Murray River Houseboating
Be the captain of your own houseboat, cruising down the Murray River at your own pace.
Wake in the morning surrounded by gentle waters and fresh air, with the whole day ahead of you. Spend time with family and friends, plotting your route together, absorbing the sights, and relaxing on deck. A houseboat holiday is the ultimate getaway and there's no better way to see the mighty Murray River.
In South Australia, you can choose from hundreds of houseboats accommodating two to 12 people and ranging from budget to luxury. To become a houseboat captain during your holiday, all you need is a driver's license.
Taking a holiday on a houseboat is much like staying at a holiday house - some houseboats are like floating palaces! Houseboats can be hired from either the Murraylands or the Riverland regions.
Search for a Houseboat
Use the handy red search boxes (left) to find the right houseboat for you. Choose your region - 'Murraylands' or 'Riverland'. When you receive your results, you can sort by 'houseboat'. You can find houseboats using the Houseboat Hirers Association website online booking service.
Free Houseboat Holidays booklet
Pick up a free copy of the Houseboat Holidays booklet at Riverland or Murraylands visitor information centres or the Houseboat Hirers' Association on 1300 665 122.
Houseboat bookings
The South Australian Visitor and Travel Centre can help with all of your accommodation bookings. Or, use the Houseboat Hirers Association website and its online booking service.
The Murray River Pilot (Renmark to the Coorong), Murray River Charts (from Renmark, upstream) and SA Waters Atlas and Guide contain reputable charts for negotiating the river. They can be bought at Riverland and Murrayland visitor information centres.
What you need
You'll need to bring all food and drink provisions but there will be some standard things that are supplied on the houseboat. These include crockery and cutlery, cooking utensils, linen, cleaning equipment, lifevests and buoys, two-way radio and/or mobile phone, heating/cooling, fridge, stove, barbecue and outdoor furniture. Many houseboats also offer televisions, DVD players, stereos and other equipment to make your stay even more relaxing. Increasingly, the larger and more modern houseboats are offering spas and big-screen TVs.
Make sure you pack a variety of clothes as the river can get chilly at night, despite a warm day. Don't forget sunscreen and insect repellent. Check with the houseboat hirer if towels are provided.
If you really want to live it up, many of the luxury houseboats can arrange a driver and/ or chef to accompany you so you won't have to lift a finger in the kitchen. They'll supply all the food and anything else you might need.
Don't worry about bringing your hairdryer or any other electrical appliance unless it has a 12 volt DC connection, as it won't work on board. As a good measure, anything that works from your cars' power source (ie. cigarette lighter) should work on the houseboat.
You don't need a special licence to take out a houseboat - an ordinary driver's licence is all that's required - but it certainly pays to listen during the pre-departure briefing, particularly if this is your first experience.
And if you're a keen fisher, don't forget to bring all your equipment including bait.
