Paddle Steamer Curlip Location

Paddle Steamer Curlip II has been constructed at Orbost on the Snowy River in Far East Gippsland, Victoria and will operate from Marlo, 15 kilometres downstream of Orbost at the mouth of the Snowy River. The Curlip Centre, our booking and display office is located in Orbost, just off the Princes Hwy. Until mid November it is open from Tuesday to Friday 10 am to 2 pm or by appointment with opening hours extending from mid November.

The Curlip Centre.
Our booking and display office is in a beautiful architecturally designed building nestled into a tiny patch of rainforest right within the township of Orbost. The our developing display shows the construction story of Paddle Steamer Curlip II, with the history of her predecessor PS Curlip I. Handcrafted items in local timbers are available for sale.
The rainforest is alive with birdlife, and offers a unique insight into East Gippsland rainforests. A pathway loops through the forest, and connects to the Slab Hut Information Centre, the Orbost Exhibition Centre and other shops just a few 100 metres away.

About East Gippsland.
Wedged into the bottom corner of the Australian continent between Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra, Far East Gippsland sits right on the Sydney – Melbourne Coastal Drive, and at the coastal end of the stunning Great Alpine Road. Facing the sea, with the mountains behind it is a place of outstanding natural beauty, with forest reaching from the very sand on the beaches right up to the alpine hinterland, with a vast area of pristine wilderness in between.

Around Orboost.
Orbost and Marlo are perched beside the floodplain of the Snowy River, where it completes its journey from the alps to the sea. The Orbost Exhibition Centre celebrates the timber heritage of the area with a superb collection of fine works in native timbers. Next to it is the Slab Hut, a historic dwelling of original European settlers in the area and now the local visitor information centre. Several short walks radiate out from this hub, taking in the history and riverside scenery of the town.

Nearby Towns.
A little further a-field are sweeping beaches at Cape Conran, and the tiny gallery villages of Cabbage Tree Creek to the east, and Nowa Nowa to the west, where a Sculpture walk follows the waters edge. Right on the highway is the exquisite Bemm River Rainforest walk, while the tiny township of Bemm River itself sits on the serene Sydenham Inlet.

Buchan Caves, less than an hour’s drive from Orbost have been drawing visitors for over 100 years with glittering stalagmites and stalactites. Set in a magnificent valley, Buchan itself is a little hamlet with a gentle pace of life and delightful cafes and galleries.

Walk, Cycle or Ride.
The East Gippsland Rail Trail is a 100 kilometre walking/ cycling/ horse riding track that stretches from Orbost to Bairnsdale, making it one of the longest in Victoria. Free of road traffic it follows the gently graded, tree lined and traffic free line of the now disused railway, and goes past forest, pastoral country, wonderful eateries and huge timber trestle rail bridges.

A sweep of National Parks spreads from the coast to the alps, with much of the country in between native forest. Croajingalong, Snowy River, Errinundra and the Alpine National Parks are all accessible by normal car ( but always check current road information): for those with four wheel drive and a sense of adventure there area unlimited possibilities of wild mountain vistas, pristine rivers, empty beaches and solitary campsites. It is a Mountain Bike cyclist’s paradise - with a vast network of forestry tracks and a number of events running in the area.