After twenty-one days on the water, Sturt began to look most anxiously for indications of the sea, for his men were fagging with the unremitting labour and short rations, and they had only the strength of their own arms to rely on for their return against the current.

Soon, however, an old man amongst the natives described the roaring of the waves, and showed by other signs that he had been to the sea coast.

But more welcome than all were some flocks of sea-gulls that flew over and welcomed the tired men.
On the thirty-third day after leaving the starting-point on the Murrumbidgee, Sturt, on landing to inspect the country, saw before him the lake which was indeed the termination of the Murray, but not the end that he had dreamt of.

"For the lake was evidently so little influenced by tides that I saw at once our probable disappointment of practical communication between it and the ocean." This foreboding was realised after examination of Lake Alexandrina, as it is now called.

Upon ascertaining their exact position on the southern coast, nothing was left but to take up the weary labours of their return; the thunder of the surf brought no hopeful message of succour, but rather warned the lonely men to hasten back while yet some strength remained to them.
Sturt re-entered the Murray on his homeward journey on the 13th of February; and the successful accomplishment of this return is Sturt's greatest achievement.