The surprising Aussie river making waves on global must-visit list for 2025

It's not every day an Australian river makes National Geographic's list of best places to visit in the world.

The Murray River, which snakes through NSW, South Australia and Victoria, is in the television network and magazine's annual list of the best places in the world to travel to in 2025.

At over 2500 kilometres, the mighty Murray is Australia's longest river and the third-longest navigable river in the world, behind the Nile and Amazon.

National Geographic recommends cruising the Murray on the new ship from Murray River Paddlesteamers.

"Board the new PS Australian Star, debuting in June 2025 from Murray River Paddlesteamers, for leisurely multinight cruises out of the Victorian town of Echuca," National Geographic says.

"Itineraries feature riverside barbecues, wine tastings, wildlife spotting, and visits to historic sites like Perricoota Station."

The best of the world list is a mixed bag of must-see destinations, from luxury train journeys through Malaysia to hiking an active volcano in Guatemala, all handpicked by the brand's explorers, photographers, and editors.

National Geographic's best of the world 2025, of which there are 26 place-getters this year, are:

The 38-guest, $6.75 million PS Australia Star will be Australia's first five-star, overnight riverboat and the largest paddlesteamer in the Southern Hemisphere. Seven-night trips on the ship are already sold out for its launch month.

Murray River Paddlesteamers Director, Craig Burgess, said the Murray is an Australian icon rich in culture, nature and history and he was delighted the ship was voted as a world-class experience.