Cannot praise this company highly enough. They went out of their way to give us a fabulous day. Nothing too much trouble. Particular mention to driver/guide Michael. Exceptional. I would 100% recommend using this tour company.
About Activity
What's Included
Includes
- Exclusive Wildlife Experience - Native animal encounters plus exclusive koala keeper talk at park
- Small Group Experience - Maximum 15 travelers ensures personalized attention and intimate atmosphere
- Award-winning Wine Tasting - Guided tasting at Heathcote winery featuring Cambrian soil wines
- Premium Transport - Comfortable midi coach with WiFi and guaranteed window seats for every booking
- Authentic Murray River Cruise - 1-hour PS Canberra paddle steamer with captain's commentary aboard
- Expert Local Guide - Discover hidden gems with engaging commentary throughout your outback adventure
Excludes
- Food and Drinks other than what's stated
Departure & Return
Departure Point
- Meet outside Protagonist Café (St Kilda Road side). Do not wait at Hamer Hall. Look for the Giant Spire and Protagonist Café out front. Accessible via tram (Free Tram Zone), 5-minute walk from Flinders Street Station, or 5-10 minutes on foot from most central hotels.
Return
- Meet outside Protagonist Café (St Kilda Road side). Do not wait at Hamer Hall. Look for the Giant Spire and Protagonist Café out front. Accessible via tram (Free Tram Zone), 5-minute walk from Flinders Street Station, or 5-10 minutes on foot from most central hotels.
Itinerary
Welcome to this picturesque lake town, a taste of regional Australia with waterfront cafes and regional produce.
Begin your regional Victoria adventure in the peaceful lake-side township of Nagambie. Take some time to stretch your legs, refuel with a coffee from the charming main street, and enjoy the serene Lake Nagambie views as you enter the river region of Victoria.
Get up close to Australia's unique wildlife at Kyabram Fauna Park. Wander open-air enclosures and meet kangaroos, emus, koalas, reptiles, and more in a relaxed, natural setting — a true highlight for nature lovers and families alike. Start your experience with a Ranger Talk at the Koalas, before proceeding to explore the park in tour own time. Finished early - enjoy the treats of the on-site café as you sit and watch the cute Meerkats run about you.
Step back in time as we arrive into the historic port town of Echuca, Victoria’s largest inland port. This charming river port town on the Murray River is known for its 19th-century wharf, paddle steamers, and preserved heritage buildings that reflect its vital role in Australia's inland trade era.
Take some time to explore and get some lunch, before boarding the PS (Paddle Steamer) Canberra for a relaxing one-hour cruise along the Murray River, complete with captain's commentary. Drift past towering red gum forests and heritage wharves aboard this authentic paddle steamer.
Silo Art - marvel at the vibrant silo art installation - part of Victoria's celebrated Silo Art Trail. Travelling through the agricultural heartland of Victoria, witness as the scenery changes around you from eucalypt forests, to the wide expanse of farmland, to rows upon rows of vineyards. We stop for a chance to view the iconic painted silos of Rochester - part of Victoria's celebrated Silo Art Trail showcasing the unique art of midland Victoria. These towering artworks tell the story of regional history and local wildlife, perfect for memorable photos.
We finish the day with a premium wine tasting at one of Heathcote's most renowned Wineries. Sample a selection of award-winning wines while soaking in the stunning vineyard and hillside views that define this celebrated estate.
Return back to the brights lights of Melbourne city after a fulfilling day exploring the best fo regional Victoria. Be dropped back at the Melbourne Arts Centre or your city center hotel on request
Language Offered
Additional Info
Cancellation Policy
Reviews
Loved every minute of this cruise. Staff are all so friendly and welcoming. I felt relaxed and spoilt by the never ending delicious food cooked by Greg and brought to us by an ever smiling Julie. Yes the rooms are tiny but most time is spent in the saloon eating,relaxing on deck or exploring when the boat docks so didnt worry me at all. If you want a huge room to lounge about in all day this is not the holiday for you but if you are open to admiring the mighty Murray with a full tummy and great company then I definitely recommend this wonderful experience. Thanks and I am definitely looking at booking something similar for another holiday on the Murray
Ray was a wonderful tour guide and the tour was a lovely set of experiences. We started the day with a short coffee break on Lake Nagambie. On the way we saw wild kangaroos hopping in the fields which was awesome for us Americans. We then traveled to the Kyabram Fauna Park (loved the meerkats even though not native Australian animals). Then on to Echuca with a tasty lunch at the Star Hotel and a hour long paddleboat ride on the SS Canberra along the Murray River. The Rochester Silo art was amazing. And the wine tasting at Sanguine Winery was wonderful. We were the only ones there and got great personal service with great wines to taste. The entire time Ray provided information about Australia and the countryside we were passing. The trip was a great set of individual experiences that added to a full and satisfying day. Highly recommended.
We enjoyed our day tour visiting the zoo and riding the paddle steamship. The wine tasting at Sanguine vineyard was the icing on the cake! They gave us a yummy lunch of pizza and salads at a local resto. Our tour guide/driver was a young man named Mike. Mike was very gracious and jolly the whole time. He gladly answered all our questions, made us laugh and gave us several insights/ trivia about the place etc. We absolutely enjoyed his company! The van was spacious and clean so it was a relaxing drive to and from Melbourne. We will definitely book with Mike and Local Way Tours again.
Mike was a delightful and witty tour guide—professional, knowledgeable, and clearly passionate about the history of the towns we visited along the way and back from Echuca. The well-timed program made for an exhilarating, fun-filled day, with the paddle steamer experience as a standout highlight. Paddling aboard the Emmy Lou felt like stepping back in time while learning about the rich history of the Murray River . I want to give kudos to Local Way Tours for a fantastic value for money tour !
Sue was a great guide- friendly bubbly informative and a really good driver. The tour was so interesting and included a visit to a wildlife park, silo art and a winery besides the one hour Murray River paddle steamer cruise. Sue gave us tips along the way at each stop to enhance our experience and fully use the time which we had in each place. We didn’t feel rushed and her commentary helped us to enjoy the whole experience. I thought that the tour was good value, as it lasted 11 hours and included the wildlife Park admission , winery tasting and the cruise. I would go on another trip with this company next time I’m in Melbourne and I really hope that Sue is the guide this time again.
Great experience, wonderful driver/tour guide. Loved the wildlife park, and paddle Steamer trip. Ended the day with a relaxing wine tasting then chilled out on the drive back to Melbourne.
What a great tour, Jordan was a delightful host, paddle steamer was the highlight, and Echuca was a great town to explore. Gave us a taste of Victoria, and we will definitely be back. Thank you, Jordan, for a great day.
Perfect day from start to finish - Mobs of kangaroos in the paddocks along the Hume Freeway, coffee stop and views of the peaceful Lake Nagambie, up close Koala experience and surprised by some meerkats at Kyabram Wildlife Sanctuary, burger and chips lunch at the Bridge Hotel in Echuca, a stroll around the historic wharf, a Paddle Steamer cruise on the P.S.Canberra, a stop to admire the Silo Art at Rochester, a fabulous wine and cheese tasting at Sanguine Estate hosted by Mark and Jodie, and then return to Melbourne past volcanic rock formations, to finish up with the best night view of Melbourne along the Bolte Bridge. Perfectly paced and seamless tour with informative narration from Ray and a pleasant playlist made for a very relaxing and memorable day.
Monday through Friday 9 am to 7 pm EST
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