The Murray River in a Tinny
Relaxed private tinny tours on the Murray River in South Australia's beautiful Riverland, about two hours from Adelaide. Tours departing from Waikerie and Berri.
Tinny hire
Make the Murray your own adventure. Hire a tinny for a self-guided journey through the Riverland, travelling at your own pace between river towns, quiet backwaters and places you will never see from the road. Spend your days exploring and your evenings by the river. We can help you plan a route that suits your time and experience.
Full day $300. Multi day hire - up to seven days.
Meet The Team
“The Murray has been part of our lives for as long as we can remember”
Justin grew up in the Riverland, boating, skiing, fishing, rowing, swimming and exploring the river with family and friends. Cathy has her own long history here. We started Murray River Tinny Tours to show people what we love about the river: the birdlife, the quiet creeks and backwaters, and the stories of the towns along it.
Tour Highlights
The River Behind the River
Houseboats and paddle steamers keep to the main channel. A small tinny slips off it into narrow creeks, still backwaters and wetlands like Toolunka Creek, Maize Island and Gurra Gurra. Back here the water goes glassy, the birdlife carries on around you, and you’ll see a side of the Murray most visitors never reach. Guests are often surprised by how quiet it is.
A Tour Shaped Around You
Every tour is private, so it’s just you, up to three others, and Justin at the tiller. Nobody’s working through a script on a fixed timetable. Want to linger with the pelicans, chase the best light for photos, hear more about the old river towns, or just pull up on a sandbank to soak it all in? The trip bends around what you’re most curious about, at whatever pace suits you.
The Best of the Murray
Out on the water, the Riverland shows you its best side. Golden limestone cliffs rise straight out of the river, glowing at sunrise and sunset. Big old river red gums lean out over the banks, and quiet creeks and backwaters wind away from the main channel into wetlands full of life. Pelicans glide low across the water, swans drift along the edges and birds of prey circle the clifftops. All you need to do is sit back and take it in.
Stories along the river
The Murray built this region. Justin shares the history as you go: early settlement at Holder, the irrigation that turned the Riverland into orchards and vineyards, the locks, the river trade and the towns that grew up on the banks. You’ll see grain silos on the clifftops and citrus groves running down to the water.
Where we're located
We’re in South Australia’s Riverland, about two hours east of Adelaide along the Sturt Highway. Tours leave from the riverfront at Waikerie and Berri, so it’s an easy day trip or the perfect stop on a weekend away. It’s a region of citrus orchards, vineyards and golden limestone cliffs, with the Murray winding through the middle and internationally recognised wetlands along its banks.
Booking Your Trip
Ready to experience the Murray like a local?
Step 1
Pick your Tour
A guided tour with Justin, or a self-drive hire tinny at your own pace.
Step 2
Book or enquire
Use our booking form to secure your spot. Questions? Feel free to reach out via phone, email or contact form.
Step 3
Meet us on the river
Justin will be waiting at the riverfront in Waikerie or Berri with the tinny ready and a lifejacket for everyone. After a quick safety chat and a few hellos, you’re off onto the Murray.