Australia’s sweeping plains and its greatest waterway star together in a unique ‘slow travel’ rail and river cruise package offered exclusively by leading small ship cruise specialist, Cruise Traveller.
The 10-night ‘Australia by Paddlewheel and Locomotion’ package – available from June to November 2022, features a lazy, four-night cruise along the legendary Murray River aboard the only overnight passenger paddle steamer on the river, the deluxe, 18-guest PS Emmylou, and a journey aboard the epic Indian Pacific train.
The enchanting and renewed PS Emmylou paddlewheeler starred in the hit 1983 TV mini-series, ‘All the Rivers Run’, starring Sigrid Thornton, and is still one of the most recognisable and iconic paddle steamers in Australia.
Cruise Traveller’s special itinerary begins with a night’s accommodation in a five-star Melbourne hotel before a transfer to the Murray River town of Echuca to board the riverboat, Emmylou, which offers overnight, boutique river cruises. A relaxing four-night sojourn along the meandering Murray follows, with visits to wineries, historic farm stations, indigenous sites, and the World Heritage-listed river red gum wetlands at Barmah.
Guests will also enjoy meals and complimentary barista-made espresso coffees and dinner beverages on deck, riverside picnics, a memorable campfire dinner on the riverbank under the stars, and the chance to join the crew in the wheelhouse and even try their hand at steering the boat alongside the skipper.
At dusk, the rare, wood-fired paddle steamer ties up at tranquil and remote moorings, allowing guests to experience the serenity and wildlife of the bush at night.
After another five-star hotel stay back in Melbourne, guests will fly to Adelaide for a three-night stay in a five-star hotel with free time to explore the stately city before boarding the famous Indian Pacific train for an overnight journey to Sydney via the World Heritage-listed Blue Mountains, where the train will stop for a local, included tour.
Offering all-inclusive fine dining, wines, and beverages, the Indian Pacific train is designed to rekindle the golden era of rail travel, with panoramic windows in sleeping cabins and the lounge and restaurant cars.
The itinerary ends in Sydney.
Four departure dates are available in 2022 – June 26, July 31, September 18, and November 6.
Edited by John Alwyn-Jones, Cruise Editor
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