Plan of adventure

The River Murray is a part of the lifeblood of Australia and historically was a transport and trade route for a good part of its history

http://www.murrayriver.com.au/about-the-murray/


For some of our foreign friends to follow us downstream..... you know the Amazon River and the Nile River....well after that comes our own Murray River here in little old Australia.  The Murray ranks third on the list of navigable rivers in the world.

At 2520 kilometres we will get to see only 527 of it at this stage.... one fifth if the mathematician in me is correct.    We can update you on the other 2000 km some other time.

We hope to get the feel of what it was like, taste some local fair, see the ruins and progress of life though-out the lower murray region.



Its going to take long enough to cruise the length from above Renmark to Murray Bridge.  Its a 527 kilometre journey.  As you can see by the map below it might take you two to three hours by road in a modern car.  Our boats are definitely not that fast.  The major factor is the river itself is twisty, windy, fast and slow, populated with things to see and do.  The course of the river makes its way through 6 locks that control the flow of water.  These locks only open during certain hours, making our journey more interesting.







Major centres of South Australia's rural community that the river flows through are Renmark, Berri, Loxton, Kingston-on-Murray, Waikerie, Cadell, Morgan, Blanchetown, Swan Reach, Nildottie, Walker Flat, Bowhill, Mannum and onto Murray Bridge.


  So launching in at the boat ramp at the Customs House ( which is now more a houseboat hire company ) than what it used to be....that being border control for goods and services as it crossed state lines.
http://www.murrayriver.com.au/customs-house

The intention of the trip is to traverse downstream to Murray Bridge.

But first day we will venture upstream to locate the border between states.  Three states ( South Australia, New South Wales and Victoria converge their borders a few kilometres upstream from the Old Customs House.

After seven days we hope to have seen some sights and more importantly learnt about life on the river....I will especially keep my eyes out for a few characters and maybe get to finally see a Bunyip.

http://www.murrayriver.com.au/about-the-murray/bunyips/


The river flows through and into Lake Alexandrina, Lake Albert and the Coorong region before emptying into Gulf St Vincent south of Adelaide (near Goolwa).  It is impractical for us at this time to continue beyond Murray Bridge and onto the the Gulf as crossing Lake Alexandrina requires different safety equipment in the boats and favourable weather is a must in our small craft.

Well these are my thoughts at the moment.....it may change as we learn more about river life over a week in its midst.