Meet Your Guides
TONY SHARLEY
Founder and Guide
Tony grew up in Renmark where his love for this river first started. When asked how long it took him to create Murray River Walk, Tony answers, "about 60 years." With a background in environmental science, and a lifetime of advocating for it, Tony's passion for the river is undeniable. His belief that anyone who saw, heard, and understood the river as he does would share his enthusiasm inspired him to create the immersive experiences we share today.
Cathy Schier
Guide
A childhood spent on, in and along the river and has enabled Cathy to develop a deep admiration for the Murray River and its environment and she is inspired by Aboriginal culture and learning on country.
Cathy joined the guiding team after thirty years as an educator at TAFE and a librarian in special libraries like the Royal Zoological Society of SA.
Kym Manning
Guide
Born and bred Riverlander, Kym has a passion for water, wildlife and environment. A carpenter by trade, Kym is well known locally as the driver of the SA Carp Frenzy – an annual community fundraiser and carp removal initiative at Lake Bonney. Kym has also been instrumental in installing fish habitats for native fish at Lake Bonney and surrounding reaches of the Murray River.
Kym has also been involved in the release of 400,000 Murray Cod fingerlings locally, clearly a champion of native fish species in the Murray River.
Sophie Hoffmann
Guide
Growing up in Renmark, Sophie has fond memories of being in the bush and river as a child, particularly on horseback. She has a background in science focused on plant and soil biology but loves learning everything about the environment and is often getting out in the field to help facilitate citizen science.
She has a strong connection to water, and loves a swim in the Murray on a sunny day, even in winter!
Di Cresp
Guide
A background in nursing, Di has deep roots in the Riverland, marrying a local man and raising three children on the Murray River. Di hung up the scrubs in January 2022 to try her hand at hosting guests on the Murray River. A place where she likes to do a bit of fishing, loves the peace and tranquility of the meandering Murray.
Max Rush
Guide
Max grew up in the Adelaide hills and loved exploring the remnant bushland nearby. Max was fascinated by the smallest plants in the landscape, with the ephemeral herbs and bulbs becoming a passion for him. Max’s enthusiasm for the natural world led him to an Ecology degree at Adelaide Uni, where he investigated new ways of increasing the plant diversity of revegetated woodlands.
When he’s not guiding tours for Murry River Trails, Max is a volunteer wildlife carer, helping to raise orphaned and injured native animals.
Dan Elliott
Guide
Dan grew up in Adelaide, nurtured in a sustainable household where environmental values were paramount. He loves hiking, rock climbing, and all things outdoors.
After studying Outdoor Leadership at TAFE SA, Dan joined the guiding team with great excitement. He's eager to share his knowledge of the intricate workings of the Murray River and the indigenous heritage, ensuring that every guest experiences the stunning Murray River in a meaningful and memorable way.
Heather McNaughton
Guide
Heather's passion for travel, adventure and the outdoors is hard to hide. Her enthusiasm is shared through her interpretation of the environment and her past experiences living on Calperum Station (a property you walk through) making her very familiar with the landscape and its flora and fauna.
Sam Sharley
Sales and Marketing Manager/Guide
Sam grew up in Renmark and spent his holidays camping or houseboating on the river. The health of the Murray Darling Basin was standard dinner table conversation in the Sharley house growing up, he's even seen his father weave an update on the flow in the Murray into a speech at his brother's wedding.
Sam joined the guiding team in 2019 and while he mostly fields enquiries for the tours these days, he jumps at the chance to get back out in the field.
The crew were so incredibly skilled and knowledgeable and everything so streamlined. They work so tirelessly so that we could have an incredible holiday as well as learning experience. Really appreciated all their efforts.