Orlando is the perfect mid-size houseboat for honeymooners, two couples, or Mum Dad and the kids in South Australia’s beautiful Riverland. Following extensive refurbishment in 2022, now the all-round ‘Best Little Hire Boat on the River‘.
Description
The vessel is licenced for up to six people (2-4 adults), smoke-free inside and no pets please.
Inside
The two bedrooms have sliding doors to deck areas, basin/mirror, ensuite toilet-bathrooms and queen beds. One zips apart to queen singles and the sofa bed in the forward lounge may be used to sleep kids only. All round inverter power points facilitate c-pap use.
The spacious kitchen features:
- drawer-type dishwasher,
- flatbed microwave,
- Nespresso pod coffee machine,
- gas cooktop/fan forced oven,
- 330 ltr fridge/freezer and,
- large island bench with built-in bottle rack.
A gas space heater is movable between lounge and dining areas.
Enjoy river views throughout the boat from the all-round floor-to-ceiling windows. Sink into the comfortable soft leather lounges to watch the smart Android TV or supplied DVD/VCs when out of broadcast range. You can also link you own devices to either the TV or the helm Android head unit, with offline maps.
Outside
The large rear deck is ideal for both fishing and alfresco dining with rod-holders, bait board, two 50 ltr fibreglass eskies, sunblind and Weber Q. A spiral stair provides easy access to the canopied upper sundeck with soft-cushion chairs/recliners, drinks tables and five-person, gas-heated spa.
The boat is amazingly easy to drive due to its central helm and twin outboards. It is also very economical and environmentally friendly with:
- high turn-angle, central, 60HP EFI Honda motors,
- 4 kVA remote start-stop inverter generator,
- evaporative air conditioning,
- LED lighting throughout,
- solar panels to do most of the battery charging,
- low water-use marine toilets,
- kitchen wastewater is retained together with blackwater, while filtered and disinfected bathroom water is returned to the river. We received the 2016 BIA/EPA Environment Award for pioneering this split-stream houseboat greywater system.
Check-In/Out
Secure parking is available in an on-site lock-up compound. Please arrive around 1 pm for the 2.30 pm Paringa Bridge opening (a little upstream from the mooring) on your first day – if later, you may stay at the mooring overnight and set out next morning. Although less popular, it is also possible to go downstream in which case you must traverse Lock 5 (just downstream from the mooring). The lock operates on demand between 8 am and 4.30 pm daily, except Christmas Day and lock staff are very gentle with novice houseboat hirers.
On your last day, disembark back at River Murray Houseboats by 10am – from upstream, you need to be at the bridge for its 9.30 am opening.
