Seeing the Murray River a must-do for Aussies
A boat trip along the Murray River has always been a must-do for Australians, though some of us haven't made it just yet.
The long-established Spirit Australia Cruises makes it easy with two craft - a catamaran seating 39 passengers and a monohull carrying 32 - operating six-day cruises from Albury to Echuca, eight days Echuca to Mildura and Goolwa to Mildura, four days Mildura to Renmark and five days Wellington to Border Cliffs.
These vessels are not paddle steamers - each night is spent in hotel or motel accommodation in riverside towns where you can eat well, stretch the legs and meet the locals.
On average you will travel 100 "river kilometres" each day, disembarking now and then for excursions. You'll find excellent maps for each trip on the website murrayriverrun.com.au.
On the Albury to Echuca run, for example, you'll visit Corowa, Lake Mulwala, Tocumwal, Mathoura and Moama. All meals are included ($1875 share twin, pensioners $1695).
A surprise for old hands this year is a new boat trip away from the Murray to the Gippsland Lakes and rivers of Victoria.
It's a six-day trip starting at Sale, going along the Thomson and Latrobe rivers into Lake Wellington, through McLennans Strait with its abundant bird life, Paynesville, Lake Victoria, Lake King, Tambo and Nicholson rivers, Bairnsdale, Metung and finally overnight at Lakes Entrance, before a coach ride back to Sale.
This trip is much in demand, so you may have to book well ahead.
Check the route map online. The senior twin-share cost is $1695.
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