We’re proudly celebrating 10 magical years on the Murray River, and in doing so, we’ve been reminiscing about some of the standout moments that have shaped our journey.
From nerve-wracking firsts to unexpected wildlife encounters, celebrity visits to sunset BBQs, each memory holds a special place in our hearts.
We’ve loved every second of sharing this river with you, and today, we’re taking a trip down memory lane with 10 unforgettable moments that made the last decade so special.
- Our very first unforgettable moment would have to be the launching of our boat Qatar back on the 15th April 2014. This was a very nerve-wracking/exciting day for us as we put it in the water for the first time and watch it float off.
2. The following year we started our business – Rivergum Cruises. There are so many beautiful rivergum’s along the Murray River and we are so pleased that we chose this special name for our business. It took us about a year to organise our website, get licenses, work out what cruises we were going to do, set up our social media pages and just get our head around it all!
3. In September 2015 we had the pleasure of SA Life coming on board and doing a short segment for their TV show. It was so lovely to show them our brand-new boat and share with them the tranquil experience of being on the River Murray.
4. The two “Michael’s” from Out of the Blue came on board in May 2021 for a fun filled cruise showing them our beautiful landscapes and picturesque Murray River. We had a few locals on board as “extras” and it was shown on their TV show later in the year. They were so much fun and full of energy and humour!
Launching Qatar 
Putting our new signs on 
With the “two Michael’s”
5. One of our most favourite things to do is staying on board Qatar. We don’t get to do this very often and haven’t stayed out overnight this year yet. We love to find a nice, sheltered spot by the cliffs, set up the BBQ and put a roast on. The fishing rods are in, the red wine is poured, and we love sitting back, listening to our favourite tunes and watching the sun set! Oh my, just writing this reminds us….we need to do this again this year sometime!
6. In December 2021 we had a live weather broadcast with the Channel 9 TODAY crew. There were lots of locals that came down to the Waikerie Riverfront to share in the excitement and be on TV and then the crew came of board and did the live weather from the bow of Qatar.
7. Our most famous passengers we proudly took for a cruise was Sarah Snook & Damon Herriman from the movie “Run, Rabbit, Run”. They’ve been in so many amazing Hollywood films, but this one in particular was filmed in and around the Waikerie area. We had the pleasure of having Sarah, Damon, 3 young actresses and their mothers along with the producer. They were so down to earth and a joy to have on board. They were in between filming and we could see that they had a relaxing and enjoyable time on board.
8. In April 2022 we were overjoyed to host a bridal party on board and transport them to their wedding ceremony destination. The bride, 4 bridesmaids and the bride’s parents. We had fun decorating the boat, like a bridal car and “got them to the church on time!”
James & Sarah Snook 
Rescuing a monitor lizard 
Sandra & Jessica Braithwaite
9. We get to see a lot of birdlife and wildlife, but some unforgettable moments were seeing a snake and a monitor lizard on the river. It is quite common for snakes to swim in the river but a rare occurrence for us to see one! One day our passenger pointed it out, thinking it was a stick – but it was moving! Quite amazing to see! We also rescued a monitor lizard who was struggling to swim and brought it back to shore and released it on dry land.
10. In May 2024 we were joined by Jessica Braithwaite from Channel 9 News and some crew for a leisurely Yarra Cliffs Cruise. We had a short segment on the evening news, and it was a delight to meet her and showcase our Murray River to the audience.
Looking back, it’s hard not to feel a little emotional about just how far we’ve come. These moments remind us why we do what we do and how lucky we are to share this beautiful part of the world with so many wonderful guests.
Whether you’ve cruised with us once or come back year after year, thank you for being part of our story. Here’s to the next chapter and many more memories made on board our boat Qatar.
So, in celebration of this milestone, join us in our celebrations by finding us on Facebook HERE and Instagram HERE by liking and sharing our posts. It would mean the world!
We’ll be celebrating in a big way, giving away vouchers as well as a competition to celebrate our beautiful milestone.