Journeys Worldwide

+61 7 32214788

info@journeysworldwide.com.au

Australian Star, Explorer Cruise ex Echuca Return

Cruise Australian Star, Explorer Cruise ex Echuca Return
Cruise Line Murray River Paddlesteamer
Ship Australian Star
Destination Australian Rivers
Brief Description 4 Night Cruise sailing from Torrumbarry Weir to Echuca aboard Australian Star.
Type of Cruise River
Departure Date 14 Dec 2026
Cruise Description 4 Night Cruise sailing from Torrumbarry Weir to Echuca aboard Australian Star.

Day 1 - Norris bend
As you depart Torrumbarry upstream, enjoy an afternoon Devonshire tea, take in the sights and sounds of the river, and get to know your fellow cruisers. There’s ample time to chat with the skipper in the wheelhouse to learn about PS Australian Star, and her river history or simply relax in your private cabin.

When the sun begins to set, this marks the start of ‘Happy Hour’. Enjoy a drink in the saloon before a chef-prepared welcome dinner. Listen to the river birds’ evening chorus and watch for kangaroos, wombats, and many species of birds as the stars begin to appear.

Tonight, we moor at Norris Bend where your crew will have a riverside campfire (weather-dependent) ready for you to enjoy after dinner.

Day 2 - Onshore Tour & perricoota Station
After a hearty breakfast, Australian Star cruises to the famous Perricoota Station, the property first settled by James Maiden in 1843, and famous for starring in the TV mini series “All the River Run” where our famous PS Emmylou was renamed PS Providence.

Here you will depart to Restdown Winery, producers of fine organic wines and Hereford beef. Join the property’s owners for a guided tour along a 1.4km wetlands walking trail, highlighting items of great Aboriginal significance before a gourmet lunch of local produce and wine tastings. Arriving back at Perricoota Station the skipper will invite you to walk along the historical buildings and immaculate gardens of Perricoota Station before happy hour.

Tonight enjoy a fabulous dinner aboard overlooking the famous Perricoota Station mansion. Tonight, after dinner it’s Movie Night with a special presentation of “Riverboats Remembered”, a fabulous historical presentation featuring archival footage of the paddle steamers and communities of the Murray River from the early 1900s through to the mid1970s.

Day 3 - All Day Cruising & Layfield Lane
For early risers and keen photographers, the morning mist and wildlife around Perricoota is a sight to behold. After breakfast, Australian Star gracefully steams onwards upstream for a full day of cruising towards our riverside mooring, Layfield Lane mooring.

Today enjoy lunch on the deck or in the saloon with plenty of time to relax with a good book or just take in the river views. Tonight, enjoy a grand dinner on the riverbank – our signature Australian BBQ (weather dependent), lit up by candles on the tables and stars in the sky.

After dinner enjoy casual conversation around the campfire (weather dependent) with live entertainment before retiring for the evening.

Day 4 - Town Tour & Echuca
Start your day with a satisfying breakfast to fuel up for an exciting half-day adventure on both land and water. Your guided Henry Hopwood Town Tour tour will take you through the charming town of Echuca, uncovering hidden historical gems like Hopwood’s Punt and the pontoon bridge. This bridge, the brainchild of Echuca’s founder Henry Hopwood, marks the initial river crossing in the area.

Next, prepare to be enchanted by our 110-year-old PS Canberra featuring a red gum timber hull built in 1912 at Goolwa South Australia. Enjoy morning tea aboard. Before returning to Australian Star for lunch when your river cruise adventure continues upstream cruising past the imposing Port of Echuca Wharf once home to over 100 paddlesteamers in its heyday.

This evening you will enjoy a farewell dinner cruising upriver of Echuca .

Day 5 - Echuca
Before breakfast, early risers can enjoy a wander along the riverbank before we say farewell. Coach transfer to Echuca Car Parking, Train Station, and Echuca CBD Hotels
Sailing Dates
23 Jun 2025
30 Jun 2025
14 Jul 2025
21 Jul 2025
04 Aug 2025
11 Aug 2025
25 Aug 2025
01 Sep 2025
29 Sep 2025
06 Oct 2025
27 Oct 2025
10 Nov 2025
17 Nov 2025
24 Nov 2025
01 Dec 2025
15 Dec 2025
22 Dec 2025
29 Dec 2025
05 Jan 2026
12 Jan 2026
26 Jan 2026
02 Feb 2026
23 Feb 2026
02 Mar 2026
16 Mar 2026
30 Mar 2026
06 Apr 2026
13 Apr 2026
20 Apr 2026
11 May 2026
18 May 2026
25 May 2026
01 Jun 2026
03 Aug 2026
08 Jun 2026
10 Aug 2026
17 Aug 2026
15 Jun 2026
22 Jun 2026
24 Aug 2026
29 Jun 2026
31 Aug 2026
06 Jul 2026
13 Jul 2026
20 Jul 2026
27 Jul 2026
07 Sep 2026
14 Sep 2026
21 Sep 2026
28 Sep 2026
05 Oct 2026
19 Oct 2026
12 Oct 2026
26 Oct 2026
02 Nov 2026
09 Nov 2026
16 Nov 2026
23 Nov 2026
30 Nov 2026
07 Dec 2026
14 Dec 2026
Pricing
Please enquire for pricing
Cruise Itinerary
Date Port Arrive Depart
14 Dec 2026 Echuca, Victoria, Australia Transfer to Torrumbarry Weir
14 Dec 2026 Torrumbarry Weir, VIC, Australia Embark 4:00 PM
14 Dec 2026 Norris Bend, Murray River
15 Dec 2026 Perricoota Station, Murray River
16 Dec 2026 Murray River, Australia
17 Dec 2026 Echuca, Victoria, Australia
18 Dec 2026 Echuca, Victoria, Australia 9:30 AM
All itineraries and ports of call at the discretion of the cruise line subject to local weather conditions and may change without notice.

* Unless otherwise noted all pricing is on a per person twin share basis. All prices based on cash payment - credit card fees may apply. Cruise deposit, amendment and cancellation conditions apply. Special conditions may apply - please ask for full details at time of enquiry. All passports, vaccinations and visas are the responsibility of the travelling guest to secure prior to departure from Australia. Any pricing not in Australian Dollars will be converted on the day of payment into the relevant currency based on our daily rate of exchange. Please note that many of the prices shown on this website are not shown in real time. Whilst we endeavour to keep our pricing as up-to-date as possible, the advertised prices shown here may differ slightly from the live prices in our booking system. All pricing and offers are subject to availability at time of booking. Whilst all information is correct at the time of publication, offers are subject to change. We reserve the right to correct errors without penalty. Please submit any data errors/omissions you may notice on this site.

Unless otherwise expressly noted, all materials, including images, illustrations, designs, icons, and photographs appearing anywhere on this website are protected by worldwide copyright laws and treaty provisions. The copyright on such materials is held by the original creator of the materials. None of the materials may be copied, reproduced, displayed, modified, published, uploaded, posted, transmitted or distributed in whole or in part in any form or by any means other than as provided by Cruise Factory and The Small Ship Collective to its clients, or with the prior written permission of Cruise Factory and Cruise Traveller. All rights not expressly granted in these Terms are reserved. Any unauthorised use of the materials appearing on this website may violate copyright, trademark and other applicable laws and could result in criminal or civil penalties.