Introducing our 2025 starring guests and their Murray River Homes

Echuca Moama

Perched on the banks of the mighty Murray River, straddling the border of Victoria and New South Wales, Echuca Moama is our destination. This vibrant river town is known for its beautiful scenery, famous Blues Festival and, of course, fabulous food. Today, Echuca Moama is celebrated for its paddle steamers, luxury houseboats, and for being the ultimate holiday destination on the Murray.

Its rich, rebellious spirit can be traced back to its founding by a convict from Van Diemen’s Land. The region carries a colourful past of mud pirates, punts and secret tunnels leading to forbidden speakeasies. Adding to its mystique, Echuca Moama sits on both an earthquake fault line and a ley line said to channel the earth’s energy via Uluru — perhaps this is why it offers one of the most captivating ghost tours in the country.

This year, we’ve experienced the joy of cruising the Murray River in true style and soaking up the very best of what Echuca Moama has to offer. The funny thing about floating down the Murray on a luxury houseboat is how deeply it reconnects you to nature. Life slows down.

So much fun can be enjoyed riverside by casting a fishing line, toasting marshmallows or enjoying a hot tub soak as the sun sets behind the river gums. With no city lights in sight, the night sky explodes with stars. It’s a humbling experience and a region that is truly beautiful and extraordinary. visitechucamoama.com.au

Jim Arrowsmith, Pacdon Park

When two backpackers came to Australia in 2006, little did they know they would be starting a lifelong adventure and the beginning of a business making the porkpies outside of Britain.

Having grown up with British food traditions, Jim Arrowsmith and Pete Tonge missed their traditional “pork pies” on their Aussie adventure; they couldn’t find a decent pork pie anywhere. One bright spark to another, they decided to “make what we miss” — and so an Aussie tag line was born for their line of traditional British comforts made right here on Australian soil.

Jim’s first-hand experience in pig farming and business studies, paired with Pete’s British chef training, gave their ideas real weight. They had the drive to “have a go at it”, an attitude that made them a natural fit for building a business in Australia … and succeeding!

Jim and Pete use the best local ingredients, free-range pork and traditional recipes to make British favourites like pork pies, haggis, black-and-white pudding and Scotch eggs. You’ll even get pickled onions at Pacdon Park to pair perfectly with your pork pie and HP sauce, and find a grocery aisle of imported traditional condiments.

My Dad’s Honey

Meet the Jackson family: Bradley, a local beekeeper, his wife Lee-Anne and their two kids, Oscar and Jaynee. They are known for their Australian-certified organic honey, traditional honey lollies, sodas, wines and liqueurs. Bradley, an Australian entrepreneur, began making his honey in Echuca as a third-generation beekeeper. His work grew from following his fascination and love for bees and the magic these insects weave into the natural world. He dreamed of “passing on the art form of beekeeping to our children”.

Bradley is super proud that his honey is the only Australian certified organic honey that can be bought directly from the producer. Now that’s a sweet thing — getting premium raw honey direct from the beekeeper to the home pantry!

You can find Bradley and Lee-Anne at My Dad’s Honey, their shop and café in Echuca, serving up delicious food for locals and visitors. It is here you can also buy their honey-made produce, which tastes a treat! We were spoiled with honey treats on our visit and thoroughly enjoyed Bradley’s many stories. If you pop by, grab yourself a honey-based drink and sit back by the open fire for a good yarn.

Oh, and if you are wondering why a honey would be named My Dad’s Honey, that’s all due to the youngest entrepreneur in the family, Oscar Jackson! When young Oscar went to school one day and bragged to his classmates about “my dad’s honey”, little did he know that line would become a brand name that would tell a honey story to last for generations! mydadshoney.com.au

Echuca Luxury Houseboats

The banks of the Murray River, which flows through Echuca Moama, is moored with boats of all kinds to suit everyone. Here you will find Echuca Luxury Houseboats, which we call “a retreat on water”. These houseboats are next level, and for those who want a nature getaway with a touch of life’s home luxuries, you will get that and more here. Floating against a backdrop of raw, serene Australian landscape, we could lose ourselves in the charm of the Murray River and take a breath from our fast-paced lives back in Melbourne. Whether we were cooking up a storm with local produce in the huge kitchen, admiring the scenery from the rooftop or sinking into the hot tub as the sun set behind the gums, it was a week we will never forget — the kind of getaway you immediately want to book again! This is an adventure where you can soak up the calmness of the river while enjoying life’s simple pleasures with your family and loved ones, all on a luxury river houseboat. And yes, you can drive the boat yourself!
luxuryhouseboats.com.au