Echuca, on the Victorian side of the Murray River, is a popular destination for river house boats and river-based sports including fishing and water skiing. It’s also an ideal destination for a weekend of discovering the region’s fascinating history.
The port of Echuca was established in 1865 and became central to river trade. The prized cargo was wool, fetched from as far afield as outback western Queensland. Echuca is located on the point of the Murray River that is closest to Melbourne. That made it an ideal trade port. Not far from Echuca the Murray meets the Darling River so it was possible in the late 1800s for paddle steamers plying the river to reach as far as Bourke in rural NSW.
Today Echuca proudly celebrates its history and still claims the moniker of Australia’s paddle steamer capital. Here is an itinerary for spending a perfect weekend exploring the history of Echuca.
Day 1
Morning
Begin you day with a hearty breakfast at the popular Black Pudding café. The café was established eight years ago and has become a firm favourites with locals and visitors alike. It’s also regarded as having Echuca’s best coffee, very important for the big day of exploring ahead of you.
A not-to-be-missed experience when in Echuca is a guided walking tour of the historic Port of Echuca, organised from the Port of Echuca Discovery Centre. The volunteer guides are a wealth of knowledge about the town’s history and enthusiastic to tell visitors all about it. They’ll spin some great yarns about the town’s colourful past too including the secret tunnel leading from the Star Hotel that helped patrons escape when the police came looking for illegal drinking.
The tunnel is very real and you’ll get to explore it yourself on the tour. You’ll also get the low down on paddle steamer industry.
Following the guided tour you are free to explore the discovery centre at your leisure. It’s a fascinating museum with plenty of things to touch and explore that kids will love.
Afternoon
After walking around the Port of Echuca you will have probably worked up a good appetite. Head to the historic Star Hotel for lunch. The pub offers delicious wood fired pizzas in a relaxing courtyard.
No need to use the secret tunnel. You can walk right through the front door. And you’re free to enjoy a cold beer or glass of wine without scarpering if the boys in blue come by.
Enjoy the rest of the afternoon browsing the shops on High Street. If you like vintage collectibles and second hand books (somebody stop me) then you’ll get a kick out of the range at Echuca Antiques. The expansive range of second hand and rare books at Red Heeler bookshop is a joy to browse for any bibliophile.
Evening
For the evening immerse yourself in Echuca’s paddle steamer history by taking a three-hour sunset dinner cruise on board the PS Emmylou.
The five-course dinner served on the cruise is top notch and well paced to give you a chance to explore the ship between courses. You can see the engine in action or just sit back and take in the scenery as you cruise gently down the mighty Murray.
Day 2
Morning
Begin the second day of your Echuca weekend with breakfast or brunch at The Odd Captain. The bustling café right opposite the Port of Echuca is perfectly situated for the rest of your exploring.
Just around the corner on Warren Street, you will find the National Holden Motor Museum. Lovers of cars and motoring history won’t want to miss this. The private museum houses some 50 Holden cars spanning around 70 years of Australia’s motoring history.
Afternoon
Once you start feeling a little peckish again you can take a leisurely grazing lunch along Hight Street. If the Holden cars have got you feeling all patriotic and craving another Aussie icon, then get stuck into a meat pie at Moama Bakery Port Café.
To continue your grazing, sample some amazing chocolate from the Echuca Chocolate Company, taste some local wine at St Anne’s winery cellar door and perhaps have an ice cream at the Port Ice Creamery.
If you don’t need to start driving back to the big smoke in the afternoon there are plenty of other activities on offer in Echuca to fill your free afternoon.
One option is another paddle steamer cruise to take in the scenery by daylight. Murray River Paddlesteamers offers one and two hours cruises on PS Emmylou and sister ships Pride of the Murray and Canberra. Other options to round out your Echuca weekend include:
- Take a historic horse and carriage ride at the Port
- Hire a canoe and paddle the river under your own steam
- Visit the Great Aussie Beer Shed and its huge collection of beer related paraphernalia
How to get here
Echuca is around 225 kilometres north of Melbourne or around two and a half hours’ drive via the Calder Freeway.
Alternatively, Echuca can be reached via Bendigo in the state’s Goldfields region in a slightly longer drive. Bendigo is one and three-quarter hours from Melbourne. The drive from Bendigo to Echuca will take just over an hour.
All of the activities in this itinerary are easily walkable, centred around the Port of Echuca. If you want to go car free for the weekend you can reach Echuca by VLine train from Melbourne or by VLine coach. The trip will take approximately three hours.
When to come
The Murray River region can get very hot in the summer. March to October is the best time to visit.