Murray River Cruise & Silo Art Trail of the Wimmera

9 days exploring the best of the Murray River and the iconic Silo Art Trail through the Wimmera region with a Botanical/Art guide. Spend four nights aboard the paddle steamer PS Emmylou visiting gardens, wetlands and wineries, before viewing public and private gardens around Mildura. Finish with a discovery of the Wimmera’s spectacular silo art installations.

Itinerary

Day 1: Melbourne, Castlemaine and Embark PS Emmylou

Depart Melbourne for Castlemaine for a tour of the Buda Historic Home & Garden, an authentic goldfields villa named by its Hungarian owner, Ernest Leviny. Explore the house, which dates to 1861, and its three acres of heritage gardens, which feature original plantings as well as a tennis pavilion and grape pergola. Enjoy free time in Castlemaine to explore the quaint shops and art galleries before continuing to Torrumbarry where you’ll board the boutique paddle steamer, PS Emmylou, which has been chartered exclusively for Botanica’s guests. As you depart Torrumbarry and head upstream, get to know your fellow travellers over an afternoon Devonshire tea. There will also be time to chat with the skipper in the wheelhouse, and learn about more about the vessel, or simply relax in your private cabin. Enjoy a drink in the saloon as the sun sets, before we gather for our Welcome Dinner. Tonight, we moor at Norris Bend, where your crew will have a riverside campfire ready.

Day 2: Perricoota Station and Restdown Wines

After a hearty breakfast, Emmylou cruises to the famous Perricoota Station, famous for its inclusion in the TV mini-series All the River Run where PS Emmylou was renamed PS Providence. From here, we depart for Restdown Wines, producers of fine organic wines and Hereford beef. Join the property’s owners for a guided tour along a 1.4km wetlands walking trail, highlighting items of great Aboriginal significance, before a gourmet lunch of local produce and wine tastings. Arriving back at Perricoota Station, the skipper will invite you to walk through its historical buildings and immaculate gardens. Afterwards, we will enjoy a fabulous dinner aboard our paddle steamer while overlooking the station’s mansion. Tonight, after dinner, it’s Movie Night with a special presentation of Riverboats Remembered, a fabulous historical presentation featuring archival footage of the paddle steamers and communities of the Murray River from the early 1900s through to the mid-1970s. 

Day 3: Layfield Lane

For early risers and keen photographers, the morning mist and wildlife around Perricoota is a sight to behold. After breakfast, Emmylou gracefully steams onwards upstream for a full day of cruising towards our Layfield Lane mooring. Today enjoy lunch on the deck, or in the saloon, with plenty of time to relax with a good book or to just take in the river views. Tonight, we reconvene for a grand dinner on the riverbank – a candlelit BBQ, enjoyed beneath a starry sky. After dinner, gather around the campfire, enjoying some live entertainment, before retiring for the evening.

Day 4: Echuca Sights and Murray Explorer

After breakfast tour the charming town of Echuca, uncovering hidden historical gems like Hopwood’s Punt and the pontoon bridge. This bridge, the brainchild of Echuca’s founder Henry Hopwood, marks the initial river crossing in the area. Next, prepare to be enchanted by the Murray River aboard the 110-year-old PS Canberra. You’ll enjoy a morning tea whilst immersing yourself in the natural beauty of the Murray River. While cruising, you’ll have the opportunity to observe stunning landscapes up close and encounter a diverse array of wildlife. Additionally, you’ll gain insights into the river’s rich history, from its pre-European days to the early colonial era when riverboats were a common sight. Returning to the Emmylou for lunch, your river journey continues upstream cruising past the imposing Port of Echuca, home to over 100 paddlesteamers in its heyday. 

Day 5: Disembark PS Emmylou and Mildura

Disembark the PS Emmylou in Echuca and travel to Mildura. Along the way, we will stop at the Flying Boat Museum at Lake Boga and learn about the vital role the region played during World War II. Enjoy some time in Swan Hill before continuing to Mildura, our home for the next three nights.

Day 6: Mildura – Murray River Gardens

This morning includes a guided tour of a citrus orchard and nursery. We then board a traditional paddle steamer for a two-hour cruise, which includes a light lunch on board. This afternoon, we visit the Southern Hemisphere’s first semi-arid botanical gardens at the Australian Inland Botanic Gardens. The gardens here include a mallee tree estimated to be 2500 years old, as well as a nature trail dedicated to many native shrubs, bushes and trees. Tonight, meet for a special dinner at your hotel’s famous restaurant, Stefano’s.

Day 7: Mildura – Private Garden and Arts Centre & Sculpture Park

Today, we visit a garden which has evolved over 45 years and is an annual feature of the Open Gardens Australia program. We enjoy some free time to explore the town of Mildura before a visit to Mildura’s renowned Arts Centre and Sculpture Park which provides ample inspiration for a sketching session with your Botanical/Art guide. The rest of the afternoon is at your leisure. 

Day 8: Wimmera Mallee Silo Art Trail

This morning, visit the SuniTafe Smart Farm for a tour and talk on the latest farming innovations and practices within the horticultural and agricultural industries. We then set off along the Silo Art Trail. Stretching over 200 kilometres, Australia’s largest outdoor gallery consists of a collection of historic wheat silos that have been transformed by a team of modern artists. Visit five of the famous silos, depicting colourful, oversized murals featuring local Wimmera Mallee characters. Perhaps take some time out to sketch these iconic artworks against the contrasting landscape.

Day 9: Murtoa Stick Shed, Mount Mitchell Estate and Melbourne

This morning, visit the historic Murtoa Stick Shed, a heritage-listed former wheat storing facility, rustically crafted from 560 mountain ash poles sourced straight from the bush. It’s the only surviving building of its type in the world and is often referred to as the ‘Cathedral of the Wimmera’. Before returning to Melbourne, stop at Mount Mitchell, a National Trust property which features a bluestone homestead built in 1861. The 10-acre grounds also comprise manicured heritage gardens and parkland, all in spring bloom. Your tour concludes in Melbourne this afternoon around 5.00pm at the Marriott Hotel.