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ALBURY/WODONGA
Albury/Wodonga
is
the
ideal
spot
to
enjoy
the
surrounding
countryside,
visit
the
upper
reaches
of
the
Murray
near
Corryong,
fish
the
streams
and
the
dams,
or
sail
or
waterski
on
Lake
Hume.
There
are
also
international
standard
golf
courses
and
lawn
bowls
to
keep
visitors
entertained.
The
PS
Cumberoona
takes
visitors
on
a
leisurely
trip
along
the
Murray
and
there
are
plenty
of
shady
picnic
spots
along
the
banks.
Albury's
Regional
Art
Gallery
is
worth
a
visit,
and
the
cities
have
an
excellent
array
of
theatre,
clubs
and
restaurants.
A
wide
range
of
local
produce
is
available
for
sampling
including
cheese,
trout,
jams,
yabbies
and
nuts.
And,
of
course,
there
are
the
local
wines.
ECHUCA/MOAMA
Echuca,
hub
of
The
Murray
River
trade
of
the
1870s
and
80s,
remains
faithfully
intact
100
years
on.
Here
you
can
re-live
the
river
boat
days
-
days
when
Echuca
was
Australia's
largest
inland
port.
Bawdy
hotels,
general
stores
crammed
with
supplies
and
the
public
buildings
of
law
and
order
sprung
up
out
of
this
frantic
activity.
Two
hundred
trading
boats
carrying
wool,
grain
and
red
gum
passed
through
the
port
every
year.
Today,
as
then,
the
Port
remains
the
true
heart
of
Echuca.
The
River
traffic
still
bustles
but
this
time
their
cargo
is
pleasure
seekers.
The
Port
area
is
serviced
by
Murray
Esplanade,
a
pedestrian
walk
flanked
by
fine
19th
Century
buildings.
These
have
been
faithfully
restored
so
visitors
can
experience
the
sights
sounds
and
smells
of
this
"step
back
in
time"
community.
There
is
no
entry
fee
to
Murray
Esplanade.
Stroll
past
the
towering
red
gum
wharf,
once
a
kilometre
long,
which
still
stands
as
a
lasting
monument
to
the
Murray
River's
major
inland
port.
The
wharf
was
built
on
three
levels
to
accommodate
the
rise
and
fall
of
the
mighty
Murray
River
and
is
still
used
to
house
a
collection
of
some
of
the
world's
oldest
"still
operating"
paddlesteamers
and
barges
and
other
paraphernalia.
The
Star
Hotel
on
Murray
Esplanade
-
now
the
headquarters
of
the
Port
of
Echuca
Authority,
a
souvenir
shop
and
a
Museum
-
is
linked
with
the
wharf
by
an
underground
tunnel
which
allowed
the
old
timers
to
avoid
the
police
who
frequently
raided
the
hotel
looking
for
after
hours
"drinkers".
Discover
the
Bridge
Hotel,
built
by
the
Echuca's
founder
Henry
Hopwood
in
1858,
furnished
in
period
style.
It
is
a
living
monument
to
the
many
travellers
who
crossed
the
river
on
Hopwood's
punt
to
quench
their
thirst.
A
unique
feature
of
the
Esplanade
is
the
only
brothel
(no
longer
operating)
in
Australia
which
is
classified
by
the
National
Trust.
The
sounds
of
horse
drawn
Cobb
&
Co
coaches,
the
steam
whistles
of
the
paddlesteamers,
the
clang
of
the
blacksmith's
hammer
and
the
buzz
of
the
massive
saw
as
it
slices
through
the
red
gum
logs,
the
laughter
from
the
old
time
Movie
House
or
the
clatter
of
coins
in
the
Penny
Arcade
are
all
part
of
the
living
history
experience
of
the
Port
of
Echuca.
At
the
western
end
of
Murray
Esplanade
you
enter
Hopwood
Gardens,
now
referred
to
as
Paddlewheel
Park,
which
sprawl
along
the
river
bank.
This
is
the
embarkation
point
for
a
one
hour
cruise
aboard
the
PS
Pride
of
the
Murray,
PS
Canberra
or
MV
Mary
Ann,
or
for
a
one
or
two
night
cruise
aboard
the
PS
Emmylou
which
is
a
fully
licensed
floating
hotel.
Visitors
to
Echuca
can
experience
the
river
as
Captain
of
their
own
"drive
yourself"
houseboat.
The
more
adventurous
can
join
a
guided
canoeing
safari.
Echuca/Moama
is
the
closest
Murray
River
community
to
Melbourne,
about
206
kilometres,
and
in
addition
to
Australia's
river
history,
it
boasts
magnificent
sporting
facilities.
These
include
the
Rich
River
Golf
and
Country
Club,
the
first
class
bowling
greens
at
the
Moama
bowling
Club,
croquet,
water
skiing
and
fishing.
WANGARATTA
Wangaratta
is
a
visitor's
haven
from
which
to
enjoy
the
delights
of
the
region.
Explore
over
26
local
wineries,
the
extensive
Ovens,
Murray
River
and
Lake
systems,
the
Warby
Ranges.
Discover
the
haunts
of
the
infamous
Kelly
gang
and
the
fascinating
history
of
the
gold
rush
days.
Wangaratta.
heart
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