A Stay at the Julie Fay (Murtho, South Australia)

Staying in a paddle boat was the bucket list experience I didn’t know I needed.

I was driving back from Whyalla with a friend, after the most amazing experience diving with the Giant Cuttlefish.

We drove the 5.5 hours in the direction home to stay on a private vintage paddle boat in the Murray River. It’s a 5 minute drive from Paringa which is a small riverside town that’s also worth exploring. If you’re a wine connesuier, Paringa Estate wines are also conveniently nearby.

When people say “nestled in nature”, this is actually what they’re talking about. You can watch the birds flying up and down the river, listen to the frogs, watch the stars uninterrupted by light pollution. The hosts even offer kayaks so you can get out and paddle up and down the river.

It’s way cheaper than hiring a houseboat and you still have your car to explore the sights (6kms to the famous boutique Woolshed Brewery and 3kms to a stunning clifftop lookout), and treat yourself at any of the wonderful local restaurants.

You can read more about what’s available and book your stay here: https://canoetheriverland.com/ps-julie-fay-bnb/.

Note: you can book a stay on AirBnB but I always prefer to book directly to provide maximum support to locals where possible.

I’d love to hear about your stay here, or any other unique places, in the comments below!