Echuca: 16 September 2006
The
Postcards team explores Echuca where Bridget enjoys all the luxuries of a house boat and Glen visits the Holden Museum. Carolyne horse rides at Billabong Ranch while Lawrence goes cray fishing and learns all about beer.
Echuca
Located 205 kilometres north of Melbourne via the Hume and Northern highways, Echuca is an Aboriginal name meaning 'Meeting of the Waters'. Those waters are the Goulburn, Campaspe and the mighty Murray.
A quick stroll through town and you soon discover how this once bustling river port has retained its history and identity. It's the story behind the Star Hotel that epitomizes its survival. The hotel lost its licence in 1897 and in order to continue serving customers they built a special escape route for drinkers so that they could avoid police raids.
45 Murray Esplanade
Echuca
Ph 03 5480 1181
www.starhotelechuca.com.au
National Holden Motor Museum
The National Holden Motor Museum is the largest one-make car museum in Australia with over 40 restored Holdens, rare prototypes, historical film footage and a unique range of souvenirs. A must stop for all Holden fans.
71 Warren Street
Echuca
Ph 03 5480 2033
The Golden Cow Dairy Centre
Set in Tongala, one of the most progressive dairy centres in Australia, stands the Golden Cow. Built on five acres it was established in 1994 to inform and educate tourists, students, farmers, and the dairy industry.
From humble beginnings the Golden Cow is now known as the Tongala Dairy Industry Training Centre. It offers adult education, children's holiday programs, caters for functions, is an operational mini farm, conducts school tours and is a tourist attraction with a popular café.
Corner Henderson and Finlay roads
Tongala
Ph 03 5859 1100
www.goldencow.com.au
Billabong Ranch
Billabong Trail Rides offers horse rides along the beautiful river line of Echuca. Follow the winding trails at a steady pace or for those with more experience, canter beneath the gums.
Billabong Trail Rides have a number of different rides. The pub or winery rides are a must for those wanting a whole day experience. Enjoy the beauty of the Australian bush on the way to the Falcon Hotel. Upon arrival you can choose to stay for a game of billiards or sit down to a delicious counter meal. After a few hours at the hotel you can enjoy a leisurely ride home through the bush. The winery ride crosses Stewart's Bridge and follows the Goulburn and Murray Rivers to Cape Horn Winery. Enjoy a cheese platter on arrival and a variety of reds and whites to taste.
2831 Tehan Road
Echuca
Ph 03 5483 5122
www.justhorses.com.au
Simply Irresistible House Boats
Simply Irresistible has revolutionised the house boat industry with its contemporary design and materials. With appliances in gleaming stainless steel and benches in black and white granite, couches in cocoa suede and the warmth of the timber flooring, the house boats provide an opulent four bedroom oasis with individual ensuites.
The high-capacity electrical system runs a large, two-door electric fridge-freezer with icemaker. This state of the art equipment in the gourmet kitchen means you can entertain with ease, and travel further and stay longer between stops to re-stock supplies.
The full-size home theatre system and the CD sound system are built in, along with storage and preparation areas. This creates plentiful space, even with the maximum 12 people on board.
Ph 03 5480 3111
www.simplyirresistiblehouseboats.com.au
Murray River Fishing Tours
Lawrence tries out his fishing skills with Murray River Fishing Tours when he tries to catch crayfish. Murray River Fishing Tours operate up and downstream of Echuca, fishing for Murray cod, yellow belly, silver perch, carp, yabby and Murray cray.
With door to door service, guests are shown the best fishing spots, provided with rods, reels, lures, bait and refreshments. There is no better way to spend the day.
Ph 0418 576 526
www.geocities.com/fishforcod
The Great Aussie Beer Shed
Lawrence takes a look at The Great Aussie Beer Shed, a unique tourist attraction featuring over 16,000 beer cans from Australia and around the world. Not only do they have beer cans as far as the eye can see, they also have brewery related items including beer tap tops and tap handles, trays, old wooden beer barrels, bottles, signs, brewery manufacturing equipment, machinery and plenty more.
377 Mary Ann Road
Echuca
Ph 03 5480 6904
www.greataussiebeershed.com.au
Pride of the Murray
Bridget and Glen step back in time on the Pride of the Murray, an original paddle boat locally built in the 1920s. In the 1880s, several hundred paddle-steamers and many more grand barges plied the full length of the Murray, performing the vital service of carrying wool, wheat and other goods to the settlements along the river banks.
For the past 10 years the Pride of the Murray has been recreating history by ferrying tourists along the mighty Murray River each day.
57 Murray Esplanade
Echuca
Ph 03 5482 5244
www.emmylou.com.au
Morrisons Riverview Winery & Restaurant
Morrisons restaurant offers a select menu that changes regularly, taking advantage of fresh produce and seasonal delights. The chef's creations are complemented by fresh vegetables and herbs, straight from the kitchen's own garden. To tempt you even more, the restaurant prides itself on gourmet home made cakes and an extensive coffee menu. They also offer a superb selection of platters that go hand in hand with their excellent wines.
2 Merool Lane
Moama, NSW.
Ph 03 5480 0126
www.morrisons.net.au
