Rob Blackburn – 2009 – The Murray
Australia’s first five-star, overnight riverboat, the brand, new PS Australian Star, will start offering cruises up to a week long on the Murray River from June, 2025, with Murray River Paddlesteamers offering earlybird savings for the first year of sailings booked by May 15, 2024.
Work to refurbish a vintage 1907 Richard Garrett and Sons wood-fired steam engine has been completed, with the engine now transported from Ballarat to Mildura where the luxury, 38-guest vessel, fusing heritage and contemporary elegance, is being built for Murray River Paddlesteamers.
The new $6.75 million vessel will begin offering year-round, all-inclusive cruises of between three and seven nights on the Murray River from Echuca in Victoria from June, 2025, succeeding the current, smaller vessel, the 16-guest paddlesteamer, Emmylou .
When she is completed next year, the plush PS Australian Star will be first five-star river vessel in Australia, the largest paddlesteamer in the Southern Hemisphere and the only wood-fired, five-star, accommodated paddlesteamer in the world.
Backed by $2.25 million in funding by the Victorian Government’s Regional Tourism Investment Fund, PS Australian Star will boast a deluxe lounge offering sweeping river vistas, a fine-dining restaurant, multiple outdoor relaxation areas and 19 sleek staterooms, all opening to a deck and offering an ensuite, air-conditioning, complimentary Wi-Fi, luxury linen and a TV entertainment system as well as ever-changing river views.
The modern-day paddlesteamer will also sport a modern, energy-efficient, hybrid diesel/steam propulsion system featuring the 1907 wood-fired steam engine, adding a touch of nostalgia and authenticity to the journey.
Steam engine and Aust Star
Savings for earlybird bookings – book by May 15, 2024
Earlybird savings of 10 per cent are available for bookings for PS Australian Star made by May 15, 2024. The savings applies to sailings from September 1, 2025, to May 31, 2026, subject to availability. Including the discount, fares for a three-night cruise will be available from $2403 per person, twin-share, a four-night cruise from $3204 per person, twin-share, and a seven-night cruise from $5652 per person, twin-share.
Fares include onboard meals, daily shore excursions and experiences, V/Line rail transport between Melbourne and Echuca, cruise transfers, Wi-Fi, gratuities, selected beers and wines with dinner and soft drink, bottled water and tea/coffee throughout the cruise.
To book, call Murray River Paddlesteamers on 03 5482 5244 or visit www.murrayriverpaddlesteamers.
* Murray River Paddlesteamers offers a 10 per cent commission for travel agents booking Australian Star sailings plus bonuses for multiple bookings.
.jpg){kind=tracking}
