IT\u2019S time to hit the water with Golden City Paddle Steamer tours back on Lake Wendouree after a winter break.<\/p>\n
From October to April, 40-minute public cruises run every Sunday from the mooring near Pipers between 1pm to 4pm, weather depending.<\/p>\n
Golden City Paddle Steamer Museum Society president Bob Wuestewald said passengers get to experience a new perspective of Ballarat from the water.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs you go around on the lake, you get a different view all together,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are lots of birds to see at this time of year, and it\u2019s a relaxing trip. We give commentary of different landmarks of interest around the lake.\u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey can run from any time in the morning until 8pm at night, and they last between one and three hours,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen 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,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Between 2006 and 2013, the current replica paddle steamer was built, which Mr Wuestewald said looks the same as the original.<\/p>\n
Passengers do not need to book Sunday tours, they can just arrive at the mooring by Pipers, opposite the Ballarat Botanical Gardens.<\/p>\n