The Murray River cruise out of Echuca is the most underrated holiday in this country. I went last spring and have been recommending it to anyone who’ll listen ever since.
The route
Three nights on the PS Emmylou, then four nights at land hotels in Echuca, Mildura and along the Murray. Old-fashioned wood-fired paddle-steamer, half a dozen cabins, breakfast cooked on board, and an evening drink on the upper deck as the gum trees roll past.
The pace
This is not a sprint. We covered maybe 80 kilometres on the river in three days. The boat ties up against the bank at lunchtime. You go for a walk. You come back. Someone has set out cheese on the verandah. You read your book for an hour. It is the deliberate antithesis of a city break.
Who it’s for
Couples celebrating an anniversary; widowers who want a gentle re-entry into travelling; mothers-in-law who deserve a treat. The boat carries about 15 guests at most. You’ll know everyone’s name by dinner on the first night, and you’ll keep in touch with at least one of them afterwards.
What to pack
Layers. The Murray winds heat up the deck by lunchtime but the spring evenings get sharp. A good book. A bottle of something nice for the captain on the last night — we have it on good authority that this gets you the best cabin on your next trip.
We have departures running spring and autumn. The autumn ones (March-April) are the ones our consultants book for themselves — the river is at its calmest, the light is golden, and the vineyards on either bank are at their fullest. Call us if you’d like the cabin numbers we’d ask for.