Mark Twain likened the Murray to the Mississippi， but we're inclined to think there's nothing quite like it on earth. Lounge on the deck of a luxury houseboat moored beside a gum tree. Drink award-winning wines after hiking around the 8km boardwalk trail at Banrock Station Wine and Wetland Centre. Spy a rare bird or two at Gluepot Reserve. Explore Australia's paddleboat history at the Mannum Dock Museum. Grab a copy of the Riverland Wine and Food Trail Map and taste everything from stone fruits to wine and almonds to oranges. Or catch an elusive Murray cod before cooking him up for dinner back at your campsite.

Beds & Berths (河床和停泊处)

From riverside caravan parks and basic houseboats to luxury floating'apartments' and the ever-popular MV Proud Mary nature cruises， there's a Murray River holiday to suit every taste and budget. Take a five-night cruise aboard the PS Murray Princess (South Australia's largest inland paddle wheeler)。 Stay in a pub overlooking the river - the Swan Reach Hotel， the Renmark Hotel or the Loxton Community Hotel Motel to name a few.

Houseboating is big business in South Australia， generating $8 million annually in hire fees alone. More than 100 members and 168 houseboats are today listed with the state's Houseboat Hirer's Association. Sit in the jacuzzi on a multi award-winning Unforgettable Houseboat. Relax in super-luxury aboard the River Dream Boatel (they'll even organise a chef for you)。 Or take a dozen mates away for the weekend to fish， water ski and drink beer around the on-board barbecue.

Riverside Towns (沿河的城市)

In the 1880s， when the Murray was one of the nation's major thoroughfares， hundreds of paddle steamers， barges， ferries and other river craft plied the waters between bustling riverside towns. Today you'll find historic towns like Mannum and Wellington， the thriving regional town of Murray Bridge and the citrus centres of Barmera， Waikerie and Renmark. River towns pride themselves on their pubs， heritage and friendly atmosphere， and all are easily accessible from Adelaide or by houseboat. Take the kids to Monash Adventure Park (it's been wowing children young and old for years and it's free)， have a hit of golf at one of many courses along the river or hike along the Nildottie cliffs near Swan Reach.

马克吐温曾经把墨累河和密西西比河联系在一起，但是我们宁愿认为它们其实没什么相似之处。和中国的许多河流相比，澳大利亚的墨累河真的算不上一条大河，它一年的排水量只“等于密西西比河9天、恒河7天、亚马逊河1天的排水量”，可是它却是澳大利亚最大的一条河流，想想看，被海洋包围的这块全球最干旱的大陆上常年流淌着这样一条河，它自然会成为澳大利亚人最重要的生命线。