Australia’s Murray River Cruises Getting a New Sidewheeler
By Ted Scull
For Australia, the mention of river cruises would probably result in blank stares from most people, leaving them in the dark.
Such river cruises are plentiful in Europe, North America, Asia, and to a lesser extent in South America (Amazon, Rio Negro, and the Orinoco) and Africa (Nile and Zambezi).
What about Australia?
With so many other draws, very few of us would come up with the idea of a river cruise. It’s the animals and birds (many unique to the continent), beaches, Great Barrier Reef, barbecues, and its cities led by Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane.
One exception just might be the Brisbane River, a waterway that slices through the coastal city.
Beginning about 40 years ago, the city’s river morphed into a huge attraction with the creation of promenades, parks, and museums, fringing the waterfront with cafés and restaurants, and establishing offering an excellent water transit system that binds it all together.
Brisbane River’s CityCat, a transit ferry. *Photo: Ted Scull
Australia’s Murray River
Okay, the elusive Australian river is the Murray forming most of the border between the states of New South Wales and Victoria.
Aborigines used the Murray as a source of water, fish, and transportation.
Two youngsters are intrigued by the docking sidewheeler. * Photo: Ted Scull
Then during the early days of Australian settlement, mostly from Europe, the river was a hugely important conduit for transporting minerals, lumber, people, and even the Christian religion.
Beginning in 1853, the Murray received its first steamboats, mostly paddle-wheel-driven, though much smaller than those found plying Mississippi, Ohio, Columbia, and Hudson rivers.
Because of the Murray’s considerable twists and turns (have a look at a detailed map) it manages to qualify as the world’s third longest river behind the Amazon and Nile, stretching some 2,908 kilometers or 1,558 miles.
Murray River map. * Map- http-//www.murrayriver.com.au/discover-great-murray-river-road-trail/.pdf
The Original Fleet of Murray River Cruises
Successors of the original fleet still exist, now in service for day and overnight cruises from Echuca, a river port about a 2.5-hour drive north of Melbourne.
The 16-pax EmmyLou. * Photo: W Worden
That is how my wife and I first encountered this intriguing fleet. Years later we returned to Echuca via a scenic riverside drive from Murray Bridge on the border between South Australia and Victoria.
P.S. Melbourne. * Photo: W. Worden
When the urge arose, we crossed to the other side by one of many free ferries, until we had reached Echuca, the grand central of the historic steamboat fleet.
Cruises on offer are as short as lunch and dinner operations to overnight and multiple days up to a week.
Free ferry across the Murray. * Photo: Ted Scull
Quirky Cruise’s current review of the Murray River fleet lists the boats taking on single-digit numbers and up to the 120-passenger Murray Princess.
Now there is a demand for more cabins by the increasing tourism from overseas as well as Australia’s own citizens.
A New Riverboat to be Built
The funding to build the new riverboat, whose interim project name is PS Australian Star, will be split between the current fleet operator — Murray River Cruises — and the Victoria Government Regional Tourism Investment Fund.
The vessel will be built at Mildura on the Murray River with upscale accommodations for 40 passengers in double cabins opening onto verandahs and with an indoor/outdoor lounge and bar, and plenty of outdoor seating, including dining.
The PS Australian Star’s completion date is 2024.
With most cruises leaving from Echuca, bus transfers north from Melbourne are provided.
Cruises for the yet unnamed new riverboat will last three and four nights, while the rest of the fleet will provide its current programs, from daylight excursions to from one to seven overnighters.
What’s Seen from the Steamboat?
Be prepared to be taken in by the wonderous kaleidoscope of Australia’s birds, animals, fish, some elusive, and others more frequently seen along Murray’s banks.
Keep your distance from crocodiles. * Photo: Ted Scull
Keep a look out for emus, koalas, kangaroos, dragon lizards, parrots, pelicans, swan, and in the river, dolphins, catfish, herring, cod, bream, smelt, and lamprey.
Dozing koala Queensland. * Photo: Ted Scull
The wooded scenery fringing the rivers is interrupted by historic towns along the banks, some once connected to gold mining, lumbering, and crop transportation.
Today, they showcase Australia’s outstanding success in protecting its handsome Victorian architecture with fine examples nationwide and in addition to the historic towns bordering the Murray River.
Broken Hill, New South Wales. * Photo: Ted Scull
For more information, check our QuirkyCruise Murray River review or go directly to www.murrayriverpaddlesteamers.com.au
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HEIDI SARNA
