Riverboats were once the primary means of transporting wool, grain and red gum out of the remote inlands of Victoria and New South Wales. Paddlesteamers and barges plied the waterways of the Murray, Murrumbidge and Darling Rivers. The massive red gum wharf at Echuca was Australia's largest river port, with a railway link to Melbourne.

Echuca

Visitors to Echuca can hop aboard a restored paddlesteamer for a jaunt up and down the river getting a taste of riverboat travel. Houseboats on the Murray are another way to experience the river at your own leisurely pace. But even if you don't step off land Echuca is bursting with historic interest. All round the port precinct you'll find plenty of interesting things to see with excellent displays of working steam engines, horse drawn coaches, and port history. The wharf itself is built on three levels to cater for the extremes of water level that were once associated with the mighty river.

There are quite a number of good eating houses in Echuca, among them Oscar W's which is located at one end of the wharf overlooking the river.

Goulburn Valley, Strathbogies and Gold Country

The Goulburn Valley offers a multitutde of different landscapes. North of Shepparton is rich dairy farming country. Shepparton itself is known as the fruit capital of Australia with vast orchards covering the valley. Farther south the Strathbogie Ranges provide a different setting of hills forests, waterfalls and ferny glades. Like many areas of Victoria wine growing has been a part of the scene for many years with considerable growth in recent decades. Wool growing another tradtional mainstay of the country still has its place and horse breeding has now become quite prominent. The Nagambie Lakes are popular for water sports. West of Nagambie and the Rushworth State Forest are the outskirts of the Goldfields. Heathcote was well and truly part of the Gold Rush fever with the area's first major discovery at Wild Duck Creek in 1852. Subsequent mining activities unearthed the unusual pink hues of the underlying terrain. A short walk from the town takes you to the "Pink Cliffs" where you can see the strange scene. Heathcote is also surrounded by vineyards and areas of Box Ironbark Forest. Jasper Hill is one of the nearby well known vineyards, and at Heathcote town The Emeu Inn has a Wine Centre where you can sample a comprehensive range of local product.