Echuca’s star attraction is the historic Port of Echuca. Everything is original – you’re exploring living history as you walk along the pedestrian-only Murray Esplanade , which you can wander for free.
At the northern end of Murray Esplanade, the Port of Echuca Discovery Centre is your gateway to the Echuca Wharf area (admission ticket required), with excellent displays (some of them interactive) on the port's history, the paddle steamers and the riverboat trade. Guided tours set out from the discovery centre twice daily.
In the wharf’s cargo shed, there’s an interesting audiovisual presentation and dioramas depicting life on the riverboats. Walk along the various levels of the massive wharf and onto the restored historic paddle steamers: PS Pevensey (built in 1911) and PS Adelaide (1866), the oldest operating paddle steamer in the world. The wharf was built with three tiers because of the changing river levels; there are gauges marking the highest points.
Back on the Esplanade, stop in at the Star Hotel (1867) and escape through the underground tunnel, which helped drinkers avoid the police during the years when the pub was a ‘sly grog shop’.
On Hopwood Pl at the far end is the Bridge Hotel , where your ticket admits you to a historic upstairs gallery. The pub now operates as a restaurant and bistro.
Sharp's Magic Movie House & Penny Arcade has authentic and fully restored penny-arcade machines – you’re given a fist-full of pennies. Free fudge tasting is another blast from the past. The movie house shows old films such as Buster Keaton or Laurel and Hardy classics.
Other port-area sights include Red Gum Works , a historic sawmill that recreates old timber-milling days. Watch wood-turners and blacksmiths work with traditional equipment, and purchase red-gum products.
There are free tastings of local wines at St Anne's , where the giant port barrels will inspire you to taste the range of ports, aged in bourbon and rum barrels.
