Five great Aussie houseboat holiday spots
Houseboats offer getaways with the lot. For one price you get outdoor living, water views and activities, the chance to explore where landlubbers cannot and accommodation for family and friends.Yes, they’re not fast and a bit ponderous, but getting somewhere in a hurry is not what houseboats are about – and for that reason, the captain may not even need a boat licence. Interested? Here are five areas to enjoy the slow life in a houseboat.
Echuca-Moama, Victoria
Did you know the mighty Murray River is only a 220km drive from Melbourne? At least, it is if you head for Echuca, where the old river port is now a thriving township twinned with Moama on the NSW side of the border. Houseboats for hire abound and the Murray is the perfect place for them: shaded by red gums, loaded with fish, and with plenty of natural moorings along the banks you could explore for days. The weather is a bit warmer in winter and in summer you can find a handy beach for a cooling dip.
Murray Riverland, South Australia
Of course, the Murray doesn’t just flow through NSW and Victoria; it ends up in South Australia too. There’s 350km of navigable river, but up north in the Riverland is the go: in towns such as Waikerie, Renmark and Blanchetown you can hire a boat of any size, cruise the river, check out towering colourful cliffs, stop at places like the Wilkadene Woolshed Brewery or Overland Corner Hotel, or simply launch a canoe to explore the wetlands.
Hawkesbury River, NSW
When European explorers sailed up the Hawkesbury in the late 18th century they found a wild river fringed with strange trees, steep sandstone cliffs and a multitude of twists, turns and hidden coves. You can hire a houseboat upriver at Wiseman’s Ferry, a bit closer to the seaward Broken Bay at Brooklyn, or a few other options. It’s all just north of Sydney and the perfect place for a floating holiday.
Mandurah, Western Australia
Mandurah is only an hour south of Perth and the narrow passage between the Indian Ocean and the calm waters of Collins Pool make it a natural for houseboating. Just out of the Mandurah marina is Boundary Island, which is great for crabbing or you could head towards the estuary of the Murray River (no, not the Vic/NSW one!) for some fishing. Companies such as Mandurah Houseboats offer the full-luxo houseboat experience for a very different kind of WA holiday.
Noosa River, Queensland
We all know Noosa Heads on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast has a fabulous beach and swanky shopping on Hastings Street but the river behind them is the area’s real aquatic playground. You can hire all kinds of smaller boats, but a houseboat doubles as accommodation and a chance to explore, fish and swim. Upriver it’s relatively quiet and peaceful, but around urban Noosaville, there’s a huge choice of riverside restaurants and bars. Don’t feel like moving much? You can also stay on a moored houseboat for unparalleled 360-degree water views.
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