Discover the historic charms and natural wonders of Mannum
Mannum is the Murray River town you've probably never heard of. Yet it's just over an hour from Adelaide, nestled in the tranquil curves of Australia's longest river, and celebrated as the birthplace of the Murray River paddle steamer. For a quick weekend getaway from the South Australian capital, Mannum serves up equal doses of history and nature. You can explore the river and uncover tales of yesteryear, or simply pull up a camp chair by the water and do nothing at all. Here are our top picks for exploring Mannum.
River Rambling
Start your explorations on the riverbank at the Mannum Dock Discovery Centre. The museum has various indoor and outdoor exhibits, the most illustrious being the PS Marion, an 1897 vessel and one of the world's last remaining wood-fired paddle steamers still in service. Explore the Marion's three decks, see the original boiler and wood pit, view the cabins and restaurant (still used today) and get a captain's view in the wheelhouse. The Marion operates on long weekends and has scheduled day and overnight cruises throughout the year.
Disembark and marvel at the Randell Dry Dock, used to repair half the Murray River's fleet of steamers for 47 years until 1911. Next door, see the steam-powered beam engine that pumped water from the state heritage listed dock. Learn more about Captain William Randell and the birth of the Australian paddle steamer at the inside exhibits. Randell launched the first paddle steamer, Mary Ann, in 1853 at Noa-No landing, five kilometres upstream, before relocating his operations to Mannum. See the original boiler, the only relic left of the Mary Ann; get behind the wheel of a paddle steamer; try your hand at tying a mooring hitch; and learn how to caulk a wooden boat.
