Port Goolwa, South Australia
Port Goolwa, South Australia
Port Goolwa played a very important role in the early development of the young colony of South Australia. As the areas near River Murray were settled in the 1840s and 1850s, paddleboats started trading up and down the Murray-Darling river system.
They would travel upstream with supplies for the farmers and graziers along the rivers. They would then bring back items produced in these farmlands, mainly wheat and wool. Port Goolwa became, for a few decades, one of the busiest ports in Australia.
A railway was built to Port Elliot and goods transferred to ocean going ships. Some paddlesteamer captains braved the treacherous and ever shifting sands at the mouth of the River Murray just a few kilometres from Goolwa.
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A cruise on the River Murray
1 Comment »18th January, 2007; Category: Murray River
Here it is well into January and I forgot to wish every one who reads this blog a Happy New Year. I hope that you have had a great start to the new year. I hope you enjoy many wonderful journeys and visit many wonderful places.
This time last year I was in Nepal and had just finished trekking the Himalayas and exploring exciting Kathmandu. Over coming weeks I will share more about my exciting time in Kathmandu, including many more photos of that incredible city. In the meantime – go to the archives or the categories section of this blog as I’ve already written extensively about my experiences.
Last New Year’s Eve (2005) I was trying to get some sleep during the brief fireworks in Bangkok. I had an early plane to catch to Kathmandu and couldn’t stay up for the celebrations.
This most recent New Year’s Eve was quite different. My wife and I were invited to join about 50 others – many we knew – on a dinner cruise on the nearby River Murray. The food was great, the company wonderful and drifting slowly along the river so relaxing.
The age of the people on board was on the high side; most were retirees. This was graphically illustrated when the hour reached mid-night; we all gave a few cheers and almost everyone disembarked immediately and drove home to bed. We must be getting on in years. Late nights take a toll on us.
Cruising on the River Murray
Captain Proud at Swanport Reserve Murray Bridge
A major focus for visitors to my home town of Murray Bridge is the River Murray. As it is Australia’s largest river most tourists inevitably head for the the river for a significant part of their holiday in the region. There are so many ways to have a really relaxing time near or on the river, including:
- picnics
- fishing
- canoeing
- boating
- water skiing
- sailing (yes -there is a sailing club here)
- restaurant boats
- cruise boats
- house boat cruises
- birdwatching
- photography
- walking trails
Picnics
Even though I live in Murray Bridge, I have enjoyed many of the above activities. My wife and I often take a picnic lunch, or buy lunch from our favourite local bakery to take down to the river reserve to enjoy the peaceful river environment. It has been many years since we last tried to catch fish, but many people do enjoy this relaxing pastime. Our favourite canoeing spot is near the Swanport Reserve. Birdwatching and photography have also been a favourite activity for me (see my birding blog here).
Sailing and Canoeing
I have only tried sailing on the river once. This was near Swanport Reserve just south of the town where the river has a long straight stretch of water over 100 metres wide. It was on a two person, twin-hulled catamaran. This proved to be an exhilarating experience heightened somewhat by the timidity of my sailing partner for the afternoon. Both of us were first-timers yet we managed to keep the craft upright and did not suffer the indignity of a dunking. Years ago we also canoed several times in this part of the river.
River Cruises
These days one has a choice of several different ways to cruise the river in larger boats. House boating is very popular with visitors but I have only ever been on one, and only then for an hour or so, not to sleep on board. I have been on several cruise boats. These cruises can extend from an hour or two to a whole day and several even have weekend or week long cruises. I’ve been on several of the shorter trips and these are always very relaxing with great food and a wonderful platform to experience a different perspective of the river environs, including the bird life.
Noisy Miner at Swanport Reserve
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The Bunyip, Murray Bridge
7 Comments »24th June, 2006; Category: Murray River
Murray Bridge has a few claims to fame. For example, the first bridge over the River Murray was opened in 1879. The local rowing eights team, the Cods, represented Australia in the 1924 Paris Olympics. There is one claim to fame, however, that usually goes unnoticed by many.
The only captive bunyip is on display at Sturt Reserve on the river bank near the CBD. It lives in a specially constructed watery cave near the playground. Little is known about the habits of this mythical creature, and until a few years ago it was not known whether we had a male of female. That debate was laid to rest when a baby mysteriously appeared.
Now I don’t have a photo of this amazing animal and its offspring. It is quite easy to get to see them but it does require a small sacrifice. On placing a coin in the appropriate slot one is treated to quite a performance. I’m not sure that taking a photo is the right thing to do – it might just take offence and grab the camera from my grasp. It’s not worth the risk.
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If you are interested in finding out more about this wonderful creature go to these special pages:
- Bunyips – enter the lair of the bunyip if you dare – stories, photos, pictures, games and other interactive stuff.
So the next time you visit Murray Bridge, pay a visit to the Bunyip and her little one – if you dare!
Swanport Reserve, Murray Bridge
Picnic at Swanport Reserve, Murray Bridge
We are fortunate here in Murray Bridge to have a number of delightful parks and reserves to enjoy. One of my favourites is Swanport Reserve about 5km south of the CBD. This reserve is right next to the River Murray (in the background of the above photo) and provides a safe lawned area for the children to play, plenty of shady trees for those warmer days and a safe beach for swimming. One section of the beach is reserved for fishing.
Abundant bird life
This reserve is just downstream from the Swanport Bridge which was opened in 1979. It is also opposite the Swanport Wetlands, a haven for water birds. One of the things I like about having picnics at this reserve is for the bird life. Pelicans, cormorants, swamphens, moorhens, swallows, terns, gulls abound, while in the gum trees (eucalypts) of the picnic grounds one can see Peaceful Doves, honeyeaters, Magpies, Magpie Larks, parrots and kingfishers. In nearby bushes I have sometimes been lucky and seen some Superb Blue Wrens, the bright blue of the males shining brilliantly in the Australian sunshine. More often than not I only hear them.
For more about birds check out my birding blog (click here)
River traffic
One of the relaxing aspects of spending a relaxing few hours at this reserve is the passing river traffic. On any given day there are fishing boats, speed boats towing water-skiers, canoes, small yachts,houseboats and large tourist boats, like the one shown in the photo below.
Boat on the River Murray at Swanport Reserve