19th cruise - Mannum conference, tours and 4 night cruise

Overview  |  Adelaide  |  Mannum   | Kangaroo Island

Overview - cruise - conference - tour package

A comprehensive conference, tour and cruise package - do any one, two or three components

This has been developed on three locations around a 4 night cruise on the Mannum based Murray Princess (our 19th Unlock the Past cruise).

ADELAIDE - 2 conference days Wed 20 and Fri 22 Aug, with Thu 21 Aug as a free day for research or tourist activities. Click here for further details on the Adelaide program.

MANNUM - 2 days Sat 23 to Mon 25 Aug 2025 PLUS the cruise - BOOKINGS NOW OPEN
Two days in Mannum to explore its history and share in some pre-cruise activities, including 4 conference sessions.
See below for more details on the Mannum component, including the 4 night cruise.

KANGAROO ISLAND -  an optional 2 day add on tour (after the cruise) Sat 30 and Sun 31 Aug 2025. Bookings will be separate - from mid Aug 2024. Click here for more details on the Kangaroo Island tour.
 

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Mannum - conference and tours - cruise details further down this page

BOOK the cruise and Mannum component now

 Book early to be sure of a place

ADELAIDE to MANNUM - coach transfer and tour - Sat 23 Aug 2025

• 8.30 am Depart Adelaide approx. 8.30am
• 9.30am-11.30am - Gumeracha - morning tea at the Big Rocking Horse and brief visits to Kenton Park (Randell home c. 1843) and Randell's Mill, places significant for the beginning of the Murray River steamboat era
• 11.45am - 2.15pm - Birdwood approx. lunch and visit to the National Motor museum
• 3pm - arrive Mannum - check into accommodation and then free time until 6pm to explore and plan tourist activities at Mannum. We recommend you start with a visit to the nearby Mannum Visitor Information Centre and Dock Museum
  
• NOTE: Morning tea and lunch is not included in the cost

AT MANNUM - the birthplace of Murray steam navigation - Sat 23 to Mon 25 Aug 2025

details & times provisional - subject to change. Conference topics and speakers to be advised

Saturday 23 Aug

• 3pm - arrive Mannum approx 3pm - check into accommodation
• 6pm - dinner at Mannum Motel (or other restaurant if you prefer)
• 7.30pm-8.30pm - conference session (at Mannum Motel)

Sunday 24 Aug

• 7.30am-8.30am breakfast (at Mannum Motel - or alternative if you prefer)
• 9am-10am - conference session (at Mannum Motel)
• 10am-12noon - free / tourist time
• 12noon - lunch at Mannum Club (or any other cafe or restaurant of your choice)
• 2.30pm-6pm - free / tourist time
• 6pm - dinner at Mannum Club (or other restaurant if you prefer)
• 7.30pm-8.30pm - conference session (at Mannum Club)

Monday 25 Aug

• 7.30am-8.30am breakfast (at Mannum Motel - or alternative if you prefer)
• 9am-10am - conference session (at Mannum Motel)
• 10am-12noon - free / tourist time
• 12noon - lunch at Mannum Club (or other cafe or restaurant of your choice)
• 2pm -3pm - go to Mary Ann Reserve to board Murray Princess
• 4.30pm - cruise departs

FREE / TOURIST TIME between 4 or 5 conference sessions for tourist activities at Mannum

• Mannum Discovery Centre
• historic walks - Randell, Arnold and Shearer walks
• 1.5 hr short cruise on PW Mayflower - Tea/Coffee and bar facilities are available on board and the Captain will provide a commentary. If enough are interested (capacity 25) we may be able to book the Mayflower exclusively for our group, probably at 1pm on the Sunday
• Mannum Dock Museum of river history - at Mannum Discovery Centre
• PS Marion Museum - at Mannum Discovery Centre
• Mannum & District History Association rooms
• visit (and picnic on) the Mary Ann Reserve and check out the Murray Princess after it arrives on Monday morning. Check out the boiler of the Mary Ann, the first paddlesteamer on the Murray. It was built and operated by William Richard Randell, first steam navigator on the Murray and Mannum Pioneer.
  ... and more.

ACCOMMODATION - (not included in Mannum cost - you need to book this yourself)
We have reserved the Mannum Motel for our group (for a limited time), but you are free to book other places to stay. 

• Mannum Motel - Our main base in Mannum for accommodation and some dining and conference sessions (you are free to book any other place to stay and use any other food and drink options. Room types available (special rates for our group to come)
• standard rooms
• family rooms - a regular motel room (with beds) and a separate bedroom, giving separate sleeping space for those willing to share in this way
• 4 bedroom house (with self catering) 3 bedroom upstairs and one on the ground floor
• 5 bedroom holiday home (with self catering) - in the main street (not far from the motel itself)
• Breeze Holiday Park - a good alternative with 2 and 3 bedroom cabins if you want to share with others and self cater. Located over the road from the Mannum Motel
• Harbour Mannum - 4 units

FOOD & DRINK - (not included in Mannum cost)
Numerous options

• Mannum Motel - has restaurant for breakfast and dinner and conference room (venue for some conference sessions)
  
• Mannum Club - a recommended option for lunch and dinner (venue for some conference sessions)
• Pretoria Hotel - lunch and dinner
• Randell Street Bakery - has indoor and outdoor seating
• Lovells Bakery on the Murray - has indoor and outdoor seating
• Rustic Country cafe
• Mannum Takeaway
  
• More food and drink places
• Mannum Green IGA supermarket - supplies if self catering for some/all meals

NOTE .., more information to come on the Mannum days - including a map showing locations of accommodation, conference venues, dining and other places of interest

MANNUM to ADELAIDE - bus transfer and tour - Fri 29 Aug 2025

• 9.45am depart Mannum
• 10.30am Monarto Safari Park, the newest and largest open range zoo in Australia
• 10.30am - morning tea on arrival
• 11.00 am - 2 hour hosted Safari View Tour
• 1pm - lunch after tour
• NOTE: Morning tea and lunch is not included in the cost
• 1.45pm - depart Monarto Safari Park
• 2.30pm - Historic German town of Hahndorf 
• explore the main street
• afternoon tea at one of the numerous cafes
• 3.30pm - depart Hahndorf
• 4.00pm - arrive Adelaide

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The cruise

The cruise is the 4 Night Murray River Outback Heritage Cruise - Visit the website for full details

The Murray Princess is the largest inland paddlewheeler to ever operate on the Murray and the largest in the southern hemisphere. It has 60 cabins, accommodating up 120 people (two to a cabin). However this cruise is open to the general public - not exclusive to our group. Learn more about the Murray Princess. See deck plans.

Being together for the 10 cruise/conference days and nights gives plenty of opportunity to interact with experts and others with similar interests. One of the great things about genealogy cruises and conferences.

COST

There are two components to this

• coach transfers to/from Mannum AND the conference at Mannum - $175
  NOTE: this does not include accommodation or meals at Mannum
• cruise - this is variable, depending on the cabin you book (see below) and whether shared or your sole use

4 night cruise only cost

Note these prices (inside and outside cabins) are for rooms with twin beds. If you require a room with a queen bed the price is higher.

• INSIDE - $1899 person twin share - $3038 single. These must be booked direct with Murray Princess. With only 9 inside cabins available, and some already booked, you will need to book early if you want the cheapest cabin type
• OUTSIDE - $2449 person twin share - $3918 single. We have 20 outside cabins allocated to our group - these will be booked directly with us 
• STATEROOM - $3199 person twin share - $5118 single. These must be booked direct with Murray Princess. With only 4 cabins available, and some already booked, you will need to book early if you want the cheapest
• There are four wheelchair accessible cabins - two on the deck allocated our group - and two more (close to the lifts) on the lower Randell deck. These must be booked direct with Murray Princess.
• Cabin prices and deposits ($200 per person) are the same whether booked with us - or directly with the Murray Princess. 

Prices include:

• All meals (drinks other than tea, coffee and water are extra)
• An exciting selection of onshore tours
• Guided nature walks & eco-excursions
• Onboard presentations
• Live entertainment

Other

• Cruise deposit - a deposit of $200 per person is required when booking (with us or with the Murray Princess)
  If booking direct with the Murray Princess, you still need to book the coach transfers and Mannum conference with us. This will confirm your place in our group and on the coach.
• Final cruise payment - required by 15 May 2025
• Cancellation (cruise) - you may cancel with full refund of deposit up to 15 April 2025 if booked with us. Cancellation of bookings made directly with the Murray Princess, will incur a cancellation fee or, if near the cruise, full loss of deposit (or partial of full fare., depending on the cancellation date)
• Solo travellers - we encourage you to try to find someone you know and who you are willing the share with - at least for the cruise. Apart from considerable fare savings, sharing a cabin will maximise your chance of getting a place on the cruise.