Page 40 Saturday, November 22, 2014 Saturday, November 22, 2014 Page 61

8 9TRAVEL / SOUTH AUSTRALIA

There’s something special about this region; cruising the river and lapping up its stunning natural surrounds may just put you in a new frame of mind,writes SUE WALLACE.

WE are chugging along the Murray River near Paringa in South Australia in a 100-year old classic wooden boat, which in another life starred in Stefano’s de Pieri’s ABC-

TV cooking series Gondola on the Murray.The charming vessel, on loan from the popular

chef and foodie, has been given a makeover by Cathy and Rick Edmonds to take guests staying at their latest accommodation venture The Frames on a river meander.

Just before sunset we sip bubbles, nibble on a cheese platter and watch the sky change colour as river life unfolds in front of us.

Rick spots a sleepy koala high in the eucalypts on the bank opposite where the three new award-winning retreats sit perched high on a red cliff on a river bend close to the small riverside town of Paringa, in the Riverland area.

Paringa, which means big bend in the river, is home to a historic lifting steel bridge that was opened in 1927.

It still rises twice daily for river traffi c, allowing houseboats and paddlesteamers to pass under-neath and across the Murray River to Renmark.

The picturesque town is well-known for its vine-yards, almond, citrus and stone fruit orchards and there are lots of walking and cycling tracks.

But when it comes to the Murray, the Edmonds know it well and like nothing better than sharing it with guests.

“We love it here and decided to build these three luxury retreats to encourage others to discover the beauty of the river and surrounds,” Rick says.

Their plan started about fi ve years ago when they holidayed at Rawnsley Park in the Flinders and then decided to build something special in the Riverland.

“I guess Cath and I have lived here all our lives, we’re second and third generation, we love the river, we had the piece of land, it’s in a beautiful spot, it’s close still to town, so if people want to walk into town or want to go to a restaurant they still can.

“We really believe in the Murray River and think when people get here will be blown away with it.”

Stepping up the pace from the “gondola” we later head out on The Frames’ half-day river cruise in a comfortable “tinnie”, which takes us to secluded lagoons and back creeks with names such as No Duck Lagoon and Dead Man’s Creek.

We see an amazing array of birdlife including black-eared miners, malleefowl, red-lored whistler, regent parrot, scarlet-chested parrot and striated grasswren as well as pelicans by the dozen.

Like Cathy and Rick predicted I am blown away by the Murray and its landscape.

Fish are jumping and, as tempted as we are to throw in a line, we instead tie up the boat just be-low the rustic Wilkadene Woolshed Brewery, home of the local Amazon Ale, named after the nearby Amazon Creek.

Wilkadene was a famous sheep and wheat sta-tion, built and run by the Wilkinson family until being bought by the Freeman family in 1988.

The famous shearing shed, with its white ant resistant native pine posts, supplied paddlesteam-ers with chaff by way of a chute from the shed down the cliff to the river. The early settlers in this area were dependant on the paddlesteamers for everything from food and household goods to their religious requirements.

These days you will fi nd a range of hand-crafted boutique premium beers on offer and the Amazon

Ale tastes pretty good as you watch the river pass by.

Back at The Frames the Murray defi nitely takes centre stage, whether bathed in soft moonlight or brilliant sunshine.

The accommodation has just taken out the gong for New Tourism Development Award category at the South Australian Tourism Awards.

Designed by leading Adelaide architect Paul Pruszinski, the self-contained accommodation, which opened in February, features a clever design that “frames” the stunning river views in the famous fruit growing district.

The three spacious arc-shaped retreats follow the land contours and, while they all have the same luxury features, they are all different.

The fi rst one, Montage, caters for one couple and has an outdoor bath, heated pool, infra-red sauna and circular hydrotherapy spa, while Collage has two identical bedrooms and two bathrooms separated by a large hydrotherapy spa with Smart TV on the wall. There’s a heated lap pool with a waterfall and an impressive barbecue area.

Pastiche, my favourite, has a river-front bed-room where you can drift off and wake up watch-ing it in all its glory.

There is a sense of space and seclusion along with quality furnishings, interesting decor and eclectic artwork by local artist Garry Duncan.

Travel notes■ The Frames at Paringa is a three-hour drive from Adelaide or a 1.2-hour

drive from Mildura. Pick up and car hire can be arranged from Mildura and Adelaide airports.

■ There are daily flights from Sydney and Melbourne to Mildura and Adelaide.

■ The Frames, 7 Panarama Court, Paringa, South Australia is priced from $750 to $790 per couple a night, including a gourmet breakfast, chocolates and bottle of wine. A gondola cruise and half-day river cruises are extras. An in-house chef can be arranged for $300 for two, gourmet heat and serve two-course $100, three-course $145, gourmet barbecue pack: cook yourself — $100 and supreme pack — $120. For bookings phone 0418 862 260; theframes.com.au. Visit southaustralia.com.

MIGHTY MURRAY

Pastiche refl ects the colours of the Riverland’s foliage and fruits and has an open-plan living room and kitchen separated by a gas fi re.

Guests can sprawl out on the olive leather couch and select a movie from the many on offer or turn up the music.

The chic kitchen is well-equipped with an extensive range of appliances to create a feast and there’s an outdoor barbecue kitchen area.

A supplied gourmet breakfast offers homemade muesli, jams, bacon, eggs, English spinach and mushrooms. Seasonal fruit is supplied by the Edmonds, who grow citrus and grapes on a nearby farm. A sunken spa bath, sauna, two vanities and double-headed rain shower with spa jets and river views create a bathroom “adventure”.

The bedroom has a king-size massage bed with quality linen and there’s a separate dressing area.

The outdoor deck is perfect for lazing on a sun lounge and savouring those blood-red sunsets that streak the sky. It’s the type of place where you can hibernate and fully relax.

If you prefer to stay put and not venture out for meals, guests can pre-order a two-course dinner prepared by a local caterer. We dined on tomato and basil soup and gourmet rice and oriental chicken matched to a fi ne local drop.

Renmark, the site of Australia’s fi rst irrigation settlement is close by and a great town to visit.

LEFT: Wake up to the river in all its glory at The Frames.

ABOVE: The Frames ... the three spacious arc-shaped retreats follow the land con-tours and, while they all have the same luxury features, they are all different.

RIGHT: Natural attrac-tion ... see an amaz-ing array of birdlife while out and about on the river.

It was founded in 1887 following a joint agree-ment between the state government and Canadian engineers George and Ben Chaffey.

They were instrumental in helping to establish the irrigation system still in use on the Murray.

If you feel like some exercise the fi ve-kilometre Renmark Riverfront Town Heritage Walk, which is suitable to cycle, interprets historical informa-tion about the town and Murray River.

It passes the riverfront esplanade where you may catch sight of a family of possums at dusk.

If you want to taste the produce of the River-land, the Nanya Bistro at the Renmark Hotel showcases the produce of the area.

For a winery hop visit Banrock Station Wine and Wetlands Centre, Caudo Vineyards at Waikerie, 919 Wines at Glossop and Angove Ren-mark Cellar Door.

We also venture to the Headings Cliff Lookout for a great view of the river and amazing golden limestone cliffs. Further on is the historic port of Customs House, which is the closest point to the South Australian, Victorian and NSW borders and home to a great bush wetland walk.

But chances are you may want to put your feet up and just relax at The Frames watching pelicans soar — all from your deck.

Don’t be surprised if a new frame of mind soon sets in.

Pastiche, my favourite, has a river-front bedroom where you can drift off and wake up watching it in all its glory.

TAHITI freighter line Aranui is celebrating 30 years as the fi rst modern ship to carry cruise passengers and cargo across the South Pacifi c.

It has seen 44,750 passengers and 484,900 tonnes of freight carried between Tahiti and the remote Tuamotu and Marquesas islands.

Aranui 3 will celebrate the anniversary during its April 25, 2015, departure, with passengers in cabins offered an onboard credit of up to $175 per person and treated to a special dinner show, fi rework display and giveaways.

Packages for the April departure are priced from $8899* per-person twin-share in a standard cabin including return economy airfares from Sydney or Melbourne with Air Tahiti Nui, luxury car transfers, four nights at Manava Suite Tahiti with continental breakfast, taxes and all transfers in Tahiti. Aranui 3 accommo-dates 200 passengers in airconditioned cabins including suites with private balconies and deluxe and standard twin rooms.

Visit aranuicruises.com.au or phone (03) 9449 3778. To book the package, call Ultimate Cruising on 1300 485 846.

*Subject to availability, conditions apply.

SHORT STAYS

CRUISE

Sea celebrationsAranui 3 will mark the line’s anniversary on its April 25 departure with onboard credit for passengers in cabins.

SWING into Fraser Place Melbourne during the Melbourne Wom-en’s International Jazz from December 7 to 14 with its special accommodation package.

During the festival guests can book a studio deluxe room for $149 or studio executive room for $169. They will also receive a 2 for 1 entry voucher into the Bennett’s Lane Jazz Club during the festival.

Bennett’s Lane Jazz Club, conveniently located next to Fraser Place Melbourne, is the offi cial host venue of the festival.

The Melbourne Women’s International Jazz Festival is high-lighting the work of female jazz composers, jazz band leaders, arrangers and instrumentalists. It is a chance for Melbourne to showcase female jazz talent from around the globe and celebrate the important contribution and investment women make to the cultural identity of Australia.

Visit melbourne.frasershospitality.com or phone (03) 9669 6888 by using the promotional code JAZZ.

For more information about the jazz festival see mwijf.org.

MELBOURNE

And all that jazzFraser Place Melbourne is conveniently next to Bennett’s

Lane Jazz Club, the official host venue for the festival.