River Murray Backwater Tour on the MV Expedition: Keith explores the Backwaters of the Murray in the Riverland region of South Australia
South Australians have always had an intimate link with the River Murray. What used to be a vital transport and trade link for a fledgling Colony still play a vital role in our everyday life.
It's a big part of our water supply and it feeds many of our multi-billion dollar horticultural industries. But the Murray is an essential part of our existence in other ways too. It's a giant ribbon-like playground offering solitude or excitement or a bit of both.
And a good way to sample it all is aboard one of the many tourist boats that ply the river. A century ago river traffic was carrying wool and wheat - but today, their vital cargo is people.
We hopped on board the MV Expedition which operates between Murray Bridge and Blanchetown.
On this trip you choose how you want to soak up the Murray and all its beauty. You can take it all in at a leisurely pace or elect to go ashore for a look around at your own pace. As the name suggests, the MV Expedition offers a range of expeditions ashore. You can choose an eco-walk with the Captain or climb aboard the Expedition's tender for a closer look at the Murray marvels like the backwaters of Big Bend.
Dave Farren is our guide and he doesn't regret giving up his UK life for this patch of SA. He's been engineer and skipper on the MV Expedition for nearly 20 years but this is what he loves doing best - introducing his guests to his adopted backyard.
"Now as we enter the shallow backwater I can tell you it's called an anabranch," explained Dave. "An anabranch is a volume of water that's attached to the river but does not have a direct flow of water through it."
There's a new river feature around every corner and Dave's enthusiasm for the place is contagious. Soon he stops the motor, and pauses to listen. "Hear the breeze in the trees and the reeds, the birds whistling, they're calling in the background. It's beautiful. In other parts of the world they're throwing bombs and bullets at each other. Why?"
We press on and are soon back on the river proper and a sweep along the majestic cliffs of Big Bend and a lesson on the river's formation.
"From the top of the cliff down to the waters edge, approximately 100 feet, they estimate with the current movement of the continent of Australia that we're down some 35 million years of age at water level."
We pull alongside the cliffs and Dave points out the tiny shells embedded in the sandstone. "They are echinoids. And an echinoid is very primitive version of a sea urchin. Tucked away there is also a small white particles of coral and there's a whole variety of sea shells that are actually embedded into the sandstone. So we have had to be under water some time. True? "
A river expedition like this may well bring out the palaeontologist within! It will certainly add to your appreciation of the Murray.
The MV Expedition offers a number of cruises from two to five nights. It departs from Murray Bridge. Contact River of Australia Expeditions for details.
MV Expedition River of Australia Expeditions
18 Grenfell St Adelaide
Ph (08) 8231 9472Published 15th April 2007
