Lake cruises go full steam ahead

IT’S time to hit the water with Golden City Paddle Steamer tours back on Lake Wendouree after a winter break.

From October to April, 40-minute public cruises run every Sunday from the mooring near Pipers between 1pm to 4pm, weather depending.

Golden City Paddle Steamer Museum Society president Bob Wuestewald said passengers get to experience a new perspective of Ballarat from the water.

“As you go around on the lake, you get a different view all together,” he said.

“There are lots of birds to see at this time of year, and it’s a relaxing trip. We give commentary of different landmarks of interest around the lake.”

The society also takes private party or function bookings, and Mr Wuestewald said his crew of volunteer captains and deckhands would love to host more passengers.

“They can run from any time in the morning until 8pm at night, and they last between one and three hours,” he said.

Mr Wuestewald has been a member of the society for a quarter-of-a-century, president for 20 years, and started driving the historic original 1885 Golden City Paddle Steamer in 1998.

“When it was taken off the water by the marine board, I got involved in its restoration behind the scenes. We had the boat nearly restored when it was burnt to ashes,” he said.

Between 2006 and 2013, the current replica paddle steamer was built, which Mr Wuestewald said looks the same as the original.

Passengers do not need to book Sunday tours, they can just arrive at the mooring by Pipers, opposite the Ballarat Botanical Gardens.

Visit goldencitypaddlesteamer.org.au for more info.