Victoria - Australia 2004 - page 582

1912 and is still powered by steam. It offers 2-hour trips leaving at 10:50am and
1:50pm. The fare is A$19 (US$12) for adults and A$7.50 (US$4.90) for chil-
dren (free for children under 5).
The PS Melbourne 's sister ship, the Rothbury, was built in 1881, but its
steam-driven engine has been replaced by a conventional engine. It churns out
a winery cruise every Thursday from 10:30am to 3:30pm, stopping off at a win-
ery for tastings and a barbecue lunch. The trip costs A$42 (US$27) for adults
and A$20 (US$13) for children. The Rothbury has evening dinner cruises every
Thursday from 7 to 10pm for A$40 (US$26) for adults and A$18 (US$12) for
children. You can also take the paddleboat to the Golden River Zoo (see below)
during school holiday periods leaving Mildura Wharf at 9:50am on Wednesday
morning (returning at 3pm). The trip costs A$32 (US$21) for adults and A$16
(US$10) for children 5 to 14, including zoo entry.
On dry land, the Golden River Zoo, Flora Avenue, Mildura ( & 03/5023
5540; www.goldenriverzoo.com.au), is a pleasant place to see native animals.
The zoo fronts onto the river 4km (2 1 ⁄ 2 miles) from the city center down 11th
Street. The animals here virtually follow you around (on the lookout for food)
as you walk through their large enclosures. Admission is A$12 (US$7.80) for
adults and A$6 (US$3.90) for children, including a free barbecue lunch at
noon and a free tractor-train ride down to the river at 1:30pm and an animal
show. The zoo is open daily, except Christmas Day, from 10am to 5pm.
IN ECHUCA In Echuca, another paddle steamer is the Emmylou ( & 03/
5480 2237; fax [phone]; www.emmylou.com.au). A 2-day/2-night cruise
leaves the Port of Echuca Wednesday at 6pm and returns at noon on Friday
(check sailings beforehand). The cruise includes a visit to the Barmah, an area
famous for its wetlands and the largest red gum trees in the world, or depend-
ing on river levels, a stop at Perricoota Station. The trip costs A$415 to A$435
(US$270-US$283) per person, depending on cabin. Children 4 to 14 receive a
25% discount. An overnight trip leaves on Saturday at 6pm and returns at 10am
on Sunday. It costs A$195 to A$210 (US$127-US$137) per person including
breakfast; dinner is extra. The Emmylou also offers day trips costing A$15
(US$9.75) for adults and A$7.50 (US$4.90) for kids for 1 hour, and A$18
(US$12) for adults and A$9 (US$5.90) for kids for 1 1 ⁄ 2 hours.
The Port of Echuca ( & 03/5482 4248; www.portofechuca.org.au) is defi-
nitely worth a look. The three-level red gum wharf was built in 1865 and is still
used by paddle steamers. The Port owns the PS Adelaide, the oldest operating
wooden-hulled paddle steamer in the world (1866), the PS Pevensey (1911), and
the PS Alexander Arbuthnot (1923). One-hour cruises on the latter two are
offered daily at 10:15 and 11:30am, and 1, 2:15, and 3:30pm for A$15
(US$9.90) for adults and A$6.50 (US$4.20) for children. You can take a look
around the wharf on a guided tour, priced at A$10 (US$6.50) for adults and
A$6.50 (US$4.20) for children. Ask about combined and family prices. Outside
the Port, in the Echuca Port Precinct, there are various things to do, including
carriage rides and old penny arcade machines in Sharpes Magic Movies, in an
old riverboat warehouse.
TRIPS INTO THE OUTBACK If you want to get out into the Outback,
then trips from Mildura with Mallee Outback Experiences, P.O. Box 82,
Nichols Point, VIC 3501 ( & and fax [phone], or mobile [phone]
0030), are worth the effort. The company offers two trips. The first goes to
Mungo National Park , which is famous for its red sand dunes and shifting
sands, and which I highly recommend you go and see. The second is to Hattah