Our Location
Mannum: The Heart of Your Houseboat Adventure
White Houseboats is proudly located at Mannum Waters Marina, the perfect starting point for your luxury houseboat holiday. Nestled in the historic township of Mannum, just 90 minutes from Adelaide with a scenic drive through the Adelaide Hills, this charming riverside town is rich in heritage, natural beauty, and warm country hospitality.
Mannum is one of the most iconic towns along the Murray River, offering the ideal blend of convenience and character. Explore local cafés, pubs, bakeries, and boutique stores, or take a step back in time at the PS Marion and Mannum Dock Museum, showcasing the town’s proud paddle-steamer history.
Surrounded by spectacular river scenery, Mannum is the gateway to towering ochre cliffs, secluded creeks, and peaceful backwaters that are home to an abundance of native birdlife and wildlife. Whether you’re seeking a relaxing family escape or a romantic retreat into nature, the river in this region offers calm waters, wide bends, and breathtaking sunrises and sunsets — perfect for cruising, fishing, swimming, kayaking, or simply soaking up the serenity.
Start your journey with White Houseboats and set the tone to the ultimate houseboat holiday experience —where luxury meets nature in the most peaceful way.
Mannum, South Australia
A Historic Murray River Town
Known as the birthplace of the paddle steamer in South Australia and home to the historic PS Marion, Mannum’s connection to the Murray River runs deep.
Explore local cafés, riverside pubs, bakeries and boutique stores, or step back in time at the PS Marion and Mannum Dock Discovery Centre, showcasing the town’s proud paddle steamer heritage.
The PS Marion, an original paddle steamer of the riverboat era, remains an integral part of the town today. Restored to full steaming capacity and moored near the heritage-listed Randell Dry Dock, the vessel offers visitors a glimpse into the rich river history that helped shape the Murraylands region. Limited public cruises aboard the PS Marion are available throughout the year.
Today, Mannum remains a welcoming riverside township of approximately 3,700 residents who enjoy a lifestyle in keeping with the environment — peaceful, relaxed and closely connected to the river.
Relax, Explore & Unwind
Surrounded by spectacular river scenery, Mannum is the gateway to towering ochre cliffs, secluded creeks, peaceful lagoons and calm backwaters teeming with native birdlife and wildlife.
Whether you’re seeking a relaxing family holiday, a romantic escape or a weekend away with friends, the river in this region offers calm waters, wide bends and breathtaking sunrises and sunsets perfect for:
– cruising
– fishing
– swimming
– kayaking
– waterskiing
– or simply soaking up the serenity from the deck of your houseboat
Sit back and enjoy the ever-changing scenery as willow-lined banks give way to towering cliffs, majestic river gums and peaceful natural moorings around every bend.
River Life in Mannum
The magnificent Mary Ann Reserve, known locally as “The Rec”, sits adjacent to Mannum’s town centre and stretches for approximately 350 metres along the banks of the broad and majestic Murray River.
With expansive lawned areas, picnic spots, free barbecues, boat ramps and ample parking, the reserve provides a delightful setting to relax by the water before or after your houseboat adventure.
Cruise vessels such as the Proud Mary and Murray Princess are regular visitors to the historic town wharf, further adding to Mannum’s vibrant river culture and heritage atmosphere.
Life in Mannum revolves around the river, with boating, fishing, waterskiing, scenic cruises and relaxed afternoons by the water all part of everyday life.
Visitors can enjoy local cafés, bakeries and welcoming riverside venues throughout the township, including the iconic Pretoria Hotel, Mannum Hotel and Mannum Club — all popular spots to relax, dine and soak up the friendly river-town atmosphere.
Scenic Attractions Around Mannum
Mannum is centrally located, making it an ideal base to explore the surrounding Murraylands region and nearby attractions, with scenic drives, lookouts, walking trails and historic landmarks all within easy reach.
Mannum Waterfalls Reserve
Located approximately 9km along the Murray Bridge Road, the Mannum Waterfalls Reserve is a unique geological phenomenon featuring large granite outcrops rising from the plains surrounding Reedy Creek to form natural waterfalls.
Walking trails wind through the reserve, allowing visitors to experience the rugged scenery and peaceful natural surrounds up close.
Younghusband Road Scenic Drive
Running along the eastern side of the Murray River, Younghusband Road offers approximately 18km of one of the most scenic and unique drives along the entire Murray River system.
The road winds past peaceful lagoons, historic quarries — once used to source rock for the construction of the Goolwa Barrages — towering cliffs and breathtaking river scenery, showcasing the ever-changing beauty of the Murraylands.
Mannum Scenic Lookout
Situated high above the river valley on the northern edge of town, the Mannum Scenic Lookout offers uninterrupted panoramic views stretching more than 6km across the River Murray Valley and Mannum township.
The lookout is the perfect place to take in the scale and beauty of the river landscape, particularly at sunrise or sunset.
Noa-No Landing
Located approximately 5km along the Purnong Road from Mannum, Noa-No Landing marks the original launching site of William Randell’s historic paddle steamer, the “Mary Ann”.
A cairn commemorates the significance of the site, while the surrounding 15km of river lagoons provide peaceful scenery and important breeding grounds for many species of native birdlife.
Perfectly Positioned for Your Getaway
Located on one of the most spectacular stretches of the Murray River, Mannum provides access to calm cruising waters and some of the region’s most iconic river destinations, including Younghusband, Walker Flat and Swan Reach upstream, along with Murray Bridge and Tailem Bend in the opposite direction.
From towering cliffs and majestic river gums to peaceful lagoons and secluded natural moorings, the scenery surrounding Mannum is constantly changing and best experienced from the water.
Its relaxed pace, breathtaking river landscapes and ideal boating conditions make Mannum one of the most memorable ways to experience the Murray River by houseboat.
Experience the Murray with White Houseboats
There is something truly special about beginning your houseboat holiday in Mannum. As you cruise away from the marina and into the calm waters of the Murray River, surrounded by cliffs, birdlife and peaceful natural scenery, the pace of everyday life quickly fades away.
Whether you’re celebrating a special occasion, reconnecting with family and friends or simply escaping to nature, White Houseboats offers a memorable and uniquely relaxing way to experience the beauty, heritage and tranquility of the Murray River.