Big River Rambler - Renmark River Cruises - In the Riverland Region of South Australia

There are lots of ways to explore the River Murray and one of the most relaxing is with Alan Carthew on one of his Big River Rambles. There's plenty of room on his boat, a nice cup of tea and plenty of good tucker too.

In fact, one of the features of the River Rambler is fresh scones, cooked onboard. The aroma coming from the oven was impressive so we asked Jan about the recipe. She said it originated from a lady called Mrs. Quigley.

“Mrs. Quigley grew a lot of roses and had a beautiful garden in Renmark. She passed (the recipe) onto Fleur, the owner of the boat and so we use her recipe.” (see recipe below)

With the scones baking and the River Rambler gliding past historic Renmark we soon passed the PS Industry. She was a Paddlesteamer commissioned in 1911 and worked until 1968 as a maintenance boat on the locks and weirs. She would have had her work cut out in the high waters of the ‘56 flood when the river broke it's banks. As we glided passed the impressive Angove Homestead, it was hard to believe the floodwaters almost got to the door.

We decided we’d be hard pressed to afford such a grand property today, but concluded for us, such a river frontage is a mere cabin or campsite away at the Renmark Riverfront Caravan Park or the nearby River Bend Park adjacent to the historic Paringa Bridge.

It was a perfect day and while some of the campers were exerting themselves water-skiing, we sat down to a lazy afternoon in the sun with some koala spotting for sport.

“If you see one don't hesitate to shout out. It's very easy to miss them,” urged Alan.

That's because the Koala’s are about as relaxed as we are, as we glide along the Murray in delightful sunshine. The locals are quick to tell you the Riverland gets more rays than Queensland's Sunshine Coast so it makes for a wonderful escape from the chill of Adelaide. It's also a great way to get away from the stresses and strains of modern day living.

The only decision to make? Whether to have homemade jam on your next scone.

Soon we were cruising passed Renmark's historic pub, which was once called "The Jewel of the Murray". The hotel was built at the turn of last century. Over the years its grown like topsy and was given a stunning art deco makeover in the thirties.

“First of all it was a pub that didn't have any beer.” explained Alan. “It was a called a Temperance House with only a single storey building. But, of course, there was a great illegal trade because there was lots of sly grog. So the authorities decided they needed to get some control of the trade and the only way they could think of doing that was to obtain a Liquor Licence. And they did that in the name of the Renmark community. So it's now actually a community hotel - the first community hotel ever established in the British Commonwealth.”

The Renmark Community Pub has rooms available from $70 a night. It's a feature of Alan's River Rambler Cruise, which leaves from the town wharf every day except Monday and Friday.

The Big River Rambler
Renmark River Cruises
Contact 85 951 862
info@postcards-sa.com.au

The Renmark Hotel Motel
Rooms from $70 per night
Contact 8586 6755

Recipe for Big River Rambler Scones
Ingredients:
3 cups SR flour
Pinch of salt
1 egg - beaten
2 desert spoons margarine or butter
One and a half (1 1/2) cups of milk

Method: Melt butter/margarine with milk. Place flour and salt in a bowl and add melted butter and milk mixture and the beaten eggs. Mix together and press out to 1” thickness. Cut into shape required. Cook for 7 - 10 minutes at 225 degrees C.

Mixture makes approx 12 scones.