Hiring a houseboat is the quintessential Riverland holiday. Here's what to expect when you take the helm for the first time.
Anyone can drive one
The single most common question about Riverland houseboats is whether you need a licence. You don't. Operators run you through the controls before you cast off, and the river moves slowly enough that piloting a houseboat is well within reach of complete beginners. Within an hour you'll feel like you've been doing it for years.
How a houseboat holiday works
You collect the boat — fully fitted with kitchen, beds, bathroom and deck — provision it in town, and head off at your own pace. Each night you nose into the bank, tie off to a sturdy red gum and you're home. Swim off the back deck, drop a line for callop, light the barbecue and watch the stars come out.
A few tips for first-timers
Moor up well before dark, allow plenty of time to work through any locks, and don't try to cover too much river. The whole point is to go slowly. The upper reaches around Renmark and Paringa, close to the Murtho cliffs and Chowilla, offer the most dramatic scenery for a first trip.
