The historic port precinct is the heart of Echuca's appeal. The Echuca Wharf — the longest wooden inland wharf in Australia — still stands, and you can board the PS Adelaide, the oldest wooden-hulled paddlesteamer still operating in the world, for a cruise on the Murray. Beyond the port, the town has a handful of eccentric museums and easy river-country activities that reward a slow couple of days.
The Port of Echuca Historic Reserve covers the wharf, the old bond stores, and the Star Hotel with its escape tunnel. Sharp's Magic Movie House is an oddity worth an hour — a working collection of Victorian penny arcade machines and hand-cranked film projectors. Out on the water and in the surrounding forest, kayaking on the Murray and cycling through the red gum flats are the best ways to escape the tourist centre.