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19th cruise Lower Murray (Mannum)

Cruise - conference - tour package

21-29 August 2025 - 9 day cruise - conference - tour

30-31 August 2025 - optional 2 day add-on tour to Kangaroo Island

  • 2 day conference in Adelaide - Thu 21 - Fri 22 Aug
    (we are considering the two conference days to be Wed 20 and Fri 22 Aug,
    with Thu 21 Aug as a free day for research or tourist activities in Adelaide)
  • 1 day bus transfer via North East Hills to Mannum (with tourist stops) - Sat 23 Aug
  • 2 days of conference and tour activities in Mannum - Sat afternoon 23 - early Mon afternoon 25 Aug
  • 4 NIGHT Murray River Outback Heritage Cruise - Mon afternoon 25 Aug to Fri morning 29 Aug
  • 1 day bus transfer via South East Freeway to Adelaide (with tourist stops) - Fri 29 Aug

  • OPTIONAL 2 day add on tour of Kangaroo Island - Sat 30 - Sun 31 Aug

The Murray Princess

The Murray Princess is the largest inland paddlewheeler to every operate on the Murray and the largest in the southern hemisphere. It has 60 cabins, accommodating up 120 people (two to a cabin). However this cruise is open to the general public - not exclusive to our group.

Itinerary

The cruise is the 4 Night Murray River Outback Heritage Cruise

The conference - this will be in several stages:

  • Main conference over two days in Adelaide - genealogy program
  • 4-5 conference sessions at Mannum between arrival on Saturday afternoon and the cruise departure on Monday afternoon. As Mannum is the birthplace of the Murray River steamboat era (1853) one or two sessions will introduce this
  • Possibly some more informal smaller group sessions on the cruise

And of course, being together for the 9 cruise/conference days and nights there is plenty of opportunity to interact with experts and others with similar interests. One of the great things about genealogy cruises and conferences.

Speakers

Helen Smith will head the program. She is highly regarded internationally, with a wide variety of topics to offer. She will be supported by others with expertise who may join us on the cruise or at the land conference.

Click here to learn more about Helen.

Tour activities

Adelaide to Mannum bus transfer and tour - Sat 23 Aug 2025

  • depart Adelaide approx 8.30am
  • Gumeracha approx 9.30am-11.30 morning tea at the Big Rocking Horse and brief visits to Kenton Park (Randell home c. 1843) and Randell's Mill, places significant for the beginning of the Murray River steamboat era
  • Birdwood approx 11.45 - 2.15pm - lunch and visit to the National Motor museum
  • Mannum arrive approx 3.00pm - check into accommodation and then free time until 6pm to explore and plan tourist activities at Mannum. We recommend you start with a visit to the nearby Mannum Visitor Information Centre and Dock Museum

Mannum - Sat 23 Aug to Mon 25 Aug 2025

  • largely free time between 4 or 5 conference sessions for tourist activities at Mannum - historic walks, visits to the Paddle Steamer Marion, a short cruise on the paddlewheeler Mayflower, visits to the Dock Museum and more.

Mannum to Adelaide bus transfer and tour - Fri 29 Aug 2025

Adelaide - before or after the scheduled conference/tour activities

  • Research at South Australian libraries and archives, e.g. Genealogy SA, Lutheran Archives, State Library
  • Other tours to places of interest - Migration Museum, Adelaide Zoo, Popeye (on the Torrens), Australian Space Discovery Centre, Haigh's Chocolates ... and much more. Check out the Adelaide Visitor Information Centre for a start.

Optional 2 day Kangaroo Island tour

Sat 30 and Sun 31 August 2025 - after the conference and cruise. Times are approximate

  • bus transfer Adelaide to Cape Jervis ferry terminal - 6.30am to 8.30am
  • ferry Cape Jervis to Penneshaw - 9.00am to 9.50am (cafe on board for cake drinks and light snacks)
  • Kangaroo Island touring (the itinerary for the two days may swap between the Saturday and Sunday)
    • Sat 10-15am to 5.30pm
      • Seal Bay Conservation Park (45 min walk)
      • Vivonne Bay Bistro (2 course lunch)
      • Flinders Chase Conservation Park (Remarkable Rocks 30 mins)
      • Flinders Chase Conservation Park (Admirals Arch 45 mins)
      • Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park
    • Sat overnight - Aurora Ozone Hotel, Kingscote
    • Sun 9.35am to 6.45pm
      • Emu Ridge Eucalyptus Distillery
      • Birds of Prey (1 hour show)
      • Lunch at Emu Eucalyptus Distillery
      • Clifford's Honey Farm (guided tour and shop visit)
      • Pennington Bay (photo opportunity)
      • False Cape Wines (wine tasting)
      • Penneshaw hotel (meal)
  • ferry to Penneshaw to Cape Jervis - 7.30pm to 8.20pm
  • bus transfer Cape Jervis to Adelaide - 8.30pm to 10.30pm

Cost

4 night cruise only

Note these prices (inside and outside cabins) are for rooms with twin beds. If you require a room with a queen bed the price is higher.

  • INSIDE - $1899 person twin share - $3038 single. These must be booked direct with Murray Princess. With only 9 inside cabins available, and some already booked, you will need to book early if you want the cheapest cabin type
  • OUTSIDE - $2449 person twin share - $3918 single.
    • we have 20 cabins allocated to our group - these will be booked directly with us
    • more are available outside our allocation (unless sold). These must be booked direct with Murray Princess 
  • STATEROOM - $3199 person twin share - $5118 single. These must be booked direct with Murray Princess. With only 4 cabins available, and some already booked, you will need to book early if you want the cheapest
  • There are four wheelchair accessible cabins - two on the deck allocated our group - and two more (close to the lifts) on the lower Randell deck.
  • Cabin prices and deposits ($200 per person) are the same whether booked with us - or direct. 

Prices include:

  • All meals (drinks other than tea, coffee and water are extra)
  • An exciting selection of onshore tours
  • Guided nature walks & eco-excursions
  • Onboard presentations
  • Live entertainment

Conference & tour

The conference cost and bus transfers/tours will be additional. Details to come when the schedule is full developed, but expect them to include venue hire, bus transfers, speaker fees and some other outlays.

  • The conference cost (Adelaide and Mannum) is not yet finalised, but is likely to be in the vicinity of $160-$180 per person for the two days (1-day attendance may be available). It will also be open to those not doing the cruise. Non-genealogy partners of those doing the cruise, may do the conference
  • Coach transfers/tours to and from Mannum - $125 per person return (excluding entry to the National Motor Museum and Monarto Safari Park)

Optional 2 day Kangaroo Island tour

2025-26 prices are not yet known, but there will likely be some increase on 2024-25 prices

  • per person twin share - $791 (2024-25 prices)
  • single - $930 (2024-25 prices)

Price includes:

  • 1 night accommodation on Kangaroo Island with breakfast
  • 2 days of expert commentary by a local driver/guide
  • Morning pick-up and evening set down at and Adelaide hotel
  • Return travel to Kangaroo Island by coach/ferry
  • Entrance fees and tickets to National Parks and attractions
  • 2-course lunches during the tour

Notes on costs

  • Accommodation - The cruise and KI tour include accommodation. Accommodation, before the conference, at Mannum and after the cruise tours is not included. Some of you will be local and not needing this. Others may stay with relatives or friends. We have done preliminary research on Adelaide and Mannum accommodation and will advise options when we have more information
  • Meals - The cruise and KI tour include meals. The other activities don't. We plan on morning tea and lunch stop during the bus transfers
  • Admission - admission costs to the National Motor museum (Birdwood) and the Monarto Safari Park will be at cost. Seniors concessions may be available to those eligible. 

Bookings - because there will be differences in who participates in the various components of the package separate bookings may be needed for:

  • Conference (pre-cruise) - non genealogy spouses/partners may not do this. It will also be open to others who don't do the cruise - see below
  • Cruise - bookings will normally be made with us, but can also be made directly with the Murray Princess - see below
  • Transfers/tours to/from Mannum - these will normally be required for all doing the cruise and can be booked with cruise bookings made direct with us. Those booking the cruise with the Murray Princess will need to book the transfer with us (unless you choose to make your own way there and back) 
  • KI tour - this will be booked direct with us - see below

Other

  • Cruise deposit - a deposit of $200 per person is required when booking (with us or with the Murray Princess)
  • Final cruise payment - required by 15 May 2025
  • Cancellation (cruise) - you may cancel with full refund of deposit up to 15 April 2025 if booked with us. Cancellation of bookings made directly with the Murray Princess, will incur a cancellation fee or,  if near the cruise, full loss of deposit (or partial of full fare., depending on the cancellation date)
  • Solo travellers - we encourage you to try to find someone you know and who you are willing the share with - at least for the cruise. Apart from considerable fare savings, sharing a cabin will maximise your chance of getting a place on the cruise.

PLAN TO BOOK EARLY - Our group may occupy 50% of the Murray Princess capacity. With others (not of our group) already booking the cruise, it may well book out early.

 

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