A four-day experience on the Murray River floodplains near Renmark combines 40km of stunning, wildlife-rich walks with living on a luxury houseboat.
Story Briar Jensen Photo Murray River Trails
"That’s not something you see every day,” guide Max Rush chuckles from the helm of the open pontoon boat as a western grey kangaroo dogpaddles across the river like a motorised log, ears twitching. Exhausted, it clutches exposed tree roots on the bank, mustering the energy to leap up.
Max, with fellow guide Shae Quigg, is ferrying guests from Renmark, SA, to the start of the four-day, three-night Murray River Walk. The trip heads upriver beyond waterfront homes to wooded swamps, drowned forests and striated ochre cliffs. Cruising close to shore, you can spot koalas in the treetops as whistling kites circle overhead, a squadron of pelicans skims the water and darters dry wings atop fallen logs.
It’s an immersive introduction to the biodiversity of the Murray River, which simultaneously exhibits evidence of flood and drought, life and death, boom and bust – an ecosystem caught in the crossfire of human impact and climate change – a multi-threaded story unravelled over the coming days.
More river expedition than point-to-point hike, the trip combines 40km of walking with cruises to and from the ‘mothership’, the 26m solar-powered luxury houseboat High River, which moves to a different secluded location each day. Five ensuite cabins cater for up to 10 guests and floor-to-ceiling windows in the lounge-dining area ensure the river takes centre stage.
Part of the Great Walks of Australia portfolio, it’s rated easy, making it a great introduction to multi-day walking, and non-walking partners can remain on the houseboat. It’s operated by advanced eco-certified Murray River Trails
This story excerpt is from issue #164
Outback Magazine: Dec/Jan 2026
