Tinny Rally™ - Epic Boating Adventure

The Tinny Rally

An epic river expedition crossed with a legendary regional trail.
Built for legends — not for tourists.

726km of river.

Zero guides.

180 legends.

One mission.

You, your mate, your swags and your gear.
Freedom to camp in amazing spots (within the river corridor and local rules)
Seven days of cliffs, legends and epic stops.

→ Join the Waitlist

Imagine pulling up to the next town in a tinny. Or sliding your boat onto a sandbar and declaring:

“This is home for the night.”

This isn’t just a camping trip. It’s a 7-day river mission.
A freedom-fuelled pilgrimage down down the Murray with 180 legends.

Every night: a different stop, a new campsite, a fresh story.
Every day: the river, the cliffs, the camaraderie.

There’s no other rally like it in the world.

Why It’s So Good

Because seven days outside changes you.

Weekend camping trips are fun.
But something primal kicks in around day four.
You start living by instinct again.

You find campsites like your ancestors did — with your eyes and your gut.
You move with the river. You get your edge back.

This is an anti-domestication mission.

You come home with stories that make people lean in.

And the most common feedback?

“That was the best holiday of my life.”

Aerial view of sandstone cliffs over Murray River and moored houseboat at sunset

There’s no hour-by-hour itinerary. No guides. No icebreaker games.

Instead:

Zones to reach each day
Total freedom to choose your route, pace, and campsite
A sweep boat operating behind the field for mechanical assistance, plus an overland recovery crew for logistics and vehicle recovery support may be available.

You want structure? It’s called a cruise.
You want freedom?

Welcome to the Tinny Rally.

The River Route – The Pilgrimage Map

Each team gets a hand-marked Navigator’s Chart (memorabilia).
It shows the full journey from Wentworth to Mannum — 726km of legends-only river.

Prep Days:

Day -2: Mandatory equipment verification at the Rally Readiness Checkpoint
Day -1: Drop boat in the water at Mildura. Relocate your ute and trailer to a dedicated rural event parking area near Mannum. Return to Mildura via pre-booked charter bus). Boats remain in the water overnight prior to Day 1 launch, general day & overnight site security is present.

Rally Days:

Day 1: Launch from Mildura.
Day 2: Through Locks 9, 8, and 7. Optional Side Mission- listed in the “Book of Dreams” you get on arrival
Day 3: The Iconic Woolshed. Optional side missions – listed in the “Book of Dreams” you get on arrival
Day 4: Through the Riverland towns of Renmark and Berri. Optional side mission: – listed in the “Book of Dreams” you get on arrival
Day 5: Through Loxton to the Historic Overland Corner. Optional Side Missions: – listed in the “Book of Dreams” you get on arrival
Day 6: The cliffs day: Via Waikerie Bakery for breakfast, Morgan for lunch, then Swan Reach for dinner.
Day 7: Into Mannum. Optional Side Mission: – listed in the “Book of Dreams” you get on arrival. Belt buckle presentations.

Your Spot: $1750 per Adult, $695 under 18s

Limited spots. Legends only.

Entry into the legendary Tinny Rally event. Seven days downriver. Nights of sights, sandbars, and stories you’ll tell for decades.

No guides. No cruise director.
Just the field kit, the legends, and the river.

aerial shot of cliffs and the murray river at big bend in south australia

What You Need

Boat: Max 5m and 60hp. Tinny-style only, single hull only. (Note footage from earlier rallies will show bigger boats, this rule started in 2026. Don’t email us for an exemption on size. This is a hard limit)
Speed: At least 30km/h fully loaded (ideally 38+).
Toilet: Chemical camping toilet (mandatory). No bags or tubes.
Gear: Camping gear, trolley for fuel, safety gear, spare prop, first aid kit.
Comms: Phone on the Telstra network, PLB or EPIRB, charging setup, Required smartphone maps (about $30).
Insurance: Third-party liability boat insurance.

This isn’t a luxury cruise. It’s a mission. Pack like it.

Daily Distances & Fuel Logistics

Km per day: 80-176km (Most days average about 100km which is about 3 hrs+ time to get through locks)

Estimated Fuel usage for the total distance: In my 25hp 12ft tinny I used 300L of fuel and 4L of two stroke oil, and about the same in my 14ft 50hp two stroke. People have used as little as 150L and as much as 600L so depends upon the boat and how loaded you are.

Additional costs to budget for: Your fuel, caravan park accom for the first few 2-3 nights in Mildura and last night in Mannum (You can often camp for free the rest of the way on public river land (self-arranged)), all food and drinks. Your boat, your insurance, and all required equipment if you don’t already have it.

Is this for you?

Who this is for

it’s for you if you:

Can choose a campsite
Can look after yourself
Can fix things or figure it out
Can meet people without needing a host
Can deal with dragging your boat across a shallow sandbank if the water is a bit low (unusual, but I have had to do it once)

Then you’ll thrive here.

People have come on the tinny rally before that got their boat license and their tinny just for this trip.

Who this is not for, do you

Need daily guidance
Want your hand held
Can’t handle uncertainty
Expect steak to arrive in 12 minutes – You’ll be traveling through regional pubs that aren’t used to 150 legends turning up in tinnies on the doorstep hungry and thirsty. Even though we let them know we are coming, you may have to wait a few more minutes for your steak that you are used to in the city.
Want to spend the whole time alone (this is a fairly social trip).

If that’s you, this is not your rally.

We don’t want your money. We want legends.

Don’t come if that’s not your vibe.

Real Stories From the River

✅ What People Loved – The 98%

“It’s the people that make the Tinny Rally.”
Sure, the river is stunning. The cliffs are ancient. But over and over, people say the same thing: it’s the crew of legends that makes it unforgettable. The shared moments. The nightly stops. The lifelong mates made in just seven days. From the first lock to the final launch ramp, the camaraderie is what people remember most.

“You forget about your normal life.”
The simplicity of the mission—fuel up, find a campsite, drift downriver—becomes a meditation. For a week, you stop checking emails and start checking the riverbank for firewood. That’s the real gift. You meet adventurous, like-minded people. You camp under stars. You feel young again. Everyone who came for the river left with something much bigger.

❌ What a Few Didn’t Get – The 2%

Some folks probably should’ve booked a Bali resort instead.

A couple were rattled that the shirt wasn’t a designer cut or didn’t say “I went on the Tinny Rally and all I got was this shirt.” (If you’re here for a shirt, this might not be your trip.)

Others wanted hand-holding: closer groups, structured itineraries, even buses from the pub to a “nicer” campsite. But the Tinny Rally isn’t about being told where to go, when to eat, or how to camp. It’s not a guided tour. It’s a freedom mission. If the campsite’s not to your liking, move. If you need a concierge, you’re in the wrong place.