The only Aussie place to make National Geographic’s 2025 best list

Elizabeth WhiteheadBy Elizabeth Whitehead
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National Geographic has singled out one place in Australia on its Best of the World list for 2025… and it’s not any of the usual suspects.

An unsung Aussie region has edged onto National Geographic’s Best of the World list for 2025. The Murray River joins destinations such as Greenland and an active volcano in Guatemala as one of the world’s most exciting places to visit next year.

The Murray River has been singled out by National Geographic as one of the best destinations in the world for 2025. (Image: Visit Swan Hill)

Running along the border of NSW and Victoria, and into SA, The Murray River is the world’s third-longest navigable river behind the Amazon and Nile. National Geographic cites the upcoming debut of the PS Australian Star – a 5-star luxury paddle steamer – as a key reason why the destination is so hot right now. The $6.75 million PS Australian Star will run multi-day cruises from Echuca starting in June 2025. Itineraries will see passengers gliding along the tree-lined banks of the Murray, stopping for day excursions to vineyards and Aboriginal archaeological sites.

Murray River
Cruise between Echuca and Adelaide on a multi-day river cruise. (Image: Visit Vic)

The charming vintage paddle steamer PS Emmylou is refurbished from a 1906 steam engine and has grown to become an icon of Echuca. Due to popular demand, PS Emmylou will also expand her offerings, also ferrying passengers on a variety of three-, four- and seven-night journeys between Echuca and Adelaide from next year.

PS Emmylou
Vintage paddle steamer PS Emmylou is an icon of the Murray. (Image: Visit Vic)

Why should you visit?

Aside from the jaw-dropping natural scenery, The Murray region is steeped in history – from the charming heritage streetscapes of Gold Rush towns to the wild history of bush rangers who infamously roamed the area. The Murray is also one of Australia’s unsung foodie hotspots, with an abundance of growers, makers and restaurants where you can sample fresh farm-to-table produce. We’ve put together a more in-depth guide of the best things to do along the Murray, as well as some inspiration for how to unwind on an immersive weekend there.

an aerial view of the Murray River
The community connection runs as deep as the Murray River. (Image: Rob Blackburn/Visit Vic)
Elizabeth Whitehead
Elizabeth Whitehead is a writer obsessed with all things culture; doesn't matter if it's pop culture or cultures of the world. She graduated with a degree in History from the University of Sydney (after dropping out from Maths). Her bylines span AFAR, Lonely Planet, ELLE, Harper's BAZAAR and Refinery 29. Her work for Australian Traveller was shortlisted for single article of the year at the Mumbrella Publishing Awards 2024. She is very lucky in thrifting, very unlucky in UNO.
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This geological wonder is hiding in the heart of Victoria

    Michael TurtleBy Michael Turtle
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    Mythical, historical and most of all, spectacularly beautiful, Buchan Caves demands you take your time – and a tour. 

    In the pools of water, so still they could be mirrors, the reflections of the stalactites make these limestone towers seem even taller. Almost 400 million years ago, an underground river carved through the rock to create the Buchan Caves . Now, artworks created by dripping water adorn these subterranean galleries: stalactites hanging from the ceiling, pillars connecting some to the ground, even curtain-like wave formations clinging to the stone.

    Caves House
    Visit the caves for the day or stay onsite in the campground or at the self-contained Caves House. (Image: Ben Savage)

    “This is called the Fairy Cave because it’s full of fairy dust,” a guide tells visitors as they enter a cavern glittering with “calcite that’s solidified into thousands of tiny little diamond shapes”.  Buchan Caves is Victoria’s largest cave system, but Fairy Cave is a highlight and, along with nearby Royal Cave, is accessible only by tour. Naturally cold, naturally dark, these caverns deep below the surface light up as the local experts tell their stories. 

    couple walking in cave
    You’ll need to book a guided tour to see the caves. (Image: Tourism Australia)

    Among the hundreds of caves, some can be easily accessed from the surface. For instance, a casual stroll along the FJ Wilson Interpreted Walk, as kangaroos watch on from beneath acacia trees, leads into the 400-metre-long Federal Cave and its natural steps of white limestone. A slightly longer track, the Granite Pools Walk heads through soaring forest down into moss-covered gullies where the calls of lyrebirds trill through the leaves. 

    A quick history lesson on Buchan Caves 

    Buchan Caves
    Buchan Caves are a must-visit attraction in Gippsland. (Image: Tourism Australia)

    Among the geology and the nature are millennia of history. This part of East Gippsland connects the high country to the coast and was long a place of refuge for the local Gunaikurnai people on seasonal migrations to the mountains. Archaeological studies show humans lived here up to 18,000 years ago, with artefacts such as small stone tools found around the site. But not too far into the caverns – oh no! The Gunaikurnai didn’t dare venture deep into the dark at Buchan Caves, telling stories they were inhabited by gnome-like nyols (small grey-skinned creatures that could steal memories). 

    Buchan Caves Hotel
    The Buchan Caves Hotel was rebuilt after burning down in 2014. (Image: Jess Shapiro)

    By the early 1900s, more people had started to hear about these incredible caves and so the Moon family set up home at the site and started to run tours below ground for intrepid visitors. More than a century later, their historic residence is available as accommodation, with the three-bedroom house sleeping up to eight people and now equipped with modern amenities the Moons could only have dreamt of. 

    But whether you stay overnight or just spend the day here, it’s worth taking your time to explore more than just the main caves, to get a deeper understanding of one of Victoria’s fascinating geological attractions.