The top 10 great Australian boat trips

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This was published 6 years ago

The top 10 great Australian boat trips

By David Whitley
Aerial view of the Horizontal Waterfalls, Talbot Bay.

Aerial view of the Horizontal Waterfalls, Talbot Bay.

1 THE JUMPING CROC CRUISES, ADELAIDE RIVER, NT

The difference between cruising and going on a boat trip is partly about duration, but it's much more about what you can get close to. And on the Top End's Adelaide River, that is terrifyingly massive crocs, jumping out of the water. It's a natural behaviour – they do it to catch birds on overhanging branches – but the boat operators here dangle meat for them. And there's no way, once you see the crocs jump, that you want to dangle an arm over the side. See jumpingcrocodile.com.au

The waters of the Coorong are a haven for birds such as the great egret.

The waters of the Coorong are a haven for birds such as the great egret.

2 THE RIVERBOAT POSTMAN, HAWKESBURY RIVER, NSW

The Hawkesbury cuts a craggy swathe through the landscape, and for much of its path, there's nothing but forest on the banks. But a few hardy souls live there, getting to and from civilisation by boat. And these people get post and parcels courtesy of the Riverboat Postman, which has hit upon the ingenious idea of combining a mail run with a tourist cruise. So while the on-board commentary tells stories of the Hawkesbury's heritage, the posties are making deliveries at every wharf. See riverboatpostman.com.au

3 WILDLIFE COAST CRUISES, PHILLIP ISLAND, VIC

There's a lot more to Phillip Island than the penguins, and other highlights are best seen from the water. The three-hour Island Discovery Tour takes in top-notch beaches you'd not discover otherwise, the blowhole at the Nobbies and plenty of weird, precarious rock formations. Then come the honking, in-fighting and downright smelly seals. See wildlifecoastcruises.com.au

4 THE WOW WILDERNESS CRUISE, WALPOLE, WA

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With a similar nature slant, this boat trip heads down the Walpole-Nornalup Inlet towards the ocean and some spectacularly moody beaches. The difference here, though, is the tour guide. Bare-footed Gary Muir weaves a bewilderingly complex shaggy dog story together, incorporating everything that's ever happened in Walpole, somehow bringing in connections to the likes of Lawrence of Arabia, Ted Heath and Alfred Russell Wallace. See wowwilderness.com.au

5 THE NITMILUK GORGE CRUISE, NT

It's not quite the Grand Canyon, but the Nitmiluk Gorges (aka Katherine Gorge) offer up a more than passable Aussie take, with steepling sandstone walls rising on either side of the boat. The landscape oozes ancientness, and the further in you head, the bigger the drama. The three gorge cruise involves switching boats, and some pretty impressive lookouts on the way. See nitmiluktours.com.au

6 HORIZONTAL FALLS ADVENTURES, THE KIMBERLEY, WA

The tides are so huge in the Kimberley that they can create some funny effects. And when they pass through a narrow channel, they essentially turn it into a waterfall running sideways. The only way to take on this natural wonder is on a fast boat, which gamely battles through before a more sedate exploration of the coast's pristine bays and creeks. See horizontalfallsadventures.com.au

7 SYDNEY BY SAIL, SYDNEY, NSW

There are yachts all over Sydney Harbour for a very good reason. It's spectacular, and when there's a whiff of wind there are few better ways to kill a few hours. Sydney By Sail offers a harbour cruise with a difference, on board a fully-rigged yacht. You can help out and learn a few moves as you sail beneath the bridge if you like, or sit back and let the crew do the hard work. See sydneybysail.com

8 CRUISE THE COORONG, GOOLWA, SA

The languid waters of the Coorong are a haven for birds – and bird-watchers. But Cruise The Coorong is not just for twitchers stalking migratory waders. The full-day trip takes in Lake Alexandrina and the mouth of the Murray River, moors up for two guided walks and throws in a spot of digging for pipis. See cruisethecoorong.com.au

9 NOOSA EVERGLADES DISCOVERY CRUISE, NOOSA, QLD

Heading deep into the Cooloola National Park along the Noosa River, this voyage into the wild starts with cheeky pelicans perched on other boats, then moves on to osprey nests and rudimentary camp sites once used by loggers. Birdlife, lakes and thick forest become the name of the game, although the overall vibe is of blissful passage into nature. See thediscoverygroup.com.au

10 MURRAY RIVER PADDLESTEAMERS, ECHUCA, VIC

No Australian boat trip evokes the past like a paddlesteamer cruise on the Mighty Murray. Echuca was once a hugely important port, with wool brought down on paddlesteamers then taken to Melbourne by rail. The remaining steamers are now used for pleasure cruises from Echuca's remarkable, and gigantic, wooden wharf. The amiable chugs along the river sometimes include a meal, but always include spectacular river red gums lining the banks. See murrayriverpaddlesteamers.com.au

David Whitley has travelled as a guest of the state tourist boards and Tourism Australia.

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