The kookaburra sat in the old gum tree. Watching, waiting.
Before long, he swooped down and in the blink of an eye retrieved his prey, a small yabby, and returned to his perch.
It was a classic Australian moment, captured from the balcony level of our executive houseboat on the banks of the mighty Murray River – just one of many highlights during four nights of luxury living on one of the world’s most famous rivers.
Less than three hours from Melbourne, houseboat cruising on the Murray is an inexpensive way to combine Australiana with water sports and adventure.
Our trip began on a Sunday with a night spent on land in a three-bedroom villa by the river at the wondrous Moama on Murray Resort.
There were ample sleeping arrangements for our party of six with room to spare.
The modern resort sits on 52 hectares of tranquil surroundings offering peace and quiet – or excitement and adventure – with a range of facilities and activities available.
Moama boasts plenty of attractions for both adults and children, including pools, tennis courts, barbecue facilities, Jurassic Water Park for the kids and mini-golf.
But the best came the next day as we boarded the two-level houseboat to begin our journey up the river.
The boat we boarded is one of two large watercraft built on steel pontoons. The windows are tinted and inside is fitted out like a modern luxury unit.
It boasts four bedrooms and two bathrooms, both situated on the first level behind the helm.
Past the bedrooms, the boat opens up to a huge, fully equipped kitchen, dining and lounge area which has one of two flat screen televisions on board. Level one, including all bedrooms, is fully air-conditioned, which was a blessing for us as the temperature soared between 38 to 41 degrees during our stay.
There is also a double foldout couch located in the helm area to comfortably cater for 10 people on board.
But it is the upper deck where most of the fun is had.
The centrepiece is an eight-person spa, four-burner barbecue and kitchenette including sink and bar fridge. The 106-centimetre television can be viewed from the spa, while there is also an all-in-one DVD, CD and iPod dock with built-in sound system.
Guests can relax on the sun lounges or comfortable outdoor furniture. A washing machine and ironing facilities are included.
After a short induction and driving lesson, we set off upstream on our voyage of discovery.
We chose to holiday once school had returned.
It was a wise choice as traffic on the river was greatly reduced, giving us more opportunities to find suitable beach areas to land and tie off the boat.
Mooring places are limited as most of the suitable locations on the New South Wales side of the river are privately owned and access is restricted. Victoria, however, has a 60-metre crown reserve along the edge of the Murray, allowing greater choice for pulling up and mooring.
High points of the trip came each evening as the sun went down.
The changing hue of the Murray at sunset is an experience in itself. Soon after, you can lie on the deck lounges and gaze skyward, taking in the millions of bright stars and listening to the unique sounds of the Australian bush.
A holiday on such a houseboat is really a collision between luxury living and basic Australiana.
During our four nights on the boat, there was plenty of time to try to catch a Murray cod off the landing platform. Unfortunately, we came up short.
We watched as water skiers zoomed past, landing a few tricks over their boat’s wake as they went.
A number of us took the chance to use the river’s strong current to float down stream, while others went for a run or walk along the banks of the river.
There’s plenty of opportunity to disembark and enjoy land-based activities, but the boat is so spacious and self-contained that it’s easy to stay on board throughout your journey.
As the week progressed, we took the opportunity to cruise the river and find new beach areas to explore and settle in for the evening.
We shared the cost of the trip between four families, so it cost less than $650 per couple for a four-night luxury cruise along one of Australia’s most iconic destinations.
Prices vary according to seasons and events, but you can choose between three, four or seven-night cruises.
Spreading the cost across families makes it a cost-effective way to enjoy memories that will last a lifetime.
