April 30 – Murray River Cruise
Enjoy a stay in the delightful city of Adelaide and then board the PS Murray Princess for a Discovery Cruise on the beautiful and historic Murray River. Continue your South Australian experience with a tour to Kangaroo Island, South Australia’s premier nature-based tourism destination.
click here for your brochure … relax on the Murray River tour
KANGAROO ISLAND & MURRAY PRINCESS Holiday Tour
12 Days / 11 Nights – with Mary and Brian
Tour Departs: Saturday 30 April – Wednesday 11 May 2016
Tour Inclusions:
• Pick up from your home, transport and return
• Luxury Coach Travel Seatbelts & Restroom
• 8 Nights Minimum Three Star Quality Motel Accommodation
• 8 Three Course Dinners with Choices & All Fully Cooked Breakfasts
• Lunch Days 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 & 10
• All Entry Fees and Guides as per Itinerary
Tour Highlights:
Wagga Wagga Highlights Tour; Hay Internment & Prisoner of War Camps Interpretive Centre Tour & Lunch; Olivewood Estate; Ruston Rose Gardens Tour & Lunch; Victor Harbor Whale Centre; Coorong Discovery Cruise & Lunch; Kangaroo Island Sea Link Ferry; Kangaroo Island
Guide; American River Aquatic Reserve; Clifford’s Honey Farm; Emu Ridge Eucalyptus Oil Distillery & Lunch; Kingscote Highlights Tour; Island Pure Sheep Dairy; Seal Bay Conservation Park; Hanson Bay Sanctuary; Flinders Chase National Park; Penneshaw Gateway Information
Centre; Historic Murray River Port of Mannum; 3 Nights Onboard Murray Princess – On Shore Excursions – Great Food & Entertainment; The Pines Tour & Lunch; The Village – Historic Loxton; & more!
Tour Fee including GST:
Members $4,769.00 per person, twin share
Non Members $4,789.00 per person, twin share
Single Supplement $780.00
Minimum loading 20 passengers booked and paid by Thursday 10th March 2016
12 Days / 11 Nights – with Mary and Brian
Tour Departs: Saturday 30 April – Wednesday 11 May 2016
For information and bookings phone: 02 4774 9700
Email: mary@ezidrivecoaches.com.au
Please note that the itinerary is subject to change without notice
Tour Itinerary
Day 1 Sat 30 April: Bringelly / Wagga Wagga M/Tea, A/Tea & Dinner
We pick you up this morning from home and make our way across to Wagga Wagga. After enjoying comfort stops for morning tea and lunch, we arrive in Wagga Wagga and make our way to the Wagga Wagga Tourist Information Centre. We are joined by our local guide for a highlights tour of Wagga Wagga including the fine buildings, tree lined streets, parks and gardens. After enjoying our afternoon tea we make our way to our motel to check in before dinner.
Overnight Wagga Wagga
Day 2 Sun 1 May: Wagga Wagga / Mildura Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
This morning after breakfast we depart Wagga Wagga and travel west through Narrandera and Darlington Point to enjoy a comfort stop along the way. We continue across to Hay for our lunch stop at the Hay Internment & Prisoner of War Camps Interpretive Centre. Over 6,000 German, Italian and Japanese civilian Internees and Prisoners of War (POW) were kept in three Prison Camps at Hay between 1940 and 1946. They were guarded by over 600 members of 16th Australian Garrison Battalion. The ‘Dunera Boys’, 1,984 German Jews and other refugees from Nazi occupied Europe, were the first internees of British Government WWII policy and arrived in Hay on 7th September 1940. The museum houses exhibits, photographs, stories and music about experiences of internees, POW’s and townsfolk. We continue on through to Mildura where we check in to our motel before dinner.
Overnight Mildura
Day 3 Mon 2 May: Mildura / Renmark / Victor Harbor Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
This morning after a leisurely breakfast we depart Mildura and make our way across to the Riverland of South Australian to Renmark calling at the historic Olivewood Estate situated on the outskirts of town. A grove of old olive trees and date palms planted in 1890 by Charles Chaffey, the man behind Olivewood Estate beginning the story of Renmark’s transformation and that of the entire Riverland regions irrigation and settlements. Constructed of logs, Olivewood was built in 1889 and still looks slightly out of place compared with the town’s other buildings. After our tour we are joined by our local guide for a Highlights Tour of the river township before enjoying a light lunch at Ruston Rose Gardens before strolling through the colourful and fragrant rose gardens. We can also discover the historic racing and classic car display, wander around the gift shop and
purchase some freshly cut flowers! After leaving Ruston’s we head south to Tailem Bend before arriving into Victor Harbor where we check into our accommodation before dinner.
Overnight Victor Harbor
Day 4 Tue 3 May: Coorong National Park / Victor Harbor Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
This morning after some free time in Victor Harbor which will include a visit to the SA Whale Centre which features three floors of interactive and exciting displays including the Steve Irwin ship replica, 3D Theatrette, marine history, interactive displays, whale skeleton and murals. Later in the morning we arrive at the historic wharf and port of Goolwa and board our Coorong Discovery Cruise, which takes us on a delightful journey
into the mighty Coorong National Park. Our 4 hr cruise includes lunch and afternoon tea, two short guided walks, spectacular scenery, bird watching and the Mouth of the famous Murray River. Later in the day, we return to our motel before dinner.
Overnight Victor Harbor
The Itinerary
Day 5 Wed 4 May: Kangaroo Island Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
This morning we drive across to Cape Jervis and board the Kangaroo Island Sea Link ferry for our crossing to Kangaroo Island. At Penneshaw, we are met by our very own experienced Kangaroo Island guide and begin our adventure of the Island as we make our way around past the American River Aquatic Reserve and arrive at Clifford’s Honey Farm for a little taste of local produce. We hear about the placid Ligurian Bees, their
breeding and the production of over 10,000 kilograms of pure honey annually. Kangaroo Island is thought to be the only place in the world where a pure strain of the Ligurian bees exists. We enjoy a taste of the different varieties as well as the chance to purchase some of Jenny’s famous honey ice cream. We also stop at the Emu Ridge Eucalyptus Oil Distillery where we will learn the distilling process, operating the same way it began
in the 1890`s. While here, we may like to purchase a bottle from the only commercial distillery still in operation in South Australia. After lunch, we make our way into historic Kingscote for a highlights tour before arriving at the Island Pure Sheep Dairy enjoying an audio visual before seeing the sheep being milked with up to 300 milked at any one milking and some may be surprised to learn that there are more sheep milked worldwide
than cows. We also have the opportunity (if game) to taste their excellent cheeses and yoghurt made at the dairy, which include Spanish, Greek, Italian and Cypriot recipes. Later in the afternoon we arrive at our accommodation for check in and enjoy dinner.
Overnight Kangaroo Island
Day 6 Thu 5 May: Seal Bay / Flinders Chase NP Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
This morning we venture into the world famous Seal Bay Conservation Park, the only place in the world where we can stroll with our guide through a wild seal colony. Seal Bay is home to around 600 of the rare Australian Sea Lions. After leaving Seal Bay leaving, we travel into the Hanson Bay Sanctuary a popular Koala habitat where we also witness Wild Cape Barron Geese, Wallabies and Kangaroos Grazing. After lunch, we make our way into the magnificent Flinders Chase National Park enjoying breathtaking views of Yacca Flat and coastal scenery on our way to the Cape du Couedic Lighthouse and keeper’s residences. Built in 1909 it is considered the Islands finest structure. With the automation of the lighthouse, the nearby keeper’s residences are now available for accommodation.
This area is home to a colony of New Zealand Fur Seals and the natural land bridge that is “Admirals Arch”. After taking the boardwalk down to the arch, we may witness the amazing sight of New Zealand Fur Seals frolicking in the water and on the rocks under the arch. We then travel a short distance to Weirs Cove as our guide explains the history of the ruins of the storage huts and the steep jetty. We then view the spectacular
Remarkable Rocks. We are able to take a walk around these unusual huge boulders, which have been carved, into many different weird and wonderful shapes by the wind and ocean spray over many centuries. Later in the day we travel back to our accommodation.
Overnight Kangaroo Island
Day 7 Fri 6 May: Kangaroo Island / Murray Princess Breakfast & Dinner
After breakfast, we travel back down to Penneshaw before visiting the Gateway Information Centre, which is home to the original Frenchman’s Rock, and an interpretive display of the Island and a great place to purchase souvenirs and local produce. We board the Kangaroo Island Sea Link Ferry for our return journey to Cape Jervis before making our way up to the Murray River Port of Mannum, the birthplace of the Murray River trade and communication. Here we enjoy some free time to purchase lunch before we board the delightful PS Murray Princess and head downriver while we enjoy predinner drinks and a Welcome Dinner. As we cruise under floodlight to our overnight mooring at Mundarra we may see nocturnal wildlife on the riverbank as well as grey kangaroos, hairy-nosed wombats, Murray long necked tortoises, spoon-beaked egrets and many other species. Our on-board entertainer provides music for the night owls.
Overnight Murray Princess
Day 8 Sat 9 May: Murray Princess Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
In 1879 the first bridge to span the Murray River was built at Edwards Crossing, which quickly became the bustling township of Murray Bridge. After a hearty breakfast, we join a guided tour of the town’s historic landmarks and local attractions. This afternoon we begin our journey upriver. Tonight we moor at Craignook, where after dinner you can enjoy being entertained by the talented crew of the Murray Princess.
Overnight Murray Princess
Day 9 Sun 10 May: Murray Princess Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
After breakfast, it’s all ashore for the guided nature walk where our guide will share the secrets of the local flora and fauna. It’s a great way to get in a little exercise before Murray Princess departs for the big river gorges and 90 metre cliffs of the upper river. Midmorning, we gather in the Sturt Dining room for a special presentation on the bounty of food and wine produced in the Riverland’s. At the 205km mark, we turn and head downriver
to River View Lodge where our discovery vessel awaits for a backwater wildlife tour. Travelling in small, personalised groups, we explore the maze of backwaters, creeks and lagoons. The birdlife is amazing. Watch for darters, herons and egrets feeding along the river’s muddy edges. Late afternoon, photography enthusiasts have a great opportunity to capture a spectacular cliff-top river sunset, before joining the Captain and Officers for pre-dinner drinks and the finale Captain’s Dinner and Dance.
Overnight Murray Princess
Day 10 Mon 11 May: Murray Princess / Loxton / Mildura Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
After breakfast, the PS Murray Princess arrives at Mannum where we reluctantly say farewell to the crew of the Princess and head across to Loxton enjoying tour and lunch at The Pines, which was built in 1909. This historic six roomed sandstone villa and its contents were bequeathed to the people of Loxton in 2002 for display and entertainment purposes. The wide driveway lined with mature pine trees makes a welcoming entrance,
opening up to spacious gardens of roses, hibiscus and other assorted plants, as well as a lawn area. After leaving The Pines we visit The Village – Historic Loxton, established in 1970 to preserve memorabilia, paper based records, photographs, books, artefacts, machinery and buildings as well as other elements of the district’s history. The Village, historic Loxton tells the stories of the region’s early settlers and their families, displayed
in over 45 recreated buildings and exhibits on the banks of the mighty Murray River. All buildings and displays have been relocated or built on site, with most replicating original constructions from Loxton’s pioneering years. Later we continue to our motel in Mildura where we check-in before dinner.
Overnight Mildura
Day 11 Tue 12 May: Mildura / Wagga Wagga Breakfast, M/Tea, A/Tea & Dinner
This morning after breakfast, we depart Mildura and travel east, back to Wagga Wagga. We enjoy a comfort stop along they way for morning tea before continuing on our way through to Hay for a chance to purchase lunch. After lunch, we travel continue on our way enjoying a short stop for afternoon tea before arriving in Wagga Wagga later this afternoon for check-in before dinner in motel the restaurant.
Overnight Wagga Wagga
Day 12 Wed 13 May: Wagga Wagga / Home Breakfast
After breakfast this morning, we bid farewell to Wagga Wagga and begin our journey back home enjoying comfort stops along the way. We arrive back home this afternoon to say goodbye at your doorstep after a wonderful time away with Mary & Brian from Ezi Drive Coaches.