Inside Riverdream Boatel: The Bond villain stay turning Mildura’s Murray into a luxe playground

From glass elevators to penthouse suites, a new wave of luxury river boats is drawing cashed-up tourists to the Murray and pumping money into the tourism sector. TAKE A LOOK INSIDE

Ultra luxury houseboats fit for a Bond villain — complete with a glass elevator — are helping to turn Mildura’s stretch of Australia’s longest river into a floating summer playground as operators report booming bookings ahead of the holiday season.

Tourism operators from across Sunraysia say cruising the river in luxury has become a must-do for grey nomads, families and international visitors, underpinning the region’s summer economy.

The Riverdream Boatel, docked in Mildura, is luxury on the Murray. Picture: Facebook

At the centre of that surge is the award-winning Riverdream Boatel, an all-inclusive luxury accommodation vessel recently named the best bespoke houseboat in the world for the second year running.

“It’s a luxury, opulent, penthouse on water, we are blessed to have it here on the Murray, it is just a playground for every age group there is,” Riverdream Boatel owner Cheryl Broadbent said.

The luxury Riverdream Boatel, docked in Mildura, is a floating five star hotel on the Murray. Picture: Stuart Kavanagh

Described as “more than a houseboat” by Ms Broadbent’s husband Alan King, the Riverdream Boatel comes with five bedrooms all with their own ensuites, a high-end living and kitchen space and massive glass windows with full views of the Murray River.

Owner of the Riverdream Boatel Cheryl Broadbent showing off one of the many international awards the five star hotel on the water has won. Picture: Stuart Kavanagh

“Cheryl offers more than a trip on a houseboat, she offers a complete experience. If you’re on this boat you will want for nothing, and she is constantly upgrading things, we just had a whole new sound system put in,” Mr King said.

Three nights on-board set guests back $8800, while a seven-night stay cost $12,720.

Across Christmas and New Year, seven days will cost you more than $15,000, at $15,600 for an all-inclusive stay.

The stays are all-inclusive, with a private chef, food and wine and national park tours bundled in.

Owner of the Riverdream Boatel Cheryl Broadbent and her husband Alan King. Picture: Stuart Kavanagh

The Riverdream Boatel is berthed alongside another high-end luxury operator in All Seasons Houseboats which is also riding a wave of demand.

Operations manager Lucy Bromley said flagship vessel Elevate Luxury, launched in July last year, had been “an absolute powerhouse on the water” since joining the fleet.

Another company offering luxury stays on the Murray in Mildura is All Seasons Houseboats. Picture: Supplied

“However, Elevate sets herself apart as the only houseboat on the entire Murray, and the only houseboat in the Southern Hemisphere, that has a glass elevator, so she’s completely accessible and wheelchair friendly,” Ms Bromley said.

Mildura Paddle Steamers is also preparing for the summer holidays, offering day trips and dinner cruises for tourists who wanted to be on the river without sleeping aboard.

Mildura Paddle Steamers tapped into the same appetite for Murray River escapes offering day trips and dinner cruises for tourists who wanted to be on the river without sleeping aboard Picture: Supplied by First National Real Estate

“A lot has also gone towards the focus on nature, the river itself and its environs, the wildlife, flora and fauna, or the typical ‘Aussie experience’ just chilling in the deck chairs listening to birdsong, paddles splashing and a cold beer or local wine in hand,” Mildura Paddle Steamers marketing manager Ashton McKenzie said.

Across the border at Gol Gol, hotel supervisor Robyn said cashed-up river guests were a lifeline for the tight-knit town’s riverfront pub.

Gol Gol Pub, just across the bridge from Mildura, in NSW. Picture: Supplied/Instagram

“We get people from all over Australia. We get a lot of tourists from New Zealand and America, and they’re all very fascinated by the view of the river,” she said.

“We have a very beautiful river view. Our meals are beautiful and fine dining. And great staff, of course. And we are dog-friendly,” she said.

At nearby Apex RiverBeach Caravan Park, manager Byron Coxon said retired travellers deliberately based themselves by the water so they could tick off a Murray cruise.

“A lot of people that stay here, we call them the grey nomads and the majority of them want to go on the river, they absolutely love it,” Mr Coxon said.

Apex River Beach Holiday Park in Mildura said gray nomads deliberately based themselves by the water so they could tick off a Murray cruise. Picture: Supplied/Facebook

“It seems like it’s a bit of a bucket list type of thing to do,” he said, adding that tourism “is very important to all the businesses in town, cafes, restaurants etc, and it pumps plenty into the economy.”

For anyone chasing the full Bond villain treatment, Riverdream Boatel is the closest thing the Murray has to a floating lair, with all the luxury and none of the world domination.