The holiday season is coming to an end but that doesn’t mean the adventures have to stop. This year, after a few years hiatus thanks to covid and hectic schedules, I reignited a tradition of canoeing and camping down the mighty Murray River.

The call went out before Christmas to a bunch of mates to join me on an epic four day canoe trip with ‘Murray River Canoe Hire’ and possibly the best fun a group of friends can have together.

Straight after New Years Eve, twelve people I have had the pleasure of meeting through both the NSW and Queensland coal mining industry made their way to the Hunter before setting off in a convoy bound for Albury and home of one of Australia’s most amazing experiences.

Last minute preparations gathering provisions and refreshments were completed before the friendliest of blokes you will ever meet, David of Murray River Canoe Hire, picked us up and delivered us to our starting point at the base of the Hume Weir for the start of our adventures.

After setting up our 16 foot canoes, packing our swags, Esky’s and other essentials in a blind rush, the twelve of us set off – after a detailed safety briefing from Dave of course!

It literally took about five minutes for both the uninitiated and the well-seasoned paddlers to start moaning – with utter delight!

The Murray River has a way of washing calm and tranquility instantly over you. Gently floating along with the occasional paddling there’s a constant passing parade of amazing wildlife, broken up with the odd person fishing or camping and accompanied by the song of a million Cicadas.

The first day was a magical adventure with only a few near catastrophes and a decent paddle had us past Albury on our plus 100km river adventure.

Setting up camp for the first night, the swags were rolled out, the fire lit waterside, and new and old friends with beverages in hand recounted the day like excited kids on a school excursion. A divine feast was prepared and demolished and then it was time for our resident band Zac and Matt to break into song. It’s hard to get dusty on a river, but the next morning we were exactly that!

Days two and three went much the same, perfect moment after perfect moment.

The Murray River provided the most beautiful backdrop and despite our diverse backgrounds, lifelong friendships began to form as they experience brought us together.

This is a must do adventure and you only need the most basic level of fitness. While the stunning and calm setting will take your breath away, it can be dangerous if you don’t take care and follow safety precautions, so I highly recommend hiring an expert like Dave to ensure you not only make it safe and sound, but have a fantastic time while you do it.

He’s also there to take care of all the fiddly bits so you can spend more time relaxing. From collecting items that we lost or forgot on the way, taking care of all the transportation at the beginning and the end of the journey and not to mention having the best gear and canoes around. He’s also been doing this for years and knows a wealth of fascinating information about the Murray.

To say the trip left the group with fond memories is a total understatement and the only feedback we had for Dave was… See you next year!

https://murrayrivercanoehire.com.au