T&C’s
The Fine Print
Hiring Terms & Conditions
General Requirements
In accordance with AMSA (Marine Group) regulations, the number of persons on board must not exceed the number of berths on the houseboat. The maximum legal occupancy for a commercial hire-and-drive houseboat is 12 guests. Children under 12 months are excluded from this count.
The minimum age to drive a houseboat is 18, and drivers must hold a current driver’s license or boat operator’s license. Standard .05 alcohol driving laws apply.
Night travel is strictly prohibited under AMSA regulations.
Pre-Departure & Instruction
Full instruction on houseboat handling is provided prior to departure.
Deposits, Final Payments & Security Bonds
A $600 deposit is required to secure your booking, to be paid within 7 days of receiving your confirmation email.
Once the deposit is paid, a final invoice will be generated. The remaining balance is due 8 weeks prior to your hire period.
Bookings made within 8 weeks of the hire date must be paid in full within 7 days. Payments can be made via electronic funds transfer (EFT) or credit card via a secure payment link.
A 1.9% surcharge applies to all credit card payments.
A security bond (cash or card) is payable on the day of arrival to the manager.
Cash payments incur NO surcharge
All credit card payments incur a 1.9% surcharge
Bond Amounts (per Boat)
Little Gem & Orlando – $1,200
Desert Rose, Desire, Murray Sunset, River Tonic, Amazon Star, Class Act & Fifth Dimension – $1,500
Rates and bond amounts are subject to change without notice.
Fuel, Cleaning, and Responsibility
All fuel used during your hire is at the hirer’s expense and is calculated at the end of the hire period.
No pets, firearms, chainsaws, or motorbikes are permitted on board.
The proprietors reserve the right to refuse boarding at their discretion.
Any damage or loss to the vessel or contents is the hirer’s responsibility and will be charged at replacement/repair cost.
Boats must be returned in a clean condition. Additional cleaning charges will apply if not.
Smoking or vaping is not permitted inside the houseboat. Additional cleaning fees apply for violations.
Booking & Minimum Stay
A minimum hire of 4 nights applies during peak periods (December–January).
Booking Form must be completed and returned within 7 days of deposit payment.
Bedding preferences must be emailed to: info@rivermurrayhouseboats.com.au within 7 days of paying your deposit.
If no preferences are received, all beds will be made as queen beds by default. Changes to bedding configuration after arrival incur a $20 per bedroom fee.
A 10% surcharge applies to all bookings that fall during:
- South Australian public holiday long weekends
- South Australian school holidays
This surcharge is applied only during Off-Peak and Normal seasons.
No surcharge applies during Peak Season (December–January school holidays).
Bridge Access - Paringa Bridge
The Paringa Bridge lifts twice daily at 9:30am and 2:30pm.
Your bridge lift is automatically scheduled for 2:30pm on arrival day and 9:30am on departure day.
If you require a different bridge time, please advise prior to your hire.
Please arrive at least 10 minutes before your scheduled return bridge lift time. The bridge will not wait.
If the houseboat is not returned on time, a late return/arrival fee of $300 per hour (or part thereof) applies.
Boarding & Departure
Boarding time: 1:00pm SHARP. Paringa Bridge opens at 2:30pm.
If you’ll arrive later than this, please email or call ahead to arrange alternatives.
Departure day: Paringa Bridge opens at 9:30am.
You must be moored at the marina and vacated by 10:00am
Provisions & Supplies
Ensure you bring enough food and drink for your entire trip. Once you leave Renmark, there are no shops along the river.
Additional shopping runs during hire will incur a service fee.
Biosecurity Alert - Fruit Fly Rules
Please Note: You must not bring any fruit or vegetables into South Australia from interstate. These must be safely disposed of before entering SA.
You cannot bring certain fruit and vegetables into the Riverland region under South Australia’s fruit fly protection laws.
The ‘bring a receipt’ rule no longer applies—it is not a valid exemption.
Fines apply if you are caught carrying restricted produce into the Riverland. These laws are in place to protect local growers from the threat of fruit fly.
The law changed on 29 July 2021.
For up-to-date information,
call the 24-hour Fruit Fly Hotline: 1300 666 010
Additional Services & Charges
Prices are subject to change without notice.
Secure Car Parking
$5 per night (per car, caravan, or trailer)
Ice (Purchase on Arrival)
Crushed Ice – $15 (10kg bag)
Block Ice – $15 (10kg block)
No pre-order necessary.
Canoe & Paddleboard Hire
Includes paddles and life vests.
8 x Single Canoes – $25 per night
4 x Double Canoes – $35 per night
2 x Stand-Up Paddleboards – $25 per night