ps marion dark sky cruise

• Attractions

Activities / Tours

Below are some of the activities/ cruises / guided tours available locally

Big Bend by Night

Dark Sky Night Tour

Juggle House

Dark Sky Gold Stars & Sunset Dinner

Ngaut Ngaut

Coming Soon

Self Drive Eco Tour

Kayak Adventure

Murray Coorong & Lakes

Dark Sky Information & Tours Page

PS Marion  

The River Murray International Dark Sky Reserve is Australia's first Dark Sky Reserve and one of only 15 is the world. It covers more than 3,200 square kilometres from Bow Hill to Blanchetown on the River Murray and west to the foothills of the Mt. Lofty Ranges.

Australia, due to its large land area and small population is endowed with minimal Light Pollution and consequently very dark skies.

•       Free E-book: "Light Pollution: A Global Discussion"
•       Dark Sky Education Teaching Package
•       SkippySky:    The SkippySky website contains forecasts of useful stuff for astronomers, such as cloud cover, temperature, etc.

PS Marion's long legacy with the Murray River still revered

Imagine standing on a boat deck, looking out at gum trees dotting the water's edge while cruising peacefully down the Murray River.

This is a moment steam engineer Dave Broadbent steals while on break aboard the PS Marion , one of the world's oldest surviving steam-driven, wood-fired, side paddle steamers with overnight passenger accommodation.

Based in Mannum in South Australia's Murraylands region, the 1897-build, heritage-listed vessel has lived life as a floating store, a passenger vehicle and cargo carrier. Today she operates multi-night cruises plus short trips. It has three decks and can accommodate 40 people.

Her heart is a two cylinder wood-fired steam engine, rated at 20 nominal horsepower (NHP) and 120 indicated horsepower (IHP), built by Marshall & Sons, Gainsborough, who also built its steel boiler. And yes, they're the originals.

All in a day's work

So how do steam engineers like Dave, of Fairview Park in Adelaide, come into it?

"What we do is we maintain the jolly thing," he said.

Steam engineers are on board the whole trip; they arrive the day before departure, put a fire in the boiler and allow about five hours for it to warm up.

"Being an old boiler, we treat it gently, otherwise you get unequal expansion," Dave said. And then they keep it firing during the trip.

It's not just the engine an engineer is responsible for; they also become the overall boat's Mr Fix-it. That includes managing the showers, toilets, and a 40-volt generator that runs pumps for other parts onboard. If it gets stuck on a sandbar, they'll run a rope around a nearby tree stump and use a boat-mounted, steam-powered winch to dislodge it.

The worst problem is when they can't get water from the river into the boiler, which could result in "catastrophic" results - but there is a backup plan for that.

To work as a steam engineer, Dave has a high risk work licence , formerly known as a steam ticket. He's had a locomotive-type boiler and engine in Victoria for 50 years, plus he has a display at the Lake Goldsmith Steam & Vintage Rally.

"I was fascinated by gold mining and the part steam played in gold mining with the machinery, mining engines and so forth. That's what led me to go onto the boat; I had experience at working (with such equipment), and they said, 'Can you come on and help work on the boat?'."

As for what he loves about PS Marion ?

"It's an old cliche, but in the back of my mind it's preserving the past for the future," he said.

"To me, there's nothing worse than a static museum. And this is a floating working museum piece. You're transported back a hundred years and that, to me, in itself is fascinating. River boats were an integral part of Australian history, particularly in the Murray-Darling Basin."

There are moments he sneaks out for himself while on shift.

"I must confess, when you're travelling along, I do take time out to look at the river as you go past. I am fascinated by the gum trees and the history that as you're going past the canoe gums and so on. It's a pretty old river system when you think about it. It's been going for a few million years, and I just find the place fascinating."

A brief history of PS Marion

PS Marion was commissioned in 1896 by businessman Mr George Swan Fowler for work and pleasure, but died before it was finished. It then had numerous owners and uses including a hawking steamer (floating store), a passenger ship and cargo carrier. It was best known as a passenger steamer for Murray Shipping Limited, cruising up to Renmark in the Riverland, down to Goolwa near the Murray Mouth and back to Morgan.

She was bought by the National Trust and sat at the Randell Dry Dock at Mannum for more than 30 years as a static museum, before it was restored and ultimately recommissioned in November 1994.

How can I see her today?

PS Marion is based at the Mannum Dock Discovery Centre .

She has a galley, passenger dining room, two lounges and multiple cabins. Passenger accommodation aboard the PS Marion is in the form of bunk style twin share cabins.

Visitors can inspect the vessel whilst moored at Arnold Park Wharf.

They can also take a cruise, including a three day, two-night upstream into the heart of the International Dark Sky Reserve $900 (twin share), plus one-hour cruises ($30 adults, $15 children, $25 concession).

Listening to the slap of the paddles against the water, passengers pass spectacular river cliffs and a myriad of bird life. They can also observe the engineer and fireman as they work their magic in the art of steam engine operation.

For more information and bookings, visit psmarion.com or phone 1300 626 686.

Anthony Caggiano

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355 – Pitch-black Podcast From Our Dark Sky Reserve

• By Steve Davis
• July 10, 2022

We wear our podcasts at night in South Australia’s Dark Sky Reserve

In this episode, we stay very still to let our eyes adjust before recording interviews at night time in the River Murray International Dark Sky Reserve. We met the originator of the Dark Sky Reserve idea for the Mid Murray region, Chris Tugwell, former SA Chief Scientist-turned-astrophotographer, Don Bursill, and astronomer, Joe Grida. We didn’t get to interview Ivy from the Ngaut Ngaut Aboriginal Site but we hope to get back for a separate episode because her stories of her people and the land were deeply intriguing and impressive.

We also have a chat with Captain, Max Lindsay, on board the PS Marion, which had docked on the side of the river, along with Michelle de Leeuw-Smeets, Tourism & Heritage Officer – Mannum Dock Museum of River History.

The SA Drink Of The Week has made its mark in the space-time continuum; a non vintage Rosé from David Franz Wines, ably supported by our guest taster, Glenn Malycha.

And in the Musical Pilgrimage, we have a new song from Kyan Burns, which has a big sound for a big mission.

You can navigate episodes using chapter markers in your podcast app. Not a fan of wine? You can click next to jump to the next chapter in the show. We’re here to serve!

The Adelaide Show Podcast: Awarded Silver for Best Interview Podcast at the 2021 Australian Podcast Awards and named as Finalist for News and Current Affairs in the 2018 Australian Podcast Awards.

And please consider becoming part of our podcast by joining our Inner Circle. It’s an email list. Join it and you might get an email on a Sunday or Monday seeking question ideas, guest ideas and requests for other bits of feedback about YOUR podcast, The Adelaide Show. Email us directly and we’ll add you to the list: [email protected]

If you enjoy the show, please leave us a 5-star review in iTunes or other podcast sites, or buy some great merch from our Red Bubble store – The Adelaide Show Shop . We’d greatly appreciate it.

And please talk about us and share our episodes on social media, it really helps build our community. Oh, and here’s our index of all episode in one concise page

Running Sheet: Pitch-black Podcast From Our Dark Sky Reserve

00:00:00 intro.

Introduction to the show.

00:03:51  SA Drink Of The Week

This week’s SA Drink Of The Week is the 2021 Cuvee Non-Vintage Red Rosé from David Franz Wines .

As you’ll hear (and see) in our tasting with Glenn Malycha from Wine Pro Australia, this wine features 108 varieties in every bottle – that would make for a fun wine night!

00:16:16 PS Marion interview

We recorded this episode on the PS Marion, a fully restored heritage paddle steamer built in 1897 and one of the last operational, heritage, steam driven, wood fired, overnight passenger carrying side paddle steamers in the world.

Captain, Max Lindsay, has a lot of experience on the river and driving boats, and I’m told he loves the PS Marion. As does Michelle de Leeuw-Smeets, Tourism & Heritage Officer, Mannum Dock Museum of River History .

Max,  what is it about a vessel made of wood and steel that can make a grown man LOVE it?

Can you sort out one discrepancy for me? The official website says the Marion was built in 1897 but some accounts say it was built in 1896 as a barge them converted to steam power in 1900. Will we ever know the exact dates?

The Australian National Maritime Museum: Although planned to be a steamer PS MARION was originally built as a barge. In 1896, shipbuilder A.H. Landseer from Milang on Lake Alexandrina South Australia was commissioned to build a steamer by Mr. George Swan Fowler, a prominent Adelaide business man. Unfortunately Mr. Fowler died soon after building began, and his trustees decided that the hull should be completed and offered for sale as a barge. It was named MARION and first floated in February 1897.

The Marion played an important role in the early years of Federation by being the platform for the openings of lochs, even at one time having Prime Minister Andrew Fisher on board. Who else has graced its boards?

One thing that sets the Marion apart is that its owners and designers were very good at making sure the vessel could change with the times. I believe it’s configuration changed a few times from simply carrying goods to being able to carry passengers, and its big funnel is of an adjustable height. What else can you tell me about what it carried?

Most of us experience the Murray as a quiet, meandering old soul but does danger lurk under the surface for riverboat captains?

Tell me about the Mannum Dock Museum?

What do you get from hopping on board while the PS Marion is stationery?

Should we return to paddlesteamers for moving freight?

00:39:37  Dark Sky Reserve

Eight out of every 10 people on this planet, live under night skies that are ruined by light pollution. And, yes, that includes Adelaide and surrounds. While it’s nice to see the Adelaide Oval lights juxtaposed against a deep red sunset, what happens when we lose sight of the stars at night is that our sleep patterns become disrupted, nocturnal habitats of our native animals become disturbed, and we get cut off from being reminded just how spellbinding the night sky can be. To me, this means we forget the healthy reminder, captured beautifully by Carl Sagan many years ago, that we are living on a pale blue dot amid a vast, vast, incomprehenisible universe. I think this is healthy because it can remind us to look out for each other as humans, and not get swept up into our fickle vanities. But before I get too deeply lost in philosophical meanderings, let’s meet tonight’s guests who are joining me in the dark on a cold night on the PS Marion, in the middle of the River Murray International Dark Sky Reserve; Chris Tugwell, and Don Bursill.

Enjoy #river time on the #RiverMurray under the #DarkSkyReserve in #SouthAustralia with the latest #Adelaide Show #podcsast . https://t.co/bpfHNg0fOU — The Adelaide Show (@TheAdelaideShow) July 11, 2022

The IDA (or International Dark Sky Association) defines an International Dark Sky Reserve as a location on public or private land where we can experience starry nights of exceptional quality and becomes protected for its scientific, natural, educational, cultural, heritage and/or public enjoyment. At the moment, the River Murray International Dark Sky Reserve is the only IDA reserve in Australia. Chris, there are many questions but first, where is this River Murray reserve?

What criteria did you have to meet to get listed, what things have to keep happening to maintain the listing?

How should or can South Australians interact with the Dark Sky Reserve?

What do we think about Elon Musk’s dozens of broadband internet satellites that are apparently visible in the night sky?

How connected are we to the stars – not re astrology but in relation to understand space and time?

01:19:22 Joe Grida interview

Joe is an astronomer who entertained passengers on the PS Marion Dark Sky Reserve cruise, and he shares his thoughts on the night sky and star gazing.

One bit of trivia: Do you have any idea why this being episode 355 is perfectly linked to the topic of the stars and time? It’s because our calendar is based on 24-hour days but the orbital period of the Earth is not an exact multiple of 24. Over time, calenders get out of step with the actual orbital period. After moving from the Julian calendar to the Gregorian calendar, we had to do a little jump in time. So, in 1582 the date jumped from 4th October to 15th October, making that year the only one in history that had 355 days! What other delights and stories can we gather from the night sky access?

He also referenced former guest, Vic Gostin. Here is a link to Vic’s interview: 220 – Vic Gostin On Time, Rocks, And Space

You can have the “Joe Grida” experience as part of one of the Day/Night tours arranged by Juggle House. Here are the details for the Dark Sky Gold Stars Sunset Dinner

01:29:29  Musical Pilgrimage

In the musical pilgrimage, we have We Won’t Let Them Win by Kyan Burns.

Kyan wrote this song after observing kids struggling through the Covid-19 pandemic by being isolated from their peers and more exposed to bullying due to being online more.

It features hip hop artist, Boffa, and a kids choir.

We’ve also embedded the official music video in the show notes, plus there’s a link to Ditto FM to make it easy to add the song to your playlists on your favourite streaming services .

Here’s this week’s preview video

SFX: Throughout the podcast we use free SFX from freesfx.co.uk for the harp, the visa stamp, the silent movie music, the stylus, the radio signal SFX, the wine pouring and cork pulling SFX, and the swooshes around Siri.

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Home > Blog > Your Ultimate Guide to Mannum

Your Ultimate Guide to Mannum

1st August 2022

Mannum in a nutshell

With a constant soundtrack of native birds, wild Murray River views and towering gum trees, the Murrylands region of South Australia is quintessentially Australian. Tucked away within the vast river region is Mannum, a small historic town supporting just over 2000 inhabitants.

Small and cosy in its nature, Mannum is utterly tranquil and shines bright with a vibrant heritage.  Established due to the building and operation of a steamboat – The Mary Ann – Mannum boasts a fascinating history relating to paddle steamers and river trade. Today, visitors will be captivated by the friendly character of Mannum as well as its beautiful riverside scenery.

Looking for accommodation? At the bottom of this article find a 10% voucher code!

Pic credit: SATC/Sealink Travel Group

Most commonly visited by South Australians seeking weekend escapes or summer vacations, it’s as though Mannum was made to be a getaway destination. Things to do in Mannum include a plethora of water-sports, including wakeboarding, boating, jet skiing and waterskiing, as well as a great deal of other activities. A fantastic golf course, bowling facilities and tennis courts offer plenty of opportunity for some social sports.

Meanwhile, those hoping to explore the town and its enchanting natural backdrop will be pleased to discover that canoeing and kayaking is available. A great deal of hiking paths and a bike trail cater to families and fitness fanatics, and luscious green sanctuaries teeming with wildlife welcome visitors looking to relax at the water’s edge. Mannum is a wonderful weekend getaway option for just about any kind of traveller.

A mere hour from Adelaide, Mannum is certainly not too far to travel for the night and caters perfectly for a longer getaway. What’s more, the striking change of scenery in comparison to Adelaide and its surrounding hills will blow you away, transporting you across states and into the wild.

Whether you’re looking to kick back and unwind or explore the meandering Murray River, Mannum might just be the place for your next South Australia Weekend Escape. Read on to discover everything you’ll need to know for your trip to Mannum.

Things to do in Mannum South Australia

Explore the waterfalls.

Mannum waterfalls can be found close to the town of Mannum, providing guests to the beautiful Riverland region with a great opportunity for bush walking. Moderately steep trails which follow Reedy Creek all the way up to the falls, weave past bushland, cold rocky pools and tricking waterfalls all the way. After decent rainfall in the winter months, you will find the waterfalls at their fullest and most majestic. Nature lovers will find this spot thoroughly enjoyable due to the flourishing birdlife and scenic views that you’ll encounter across the entire trail. Allow yourself 2-3 hours to fully take in the scenery here.

Pic credit: SATC/Adam Bruzzone

Drive along the Murray River

If you’re new to the Murraylands region and looking for a general overview of the unique landscape, the Murray River Scenic Cliff Drive is certainly one to tick off. Following Younghusband Road along the eastern banks of the river, this 18km drive will take you on a journey through the most dramatic scenery around. Towering orange cliffs lining the river will take your breath away, and trees growing from the river beds and protruding from the surface are enchanting. Opt for this scenic drive and explore the remarkable banks of the Murray at your own pace. Make sure to stop as often as possible to witness the striking views.

Pic credit: South Australian Tourism Commission

Play a round of golf

Serving the surrounding Murraylands region, Mannum Golf Club is a perfectly placed spot for a round of golf. People of all ages and abilities congregate here to socialise over a friendly round of golf all week. Wander the nine hole fully-greened golf course and make your way trough the tree lined fairways on a sunny day. Golf lovers will enjoy the relaxed atmosphere and luscious green views here.

Take a day trip from Mannum

One of the best things about Mannum is its convenient location. In fact, whilst Mannum is only an hour from Adelaide, it is also less than an hour from the gorgeous Barossa Valley and bustling German town of Hahndorf. Swan Reach with its friendly small-town vibes, local pub and historic village centre is also only one hour away. In other words, base yourself in Mannum for a whole week and you’ll find yourself surrounded with potential for day trips. Head out in the morning from your accommodation in Mannum , and take a wine tour, have lunch at a German bakery, or spend a day by the river in Swan Reach – the possibilities are endless!

Set off on a river cruise

When it comes to things to do in Mannum, a visit to PS Marion should be on your list. PS Marion was built in 1897 as a way to carry cargo as well as passengers along the Murray River. In 1973, the National Trust bought PS Marion, later restoring the boat to be as wonderfully grand as dazzling as it is today. Experience the mysteries of the Murray upon this historic vessel and opt for a short cruise from Mannum. There is no better way to experience the history and beauty of the region.

Pic credit: SATC/John Montesi

Star gaze like never before

With artificial light dominating the night skies across the majority of our urbanised world, you’ll be surprised to hear that only an hour out of Adelaide you can feast your eyes on perhaps one of the most impressive sights you might ever see. The Murray River and surrounding region is not only beautiful in the day – trust us. The Murraylands attracts star gazers from all over the world, due to its phenomenally dark skies . In fact, the River Murray International Dark Sky Reserve is the first of its kind in Australia; there are only fifteen places in the world which come with this impressive title. To give you a better idea, night sky darkness is measured in units from 0-22 and here in South Australia’s Murraylands region, an impressive score of 21.97 has been given. Head outside into the depths of midnight darkness during your getaway to Mannum and experience the unspoken beauty of our night sky.

Explore Hermann Gass Bird Sanctuary

Found upon the banks of the Murray River at Mannum, is the famous Hermann Gass Bird Sanctuary . Adjoining to the next-door park, this beautiful oasis boasts tranquility and plenty of local wildlife. Boardwalks with are laced throughout allow for guests to explore the wetland protected area. Also find here a number of picnic facilities where you can sit with the family for the afternoon and enjoy a peaceful lunch.

Go to a Mannum museum

Whilst there are a great deal of things to do in Mannum for kids, much of this involves the outdoors. On a hot summer’s day, traipse the family down to the Mannum Dock Museum of River History and learn about the history of life by the majestic Murray River. Information about the famous Paddle Steamer Marion as well as Aboriginal histories and stories of the Murray’s major floods can all be found here. The rich and colourful history and interactive aspects here will even entertain the kids.

Relax at Mary Ann Reserve

Relax on the banks of the Murray River at Mary Ann Reserve during your weekend getaway to Mannum and soak up the leisurely atmosphere of riverside life. If you arrive by boat, park up and watch the world go by. If you come by foot, lay down your picnic blanket or settle in for a lunchtime barbecue. Mary Ann Reserve is the best place in Mannum to watch the world go by and admire those speeding by on jet-skis or water-skis. The kids will love it here too, what with a modern playground suitable for toddlers, all the way up to the 10-year old crowd. The houseboat theme of the playground brings a creative twist too!

Go canoeing or kayaking

Is there ever a more peaceful or romantic way to explore a place than by canoe or kayak? Be at one with the water during your Weekend Escape to Mannum and glide through the wild waters of the Murray, past fabulous waterfront properties, burnt-orange river banks and towering gum trees. This is absolutely one of the best things to do in Mannum. To hire a canoe or kayak, head over to Freedom Boat Hire and start exploring!

Walk Mannum’s historic trail

Around the town itself, guests are invited to take self-guided historic walks which tell stories of the history of Mannum. Walks of different lengths are clearly marked on a map and are easy to follow. The Randell walk takes visitors on a journey through the town, exploring its German heritage, the geology of the region and the history of Aboriginal people who are the original custodians of the land here. Alternatively, the shorter Shearer walk teaches visitors about early commercialisation surrounding the River Murray and the recreation that the river brought to the local communities. Whichever you choose, you will learn something new, and if you’re an keen hiker you’ll easily cover all three walks within the day.

Cruise along the Murray Plains Cycle Trek

Another excellent way to explore the natural surroundings of Mannum is by bike. Starting in the town of Mannum, the Murray Plains Cycle Trek slowly trails through a network of rural roads all the way to Sedan. Head off from your accommodation in Mannum in the morning, and follow markers across the total 54km distance which guide you in the right direction. Pass farming settlement areas and cruise through the wonderfully quiet countryside. Throughout your journey, expect to find trickling streams, orange tree-lined tracks, creek crossings, old stone farm buildings and grassy fields filled with sheep. If you’ve not travelled with your own bike, no problem. The visitor centre in Mannum now offers bike hire.

Cafes and restaurants in Mannum

The handful of cafes and restaurants in Mannum will certainly add a dash of local hospitality to your weekend getaway. Sprinkled across the town, you’ll find eateries, as well as couple of welcoming bakeries serving up fresh breads, pastries and other delicious baked goods. One great thing about the restaurants in Mannum, is that many of them actually line the river, taking advantage of the striking river views.

At Picklemee Grandma , enjoy some wholesome homemade food in the very centre of the town. Tuck into a delicious breakfast, opt for a leisurely lunch or simply drop by for a coffee after a morning stroll. Besides tasty meals, the cafe also sells arts and crafts, showing the artistic talent of the local area.

None of us can resist the tempting aromas of a great bakery, and Randell Street Bakery is no exception. Drop by this locally famous bakery to sample some warm, flaky delights or grab a coffee (which is known locally to be of a very high standard). Alternatively, at Mannum Motel, Cafe Mannum is a wonderful spot to sit with a drink and soak up views of the mighty Murray. Breakfast, lunch and dinner is available daily, made with the freshest of local ingredients, making it one of the most popular restaurants in Mannum. What’s more, you won’t be able to resist feeling totally relaxed here, as you watch birds flying overhead and boats gliding down the river.

SA Weekend Escape’s top hotel pick!

Mannum motel.

Located only an hour from Adelaide, Mannum offers Adelaideans a fantastically convenient and relaxing Weekend Escape spot.  Looking for accommodation in Mannum? Take a look at our recommendation and take the next step in planning your weekend getaway.

Mannum Motel is a very popular choice for visits to this beautiful part of South Australia. Comfortable rooms which overlook the Murray River offer guests the ultimate Murraylands escape, whilst the casual and friendly vibes make you feel at home. A selection of different rooms, including corporate and family options invite all kinds of travellers. An excellent cafe on the ground floor is perfect for an evening glass of wine by the river, a morning coffee or a tasty meal.

Grab yourself a comfortable room at Mannum Motel and spend a relaxing weekend exploring the Murraylands region.

To get 10% off your stay at the Mannum Motel, use the code SAWE10 upon checkout!

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March Overnight Cruise

Murray River Lakes and Coorong

Three Days and two nights Departing Mannum 22nd March, cruising towards Big Bend past the stunning Walker Flat cliffs and returning to Mannum 24th March.

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Cruising the Moskva River: A short guide to boat trips in Russia’s capital

There’s hardly a better way to absorb Moscow’s atmosphere than on a ship sailing up and down the Moskva River. While complicated ticketing, loud music and chilling winds might dampen the anticipated fun, this checklist will help you to enjoy the scenic views and not fall into common tourist traps.

How to find the right boat?

There are plenty of boats and selecting the right one might be challenging. The size of the boat should be your main criteria.

Plenty of small boats cruise the Moskva River, and the most vivid one is this yellow Lay’s-branded boat. Everyone who has ever visited Moscow probably has seen it.

This option might leave a passenger disembarking partially deaf as the merciless Russian pop music blasts onboard. A free spirit, however, will find partying on such a vessel to be an unforgettable and authentic experience that’s almost a metaphor for life in modern Russia: too loud, and sometimes too welcoming. Tickets start at $13 (800 rubles) per person.

Bigger boats offer smoother sailing and tend to attract foreign visitors because of their distinct Soviet aura. Indeed, many of the older vessels must have seen better days. They are still afloat, however, and getting aboard is a unique ‘cultural’ experience. Sometimes the crew might offer lunch or dinner to passengers, but this option must be purchased with the ticket. Here is one such  option  offering dinner for $24 (1,490 rubles).

If you want to travel in style, consider Flotilla Radisson. These large, modern vessels are quite posh, with a cozy restaurant and an attentive crew at your service. Even though the selection of wines and food is modest, these vessels are still much better than other boats.

Surprisingly, the luxurious boats are priced rather modestly, and a single ticket goes for $17-$32 (1,100-2,000 rubles); also expect a reasonable restaurant bill on top.

How to buy tickets?

Women holding photos of ships promise huge discounts to “the young and beautiful,” and give personal invitations for river tours. They sound and look nice, but there’s a small catch: their ticket prices are usually more than those purchased online.

“We bought tickets from street hawkers for 900 rubles each, only to later discover that the other passengers bought their tickets twice as cheap!”  wrote  (in Russian) a disappointed Rostislav on a travel company website.

Nevertheless, buying from street hawkers has one considerable advantage: they personally escort you to the vessel so that you don’t waste time looking for the boat on your own.

Prices start at $13 (800 rubles) for one ride, and for an additional $6.5 (400 rubles) you can purchase an unlimited number of tours on the same boat on any given day.

Flotilla Radisson has official ticket offices at Gorky Park and Hotel Ukraine, but they’re often sold out.

Buying online is an option that might save some cash. Websites such as  this   offer considerable discounts for tickets sold online. On a busy Friday night an online purchase might be the only chance to get a ticket on a Flotilla Radisson boat.

This  website  (in Russian) offers multiple options for short river cruises in and around the city center, including offbeat options such as ‘disco cruises’ and ‘children cruises.’ This other  website  sells tickets online, but doesn’t have an English version. The interface is intuitive, however.

Buying tickets online has its bad points, however. The most common is confusing which pier you should go to and missing your river tour.

“I once bought tickets online to save with the discount that the website offered,” said Igor Shvarkin from Moscow. “The pier was initially marked as ‘Park Kultury,’ but when I arrived it wasn’t easy to find my boat because there were too many there. My guests had to walk a considerable distance before I finally found the vessel that accepted my tickets purchased online,” said the man.

There are two main boarding piers in the city center:  Hotel Ukraine  and  Park Kultury . Always take note of your particular berth when buying tickets online.

Where to sit onboard?

Even on a warm day, the headwind might be chilly for passengers on deck. Make sure you have warm clothes, or that the crew has blankets ready upon request.

The glass-encased hold makes the tour much more comfortable, but not at the expense of having an enjoyable experience.

Getting off the boat requires preparation as well. Ideally, you should be able to disembark on any pier along the way. In reality, passengers never know where the boat’s captain will make the next stop. Street hawkers often tell passengers in advance where they’ll be able to disembark. If you buy tickets online then you’ll have to research it yourself.

There’s a chance that the captain won’t make any stops at all and will take you back to where the tour began, which is the case with Flotilla Radisson. The safest option is to automatically expect that you’ll return to the pier where you started.

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About PS Marion

Ps marion: living australian history.

Taking full advantage of her home base on the River Murray in Mannum, the Paddle Steamer Marion, a fully restored heritage vessel built in 1897, is an integral part of the Mannum Dock Museum. Marion was recommissioned in late 1994 following her restoration by a dedicated team of volunteers who contributed many thousands of hours to this project. Being one of the last steam driven, wood fired, overnight passenger carrying side paddle steamers in the world, she stands now as a testament to their enthusiasm and dedication. PS Marion continues to be maintained and crewed by volunteers.

Being restored to the glory days of the 1940s, with guidance from the Conservation Management Plan, the Paddle Steamer Marion not only accurately portrays the era of river trading as it was, it brings life to the museum as a fully operational object of the Museum’s collection. Visitors can inspect the vessel whilst moored at Arnold Park Wharf, or elect to take an extended River Murray cruise to soak up the experience of the traditional maritime way of life.

The steamer is open to the public every day and runs passenger trips throughout the year. For information on up-coming cruises click here . It provides a unique opportunity to experience the thrills and mysteries of the golden years of the river boats and will go on doing so for many years to come.

Statistics about the PS Marion Registration – registered number 112,509 First registered in Sydney in 1900 – number 46/1900 Registration was then transferred to Adelaide in 1928 – Number 4/1928 Length – 107’11” Beam – 22’7″ Depth of Hull – 5’3″ Height from waterline to top of funnel – 30′ (note: funnel constructed to allow lowering)

Tonnage: Underdeck 104.49 tons Deckhouses 52.82 tons Gross 157.31 tons Engine and crew space 58.2 tons Nett 99.11 tons Wood Capacity 40 tons Boiler : Steel 120lbs PSI manufactured by Marshall & Sons Gainsborough Engines : Common non-condensing, semi-portable type, 2 cylinders each 11″ by 16″ stroke, spur gear drive, NHP 20, IHP 120, manufactured by Marshall & Sons, Gainsborough in 1900.

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Mannum Dock Museum of River History

Mannum Dock Discovery Centre and PS Marion – Phone: 08 8569 0814 (Museum) Email: Contact Us

Mannum Visitor Information Centre Phone: 1300 626 686 Email: Contact Us

Mannum Dock Discovery Centre 6 Randell Street, Mannum South Australia 5238

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