Murray River Paddlesteamers has launched Australia’s first five-star overnight riverboat, Australian Star, launching on the Murray River this summer as well as exciting new bonuses for bookings made for 2027 sailings.
Travellers that book a seven-night cruise aboard Australia Star departing between 1 January and 31 August 2027 receive a $100 saving per person, a free hotel night in Echuca or Melbourne before or after the cruise, and the chance to win $1,000 off the total stateroom fare. For bookings made from 1 January to 28 February 2026.
The new 38-guest Australian Star fuses heritage and contemporary elegance as the first five-star river vessel in Australia, the largest paddlesteamer in the Southern Hemisphere and the only wood-fired, five-star, accommodated paddlesteamer in the world.
Built to replicate an authentic, 19th Century paddlesteamer but with modern-day luxuries, the new $11 million Australian Star will boast a deluxe lounge offering sweeping river vistas, a gourmet restaurant, multiple outdoor relaxation areas and 19 sleek staterooms, all opening to a deck and offering an ensuite, air-conditioning, complimentary Wi-Fi, luxury linen and ever-changing river views.
The modern-day paddlesteamer also sports a modern, energy-efficient, hybrid diesel/steam propulsion system featuring a 1907 wood-fired steam engine, adding a touch of nostalgia and authenticity to the journey.
Weaving through the timeless landscapes of the Murray River in contemporary comfort, Australian Star will offer intimate and immersive journeys through history, culture and nature, with daily excursions to farm stations, wineries and heritage towns and riverside barbecues beside crackling campfires and under starlit skies.
From 2026, the striking, new vessel offers year-round cruises of between three and seven nights on the Murray River from Echuca.
