7 Day Holiday Package River Cruising along the Murray

From Melbourne and Country Victoria From: $1435pp twin double! Travel to Adelaide with VLine’s Daylink or travel by air!

This fabulous cruise holiday includes:

*Great travel connections from Melbourne and Victorian Country Centres *All transfers and excellent accommodation in Adelaide provided. *Fabulous 5 day cruise on the Murray Princess Cruise Ship. *All meals during the cruise, an exciting selection of shore-side tours. *Guided nature walks & eco-excursions, on board presentations. *Captain’s Dinner and cocktail party. *Live entertainment and 24hour self-service tea & coffee bar. Regular Sunday departures throughout the year. Travel on the Daylink V/Line Coach and Rail or fly direct from Melbourne

Seniors and pensioners save using your V/Line travel concession!

Call our holiday booking hotline for all details

Day 1. Sunday Travel to Adelaide Vline Daylink or Air This morning passengers joining our Murray River cruise holiday will board V/Lines Daylink service which begins by rail, departing the station at 8.36am. The Daylink Rail and Coach service provides excellent transport to Adelaide via many Victorian Country Centres. The train arrives in Bendigo at 10.50am and refreshments are available to purchase on the train. On arrival in Bendigo passengers are transferred to connecting V/Line coach and continue to Adelaide, arriving at 7.20pm at the Central Bus station. On arrival tour passengers will be met and transferred by private limousine to centrally situated Mercure Grosvenor Hotel for an overnight stay. Passengers flying from Melbourne will be booked to fly arriving in Adelaide early afternoon. On arrival you will be picked up from the airport by chauffeured car and transferred to your hotel. Overnight: Mercure Grosvenor Hotel Day 2. Monday Free time in Adelaide – Transfers to Murray Princess (B,L,D) After breakfast at the hotel you have time to enjoy a stroll around Adelaide’s Central shopping mall or the beautiful parklands nearby. You may wish to cross the footbridge across from the hotel to see the new highly acclaimed Adelaide Oval. Today a light lunch will be provided at your hotel, the Mercure Grosvenor prior to your transfer coach departing your hotel at 2pm for your trip through the Adelaide Hills to the old river port of Mannum. We board our cruise ship the paddle wheeler P.S Murray Princess. Once settling into your suite relax as the paddle boat cruises up the mighty Murray River allowing you to enjoy predinner drinks and a welcome aboard dinner. During the evening the Murray River boat will cruise under floodlight to an overnight mooring at Caurnamont. Keep your eyes peeled on the Murray River bank as you may see nocturnal wildlife including grey kangaroos, hair-nosed wombats, Murray River long-necked tortoises and spoon-beaked echidnas. Settle in for a night's entertainment by an on-board entertainer who will provide music for those of you who wish a late night. Overnight: Murray Princess Day 3. Tuesday Cruising the Murray and Winery visit and Tasting (B, L, D) Daybreak comes on the Murray River and time for the keen photographers to be out to capture the special light and the morning movement of wildlife. Prolific bird life can be seen from the decks of the P.S. Murray Princes and includes pelicans, blue wrens and black swans. After breakfast it's time to cruise the Murray River again, this time the paddle steamer will cruise upstream to Blanchetown, through one of 13 locks which maintain the flow of the Murray River and levels of water. Shortly the river boat will reach Salter's Station for overnight anchorage. This evening, as the last rays of the sun fade, you can join one of expert guides for a tour of Burk Salter’s vineyard on the banks of the Murray River, there is even time for a little wine tasting at the cellar door. Tonight enjoy all the fun and excitement of the Murray River Cup on board the P.S. Murray Princess. Overnight: Murray Princess

Day 4. Wednesday Spectacular Sound and Light show & Great Aussie BBQ (B,L,D) After breakfast join a guide for a walk along the eco-sensitive wetlands of Salter's Station on the banks of the Murray River Australia. Back on board the paddle steamer will cruise down the Murray River, after lunch many passengers enjoy an afternoon nap, watch the Australian landscape slide by, or enjoy a lifestyle and info-cruising presentation. During the afternoon your Murray River cruise will arrive at Sunnydale, here it's all ashore for the Woolshed Sound & Light Show that recreates typical Australian woolshed history. Later that day a visit is made to the Native Wildlife Shelter where some of South Australia’s most interesting native animals are cared for. That evening your chefs will prepare a great Aussie Barbecue cooked and served in a bush setting on the banks of the mighty Murray River Australia. After dinner you will be treated to a nocturnal eco-tour by tractor and cart. Overnight: Murray Princess Day 5. Thursday Aboriginal Archaeological Sites and Captains Dinner (B,L,D) After breakfast the P.S. Murray Princess slowly cruises downstream along the mighty Murray River past magnificent cliffs scoured by the Murray River over millions of years. The next stop for the paddle boat is Ngaut Ngaut Aboriginal Reserve, one of Australia’s most significant archaeological sites. Take a step back in time tens of thousands of years and join a knowledgeable guide for a boardwalk view of ancient rock carvings and learn about aboriginal history in the area. Back on board the paddle steamer the boat will cruise down the Murray River to Younghusband. Along the way, adventure seekers can also take a speed boat ride. The P.S. Murray Princess will cruise past large billabongs, open expanses of water and cliffs amazingly high. Tonight the Captain and his officers host a spectacular farewell dinner on board the Murray Princess. Overnight: Murray Princess Day 6. Friday Return Adelaide (B) This morning the P.S. Murray Princess arrives at Mannum where all new friends and crew reluctantly say farewell after breakfast on board. We are then transferred by coach returning to Adelaide and transfer you to your hotel accommodation at midday. Free time this evening. Overnight: Mercure Grosvenor, Adelaide Day 7. Saturday (B) After an early breakfast passengers will be picked up by chauffeured car and transferred to Central Bus Station to board the Daylink Coach for travel back to Victoria. The coach departs at 7.15am and again travels through the Western Victorian countryside to Bendigo. On arrival in Bendigo passengers transfer to the V/Line train to travel via Castlemaine, Woodland and Footscray arriving back into Southern Cross Railway Station at 7.26pm. Passengers returning by air will be picked up during the morning and transferred to Adelaide airport by chauffeured car to board their flight back to Melbourne, arriving early to midafternoon.

A word about connections from Melbourne and Country Victoria. The V/Line Daylink service provides convenient and ideal connections for our great cruising holiday. Victorian Seniors and Pensioners receive special concessions on the service and transfers are provided to and from your hotel and the Murray Princess. The timetable below provides boarding times that are available for passengers travelling on the tour from Melbourne and Regional Centres.

Summer Sun Special Package Offer January – February 2016 Save on our cruise with our special summer sun saver during January – February 2016. Total packages with transfers and pre & post accommodation included from Melbourne & country Victoria to Adelaide with Daylink. 7 day package from Victoria with V/Line DayLink Inside Cabin Outside Cabin $1435 per person, twin share $1790 per person, twin share *Please note this fare DOES NOT include your Daylink Rail/Coach fare

Passengers please note: For your convenience we have not included your V/Line Daylink travel arrangements and cost in our packaged fare. Please arrange your connecting Daylink rail/coach travel to Adelaide from your most convenient booking office or railway station. This will mean you can take advantage of your normal V/Line travel concessions. Please ask your consultant for any details. All connections and transfers are included in our fare upon arrival in Adelaide.

7 day package price which includes your airfares from Melbourne Inside Cabin Outside Cabin $1745 per person, twin share $2100 per person, twin share *Please note this fare DOES include your return airfare Melbourne to Adelaide

Inclusions of this great package: *Chauffeured car transfer on arrival in Adelaide to your hotel. *Pre cruise night accommodation at the Mercure Grosvenor Hotel including buffet breakfast on the following morning. *Light lunch served at the hotel prior to transferring to Mannum and the Murray Princess Cruise. *5 day, 4 night Murray Princess Cruise. *Coach transfer Mannum to the Mercure Grosvenor Hotel for your post cruise accommodation. *Buffet Breakfast and Chauffeured car transfer to your departure point.

Normal fares once summer special is sold out Package with V/Line Inside Cabin $1,785 per person, twin share

Outside Cabin $2,250 per person, twin share

Package with air Inside Cabin $2,095 per person, twin share

Outside Cabin $2,560 per person, twin share

BOOKING CONDITONS: Bookings:- A $300 per person deposit is required within 7 days of booking. For passengers travelling by air a deposit of $700 per person is required due to instant purchase airfares. Full balance is due no later than 60 days prior to departure. For bookings made within 60 days of departure full payment is due within 48 hours. For passengers aged 75 years or over: It is a requirement for travel on this cruise to provide a letter from your Medical Practitioner confirming your fitness for travel due to limited medical facilities in some areas. Fares:- All fares are quoted in Australian Dollars. Fares include transport, entrance fees & cruise fares as per itinerary plus services of a driver/guide. Cruise special is at the discretion of the cruise company. Special Summer Sun fares subject to availability & valid for travel January-February 2016. If this is unavailable the normal fare will apply. The Murray River Cruise includes food and accommodation while on board. The fare does not include Gratuities, Drinks, Wines, Liquors, Gift Shop purchases, Shore excursions, miscellaneous extras or other personal needs or medical care. Payment for all additional goods and services must be made in cash or by credit card upon demand by the Carrier prior to the passenger’s disembarkation. Holiday Wonders advise we can accept credit card payments for our tours, however a 1.5% credit card fee, (3% for American Express/Diners) applies. Single Supplement: Inside cabin – $395 and Outside cabin - $475 (Based on summer sun special) Accommodation: - Accommodation is based on twin share. Double bedded cabins are available at an additional cost of $250 for the cruise. Single rooms are available on request and a single supplement is payable at time of booking. Mercure Grosvenor- high season rates may apply depending on your travel time. Cancellations: Cancellation penalties apply and are as follows: For cancellation greater than and including 60 days of departure - $150 per person handling fee will be charged. For cancellation within 60 days of departure - 50% of fare will be charged. For cancellation within 30 days of departure - full fare will be charged Travel Insurance: We strongly recommend that passengers purchase travel insurance. All itineraries and costings are subject to change without notice. Government regulations prohibit smoking on board coaches within Australia. Ample comfort stops are provided en route. When booking please advise your consultant if you have any special requirements you would like to be provided. This includes special dietary requirements and if you require any assistance with mobility. In some cases you may require a suitable travelling companion to provide assistance. All special dietary requests will be forwarded to pre booked meal providers on tour. Please ensure your main luggage does not exceed 20kgs in weight. An overnight bag of up to 8kgs may be taken on board in addition to your suitcase. Passengers are required to alternate seating on the coach through the duration of the tour. Please note- groups travelling together may be able to arrange a special pick up and drop off arrangements on some tours. All itineraries and costings are subject to change without notice.