2. Yes, you do your own driving, but it's not as difficult as it sounds. You'll get a quick lesson on how to turn the engines on, and most importantly, how to park, then you're on your own driving your 70-tonne vessel along the right hand side of the silty river looking for that perfect spot to tie up to for the night.
3. Get in touch with Angie from Floating Gourmet and have your kitchen pre-stocked with all your meals before you arrive. She has order forms online and can advise on quantities and ideas when you run out of imagination. It's very affordable too, about $160 per person for a whole week for three generous meals a day.
4. Book a chef for your last night for a three-course dinner at around $60 per person, plus transport. You'll choose your meal before you depart New Zealand, but kangaroo is always popular. Chef Damon whipped up boned quail for starters followed by roo or salmon and finished with a decadent chocolate panna cotta.
