murray river paddle boat cruise

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Murray River River Cruises and Tours

Murray river cruises, cruising the murray river is one of the most amazing and surprising experiences you'll have..

The Murray is much more than a river, it is quintessentially Australian experience. Within a relatively short distance from Adelaide and Melbourne you can experience jaw-dropping beauty, diverse history and luxury all surrounded by a sense of peace that has to be experienced to understand.

As the Murray carves its way through our sun-burnt and contrasting landscape you'll discover a new part of the world that's not overrun with tourists and will allow you time to reconnect with yourself, family and friends.

Enjoy a Proud Mary Cruise

Join the intimate cruising vessel, the Proud Mary to discover the Murray River's eco-system at its best. Only a 45 minute drive from Adelaide the vessel embarks and disembarks guests from Murray Bridge , where garaging is available for those wishing not to transfer via our luxury Expedition coach. Our cruises operate 365 days a year and include all meals, prepared exclusively by our resident chefs, private river view en-suite accommodation and daily nature based shore excursions.  

Offering both 5 night and 2 night cruise, the Proud Mary gives you an excellent opportunity to see the river environment in a different perspective and may allow you to view some of the nocturnal wildlife, especially birds such as pelicans, night herons, owls and coots. Our experienced and friendly staff will ensure all your personal needs are attended to every step of the journey, so sit back, relax and experience the beautiful Murray River at its best aboard the Proud Mary cruising vessel.

Cruises on Australia's Murray River

The Murray River and its surroundings are normally overlooked as a significant cruising region of international appeal but many visitors are now discovering the Murray River is a wonderfully natural and great place enjoy. A slow river that easily touches your soul and satisfies the inner spirit.

Spud Hilton, San Francisco Chronicle Staff Writer recently stated "The Murray is the ultimate lazy river, a 100-million-year-old ribbon that winds 1,470 miles through South Australia, Victoria and New South Wales, passing farms, Aboriginal homelands, red gum forests, holiday cottages, arid scrub and towering ochre-colored limestone cliffs festooned with snow-white cockatoos."

Mornings you'll find mirror-perfect water, not yet disturbed by by a sole. As the mist gently rises over the water, golden sunrays pierce the huge river red gums and pelicans silently look for fish as they'd done the night before. You should encounter incredible wildlife including kangaroos, emus, koalas, goannas, kookaburras and much more. You'll find other early risers will enjoy the serenity with you but there's plenty of quiet spots to be with yourself and a nice cup of tea or coffee.

Traffic along the river is fairly minimal. You'll find milk boats, fishing craft, some ferries in South Australia, occasional small paddleboats and a diverse amarda of houseboats (Murray River is the houseboating capital of Australia). The Murray is used for by watersports enthusiasts with ski boats and canoes and kayaks .

Part of the rich history of Australia is it's Murray-Darling paddle steamers . The Murray River was used by more than a hundred paddle steamers and barges during the heydays to the late 1800's to deliver supplies to settlements upstream and returned loaded with wool and wheat. When the railroads opened up the territory by 1890, the paddle steamers ceased as a popular mode of transportation. Nowadays a few remain for leisure cruising on the Murray yet Australia still has the largest range of active paddle steamers in the world.

Naturally on each cruise you'll receive a mixture of information on river history, folklore, environmental information, free time to chat, relax and much more. Some longer cruises allow you the opportunity to get off the boat and experience Aboriginal culture, shearing exhibitions and other tours to learn, engage and explore the local region. You can enjoy local walks at some of the historic towns or cliff top climbs.

Back on board while the rugged and beautiful world of the Murray River landscapes slowly pass you by, you'll stay in comfortable and clean cabins on overnight accommodation for the longer cruises. Most cruises offer meal and food options. Short river cruises may offer you light snacks or cafeteria style food, while the longer overnight cruises offer great dining with food that is professionally prepared (and yes you can even experience Vegemite if you want one of Australia's great challenges).

One of the greatest things you'll take away from your Murray River cruise is an appreciation of the Murray's abundant beauty and intrinsic value to Australia's culture and meaning. Aboriginal occupation of the region in some parts dates back over 40,000 years. There are opportunities for guided indigenous walks, where guides talk and showcase the importance of the land and their relationship with the river. You'll enjoy the dreamtime story as different Aboriginal tribes and clans offer their stories of the land and river. The stories connect you to their ancient culture and give you a deep insight to the need to protect Australia's most important river.

Still not sure you're going to have a great time?

As you sit back and absorb one of the world's most incredible and diverse river systems you can watch the captain slowly guide the boat around the myriad of river bends. Each bend unfolds a new view, new landscape and new secret that will keep you guessing and wondering. But the biggest question you may have is "will the captain let me drive?" now that would top off your Murray River "no worries" cruising experience!

Send an email enquiry to River Cruises operators

Murray river book : one river, many lands - now only $39.95, the murray river's largest online community and information guide.

Captain Proud Paddle Boat Cruises Murray Bridge South Australia Ph. 046630409 2   Email   Us   [email protected]

Your party, your night.

Relax in the lower lounge.

Sandstone cliffs.

3 Hour Lunch Cruise

Daily 3 hour Lunch cruise with 2 course meal .

Gift Vouchers and Memberships

Gift Vouchers Available for Purchase Valid for 12 months or longer

12 Month Membership available, save up to 20% off cruises. Memberships renewed every 12 months.

Cheap Tuesdays

Discounted 3 hour Lunch cruise with 2 course meal.

(Tuesdays only)

Saturday Evening Dinner Cruise

Saturday Evening Dinner Cruise with 2 course meal.

Includes live entertainment. September-April.

Deal Of The Week

Check out our Weekly Lunch Deals. Click on the last minute picture.

Selected Dates  are random and you can save HUGE $'s .

Adelaide Hills Tour and  River Murray Cruise  

  Adelaide Hills / Hahndorf Tour with 3 hour Lunch cruise

Pickup from Adelaide CBD, Glenelg & Hahndorf   Luxury Tours using Chauffeured Vehicles . 

2 Course  Lunch included on vessel.

Click Picture for Details

Chauffeured Wine and Sightseeing Tours of the

Adelaide hills, barossa valley, mclaren vales.

Adelaide  Hills Scenic  & Wine Tour  - Includes Lunch.

Barossa Valley Scenic & Wine Tour  -  Includes Lunch.

McLaren Vales Scenic  &  Wine Tour  - Includes Lunch.

Click Picture for full details

Welcome to Murray Bridge Captain Proud Video.

Beautiful Surrounds of Murray Bridge.  Bird in the Sky.

Award Winner .

Winner 2015 / 2016, 2017 and 2018 certificate of excellence, barter card and bbx bookings please contact us direct..

 Looking for a 3-hour River Murray Lunch Cruise?   Try Captain Proud.

 Cruise’s available for Individuals, Groups and Corporate Charters and Weddings.

 Private Vessel Hire Inquiries Welcome. Cheaper than you may think.

Weddings. See our wedding page for details and click on link.

 Captain Proud’s Coach Tours and Charters with personalized itinerary’s.

 Cruising the River Murray for Lunch, Dinner and Morning /Afternoon Tea.

 Book your cruise online with instant confirmation. Easy on-line bookings.

Weather Policy. Safety conditions for gale force winds.

If the captain of your cruise decides it's too dangerous to proceed with the scheduled cruise on the day, then your meals with full dining facilities will still be available at the wharf.

Terms and Conditions Statement. 2016

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Captain Proud Paddle Boat Cruises

1 Wharf Road, Murray Bridge

South Australia 5253

[email protected]

Tel: 0466 304 092

© 2016 by Captain Proud. Layout design. Greig &  Vesna Donaldson

Product and Tour Packaging. Daniel & Amanda Gilmour

Parent Company: Captain Proud Paddle Boat Cruises.

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2019 SA Tourism Awards Winner and Hall of Fame Inductee

Come aboard for a magical stay on the Proud Mary

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• Murray River cruises
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Its time to treat yourself. Enjoy one of our stunning Lunch Cruises!

Our 1 hour 45 minute lunch cruise is departing every Monday from Mannum at 10:45am.

Enjoy a welcoming coffee or tea served with a freshly baked scone with jam and cream! A delicious 2-course lunch will follow, prepared exclusively by our executive Chef’s. Sit back, relax and enjoy the stunning scenery and river views that the mighty Murray has to offer with Proud Mary’s lunch cruises.

More information

Minimum numbers are required for the cruise to depart. Our Friday lunch cruise from Mypolonga will remain suspended.

2 night Murray River Discovery Cruise

from $980 per person twin share

Departs every Friday evening & returns Sunday afternoon

5 night Murray River Indulgence Cruise

from $2,460 per person twin share

Departs every Sunday evening & returns Friday afternoon

7 night Murray River Specialty Cruise

from $2,950 per person twin share

Chat to us about our next 7 Specialty night cruise!

We are proud to announce we have been inducted into the Tourism Industry Council Hall of Fame.

Thank you to all our passengers, staff and associates.

5 Day cruise started 19th March 2023....... FANTASTIC and so much FUN!!!!! I would recommend this cruise to anyone! I came to your site to get some pics of our wonderful crew but they are not here!!!! Captain Pete, Eng Daniel, Chefs Matt and Noah... then my specials :-)......... Jacquie… K Randall, Apr 2023

More testimonials

Experience the Murray River like Never Before at Murray Bridge

Sit back and relax as we take you on a journey down the picturesque Murray River to discover this unique part of South Australia’s landscape brimming with wildlife, long stretches of cliffs and towering gum trees. 

Come along on our “Coffee and Cake Guided Tour”, departing from Murray Cods Drive, Murray Bridge, Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday, morning 10am and afternoon 1pm.   “We are the proud new owners of Four Knots Cruises and the M.V. Jester. We live local, right in the heart of Murray Bridge, so we know what makes the Murray River tick. We promise to continually deliver one of the best experiences you’ll have on our magnificent river”.

We are currently operating group charters and coffee and cake guided tour which require a minimum of 12 people.

Coffee & Cake Guided Tour

Group Charter 

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Our Cruises

Reinvented river cruising

Address:    Murray Cods Drive, 

                        murray bridge sa 5253 email:         [email protected] phone:        0468 875 993.

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MILDURA PADDLE STEAMERS

Leave the road, take the River!

(03) 5023 2200

Cruise Schedule

Saturday 13th        -  2 Hour Cruise - 10.50am to 1.00pm & 1.50pm to 4.00pm

Sunday 14th           - 2 Hour Cruise - 10.50 am to 1.00pm   & 1.50pm to 4.00pm Tuesday 16th        -  2 Hour Cruise - 10.50am to 1.00pm & 1.50pm to 4.00pm Wednesday 17th   -  2 Hour Cruise - 10.50am to 1.00pm & 1.50pm to 4.00pm Thursday 18th      -  2 Hour Cruise - 10.50am to 1.00pm & 1.50pm to 4.00pm

Saturday 20th         -  2 Hour Cruise - 10.50am to 1.00pm & 1.50pm to 4.00pm

Sunday 21st            - 2 Hour Cruise - 10.50 am to 1.00pm   Tuesday 23rd         -  2 Hour Cruise - 10.50 am to 1.00pm & 1.50pm to 4.00pm Wednesday 24th   -  2 Hour Cruise - 10.50am to 1.00pm & 1.50pm to 4.00pm Friday 26th             -  2 Hour Cruise - 10.50am to 1.00pm & 1.50pm to 4.00pm

Saturday 27th         -  2 Hour Cruise - 10.50am to 1.00pm & 1.50pm to 4.00pm

Sunday 28th           - 2 Hour Cruise - 10.50 am to 1.00pm   Tuesday 30th         -  2 Hour Cruise - 10.50 am to 1.00pm & 1.50pm to 4.00pm

MAY TIMETABLE IS AS NORMAL BELOW

2 HOUR CRUISE

Tuesday/Wednesday/Saturday 10.50am to 1.00pm 1.50pm to 4.00pm

Thursday/Sunday 10.50am to 1.00pm 1.50pm to 4.00pm

EVENING DINNER CRUISE

Thursday 7pm to 9.30pm No Dinner Cruise on the 18th or 25th of April.