This section is dedicated to take away all your "I wish someone had told me that before I went!" experiences. This way, you can spend less time settling in, and more time making new friends in your chosen hostel. We share our insider knowledge of tips, tricks and important things to look out for in Echuca.
Situated on the banks of the mighty Murray River, Echuca is a historic country town where visitors can experience the traditional Australian way of life, far removed from big city influences. Over a century ago, the town was one of the most important river-ports in Australia, when hundreds of paddle-steamers traversed the country’s inland waterways, transporting passengers, agricultural produce, merchandise, and mail between isolated settlements along their banks. These days, Echuca’s glory days as a port are long gone, but the town is still a fascinating place to visit with much for backpackers to see and do.
Unlike backpacker hostels in larger cities and tourist centres, hostels in Echuca are much more laid-back and friendly, giving visitors a glimpse of typical Australian country hospitality. Echuca is a popular spot for travelers to spend an extended period while working on the local farms. Seasonal work includes fruit-picking, packing and labouring on the farms, or sometimes in local hospitality businesses such as hotels, motels, and restaurants. The friendly staff at the hostels in Echuca can tell you more about what work is available in the area and when.
There is much to see in Echuca and its surrounds, and some of the fun things you can do during a sojourn in town are river cruises (on some of the old paddle-steamers), water-sports, country road-trips, cycling, hiking, and visiting the nearby Kyabram Fauna Park, just half an hour's drive away.
History-lovers will find Echuca fascinating and most visitors enjoy spending some time at the Port of Echuca Discovery Centre, situated near the town’s old wharf. There are also several other museums in town, including the Echuca Historical Society Museum, Chanter Estate and Military Museum, and the National Holden Motor Museum. If shopping is more your style, there are also a couple of great local markets held in town. Ask your friendly Echuca hostel staff for more information.
Echuca is a great backpacker destination at any time of the year, but there’s always extra fun to be had if you visit during some of the special events that are held there. Some of the most popular of these are the annual Riverboats Music Festival (mid-February), Steam Rally Echuca (early June), and Echuca Moama Winter Blues Festival (late July). If you love the ambiance of country fairs, the Echuca Moama Agricultural Show -- held each year in early November -- is also an event that you won’t want to miss.
Just a couple of hours’ drive north of Melbourne, Echuca is easy to reach by both private and public transport. Regular trains and coach services connect it with the city, as well as with Sydney and other smaller regional centres.
Written by local enthusiast for Echuca hostels
Carsani
