echuca
It wouldn't be a trip to Victoria if we didn't stop at Echuca. There is something about hearing the sound of the paddlesteamer whistle that brings so much joy and a sense of slowness.
The drive to Echuca was quite picturesque as we travelled through the Victorian countryside and bushland. We saw a sign for The Chocolate Mill. There was no second thoughts as to whether we should stop. What a tasty range of chocolates that you can find here, and the smell of warm chocolate was tantalising. You can watch live demonstrations of how these chocolatiers make their chocolate or stop in at the cafe for a bite to eat. We were on a mission so we stocked up with a copious amount of chocolate before hitting the road again.
Being a wife of a train driver and a mother of two boys, there was no chance that we weren't going to stop in at Bendigo on our way from Ballarat to Echuca! There were tram rides to be had! Parking was easy around the back of Central Deborah Gold Mine which is the main hub for Bendigo Tramways. Our one-day vintage talking tram tickets cost us $12.50 per adult and $7.50 per child. We traveled from one end of the tram line to the other, Central Deborah Gold Mine to Joss House. There is all day caravan parking at Joss House if you wish to start from there instead. There are many stops along the way and the onboard commentary provides you with local historical points of interest. Allow an hour for a return trip and even longer if you wish to disembark at any of the stops along the way.
Being a wife of a train driver and a mother of two boys, there was no chance that we weren't going to stop in at Bendigo on our way from Ballarat to Echuca! There were tram rides to be had! Parking was easy around the back of Central Deborah Gold Mine which is the main hub for Bendigo Tramways. Our one-day vintage talking tram tickets cost us $12.50 per adult and $7.50 per child. We traveled from one end of the tram line to the other, Central Deborah Gold Mine to Joss House. There is all day caravan parking at Joss House if you wish to start from there instead. There are many stops along the way and the onboard commentary provides you with local historical points of interest. Allow an hour for a return trip and even longer if you wish to disembark at any of the stops along the way.
Now with 3 satisfied men, it was time to continue our drive to Echuca. Echuca is on Yorta Yorta Country. The Yorta Yorta people lived along the grassy waterways of Echuca to hunt, fish and gather food. We stayed at the NRMA Echuca Holiday Park on a powered drive through synthetic site. We were stoked! The site was massive, you could keep your car hitched if you wanted! Our site number was 148 which had a large garden bed on the side and it was close to the outdoor heated pool and the amenities block and camp kitchen which were quite impressive.
Port of echuca
The Port of Echuca is on the Murray River and is the third largest port in Australia, outside of Sydney and Melbourne. The wharf was built in 1865 and at its peak, Echuca supported 8 sawmills and turned over up to 240 paddlesteamers a year! Somehow, Rob yet again sniffed out a steam engine that is stationary at the port. Our warriors had a blast pressing the whistle button and blowing steam from the front of the engine. It is free to explore the port and the dock makes for some brilliant paddlesteamer spotting. Just enter via Port of Echuca Discovery Centre.
p.s. pevensey
There are a few paddlesteamer cruises to choose. Be sure to head to the Port of Echuca Discovery Centre early to purchase your tickets or book online to avoid disappointed. The cruise we booked was booked out before the scheduled time. We chose the one hour paddlesteamer cruise on P.S. Pevensey which cost us $72 for the family.
P.S. Pevensey is named after a sheep property on the Murrumbidgee River called Pevensey Station. In the old days, P.S. Pevensey carried 120 tons of cargo. She collected bales of wool from station properties and brought them to the Echuca Wharf. At the Port of Echuca, the wool was loaded onto trains and taken to Melbourne for shipping overseas. The Pevensey is special because it is an authentic paddlesteamer with its original steam engine. It was also made famous in the Australian television mini-series ‘All the Rivers Run’.
P.S. Pevensey is named after a sheep property on the Murrumbidgee River called Pevensey Station. In the old days, P.S. Pevensey carried 120 tons of cargo. She collected bales of wool from station properties and brought them to the Echuca Wharf. At the Port of Echuca, the wool was loaded onto trains and taken to Melbourne for shipping overseas. The Pevensey is special because it is an authentic paddlesteamer with its original steam engine. It was also made famous in the Australian television mini-series ‘All the Rivers Run’.
We spent two nights in Echuca. The town has grown since the last time we visited. On one side of the town is the historical port and on the other side of town you will find multiple supermarkets and retail stores. It is quite the contrast. It was State of Origin night so we decided to go out for dinner at the Indian restaurant before heading back early to watch the game in the van before hitting the hay ready for our last leg of the trip, a Hipcamp at Brungle Creek.
Peace & love,
Peace & love,