Australia’s first five-star, overnight riverboat, the brand new paddlesteamer, PS Australian Star, is now proudly operating on the Murray River, offering cruises of three to seven nights year-round from Echuca in Victoria.
Launched by Murray River Paddlesteamers and its parent company, The APT Travel Group, and more than three years in the making, the much-anticipated riverboat accommodates 38 guests in five-star comfort, reimagining the iconic Murray River as a luxury cruise destination. Australian Star’s inaugural cruise, a seven-night journey, commenced Monday, October 5, 2026.
Replicating and celebrating the graceful charm of paddlesteamers which journeyed along the Murray River in the 19th century, PS Australian Star blends heritage and contemporary elegance as the largest, wood-fired paddlesteamer in the Southern Hemisphere and the only, five-star, accommodated paddlesteamer in the world.
The eye-turning riverboat boasts a deluxe lounge offering sweeping river vistas, a gourmet restaurant, expansive outdoor relaxation areas, a passenger lift to all decks and 19 sleek staterooms, all opening to a deck and offering an ensuite, air-conditioning, complimentary Starlink Wi-Fi, luxury linen and ever-changing river views. The modern-day paddlesteamer also sports a modern, energy-efficient, hybrid diesel/steam propulsion system featuring a 1907 wood-fired steam engine, adding nostalgia and authenticity to the journey.
Weaving through the timeless landscapes of the Murray River, PS Australian Star will offer intimate and immersive journeys through history, culture and nature, with daily excursions to farm stations, wineries and heritage towns and riverside barbecues beside crackling campfires and under starlit skies
Backed by $2.25 million in funding by the Victorian Government’s Regional Tourism Investment Fund, PS Australian Star joins Murray River Paddlesteamers’ smaller but famous, 16-guest, overnight paddlesteamer, PS Emmylou, which will continue to offer multi-day cruises from Echuca.
Murray River Paddlesteamers Director, Craig Burgess, said the launch of PS Australian Star was a watershed moment for Australian river cruising and regional tourism in general which would attract new high-yield domestic and international visitors to Victoria.
“PS Australian Star represents a new era of luxury river travel in Australia, combining traditional paddlesteamer elegance with contemporary comfort, fine dining and immersive regional experiences,” Mr Burgess said.
“Australians love cruising and they love the iconic Murray River. But there’s been clear demand for a world-class, five-star experience that matches the standards of Europe’s great waterways. PS Australian Star delivers exactly that. She heralds a new era of luxury river cruising in Australia and broadens the scope of cruise experiences available in this country,” he said.
“Cabins aboard Australian Star are sold out for the rest of 2026 and forward bookings for 2027 and 2028 are extremely strong, confirming the appetite for premium overnight cruising and the thirst for slow and meaningful travel experiences. We’re deeply grateful to the Victorian Government for supporting our vision to elevate Australian river cruising.”
* Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment, Natalie Suleyman, said: “This world‑class vessel was built by Victorians and will attract more visitors to one of our most iconic waterways.”
“We will keep backing regional Victorians to grow the visitor economy and deliver lasting benefits for communities.”
APT Travel Group CEO, David Cox, said the launch of PS Australian Star was a proud moment for the company. “PS Australian Star speaks to everything The APT Travel Group is about. Looking to the future with a nod to the past, investing in Australian local tourism and giving our guests access to experiences that are truly one of a kind,” Mr Cox said.
“The Murray River is woven into this country’s history, and for us to now operate a vessel that keeps that history alive is something we’re very proud of. As we head towards our centenary in 2027, we can’t wait for guests to step aboard and experience that same standard for themselves, right here in our own backyard.”
PS Australian Star will offer a revolving program of three and four-night cruises from Echuca in Victoria, with guests able to combine both to create a seven-night sailing. Fares start from A$3045 per person, twin-share, for a three-night cruise.
Fares include return rail transfers from Melbourne to Echuca, onboard meals, daily shore excursions and experiences, cruise transfers, Wi-Fi, gratuities, selected beers and wines with dinner and soft drink, bottled water and tea/coffee throughout the cruise.
APT also offers its own unique, all-inclusive, seven-night cruise itineraries on Australian Star on selected dates year-round.
