THE Paddle Steamer Melbourne took passengers cruising on New Year's Day, the first time since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

After a 6am inaugural journey for 12 diehards, the refurbished PS Melbourne took to the waters again at 10am and 12pm, as owner Adam Auditori plans to do for the rest of January and perhaps beyond.

While the paddle steamer was initially slated to move to Echuca in spr...