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The best accommodation for a comfortable stay in Echuca Moama

Hannah Ralph Hannah Ralph
In a land ruled by holiday parks and caravan sites, a handful of boutique stays show you can do things differently…

It’s true – there’s no shortage of holiday parks in Echucha Moama. NRMA Echuca Holiday Park, Moama Riverside Holiday & Tourist Park and BIG4 Moama Holiday Park are all up there on the ‘most popular’ podium, while Discovery Parks offers the most choice, with a whopping five resorts in this area alone. These accommodations combine all the requisite ingredients for a fabulous family holiday – pools, playgrounds, picnic areas and BBQs, plus communal kitchens and ample room arrangements. All of them have easy (if not direct) access to the river, as well as powered sites for the motor-homing, caravanning collective.

However, if you’re looking for accommodation in Echuca Moama outside of the holiday park circuit, we know of some charming options that fit the bill.

In short

All the properties below have our seal of approval, but if we had to crown a standout, it’d be the box-ticking Quest Echuca – super central, contemporary interiors, and excellent value.

Charlotte’s Cottage

the exterior of Charlotte’s Cottage, Echuca
The charming Charlotte’s Cottage boasts country-style allure.

Best for: Space-seekers

And the award for chicest Airbnb goes to… Yes, Charlotte’s Cottage is a veritable Victorian fantasy that we could, gladly, live in forever. Originally built as a private school in 1871, it’s a special mix of historic charm and modern comfort that’s located just off Echuca’s main high street – wedged between the Murray and Campaspe rivers. The beautifully restored property attracts repeat visitors with oodles of space, particularly prevalent in the three lovingly designed bedrooms (two doubles, one twin) showing off their own private ensuite. It’s also a multi-season sanctuary, thanks to electric blankets and a split system air conditioning that can heat or cool, with multiple lounges and an outdoor courtyard that make it extremely easy to forgo the outside world. A quiet slice of town and ample street parking complete a blissfully stress-free stay.

Address: 16 Connelly St, Echuca VIC 3564

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Quest Echuca

the dining and living room with a balcony at Quest Echuca
The sleek, serviced apartments come with fully equipped kitchens and private balconies. (Image: Quest Echuca)

Best for: Modern travellers

Right in the heart of town – close enough to the American Hotel’s live music to stroll over and get involved, yet far enough away not to hear a thing – Quest Echuca joins the Mercure Port of Echuca as the only two big brand hotels in town. The difference? While the Mercure is starting to show its age, Quest feels squeaky-clean and refreshingly modern. It’s also not offering mere rooms, but sleek, serviced apartments that come with fully equipped kitchens (kitchenette in the studios), laundry facilities and – in some cases – private balconies. Just beyond the car park, there’s a small pool with loungers – the terracotta spire of St Mary’s Catholic Church peeking in the background of your morning swim. And while you won’t find any on-site dining, the Quest team will fetch your groceries for you; if you get them a list early enough, they’ll even have it ready for when you arrive.

Address: 25-29 Heygarth St, Echuca VIC 3564

Goolwa River Retreat

an outdoor fire pit at Goolwa River Retreat, Echuca
Sit around the outdoor fire pit while toasting marshmallows. (Image: Goolwa River Retreat)

Best for: Slow living romantics

A twenty minute-drive west of Echuca, Goolwa’s countryside cabins sit on an unbeatable stretch of the Murray toward the Gunbower National Park. Complete with a private pontoon, pristine lawns rolling down to the water and fairy lights strung through the river gums, Goolwa is at once romantic, family-friendly and a sweet spot for larger groups (three of the five accommodations sleep six). The newest additions – a pair of two-bedroom villas – are a picture of A-frame gorgeousness, and have a couple of the best shower rooms we’ve ever seen. The porches are equally dreamy, with circular fire pits, al-fresco barbecues, and even an outdoor bath. Arriving to a dedicated reception, you’ll likely meet Goolwa’s delightful owners, Nicole and Rob, who can help make your stay extra wholesome with free-to-use kayaks, bikes, paddle boards and fishing rods.

Address: 150 Sexton Rd, Torrumbarry VIC 3562

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CocknBull Boutique Hotel Echuca

a cosy bedroom at CocknBull Boutique Hotel Echuca
This boutique hotel is a well-appointed option for a comfortable stay.

Best for: A warm welcome

It might not have the most modern accommodations inside, but the atmosphere at CocknBull Boutique Hotel is special – the kind of place that’ll you’ll stroll past, peek into, and wish you were a part of. One warm Echua evening, we found the hotel’s wine bar buzzing with guests clinking glasses and fire pits flickering beside the riverbank. That warmth is echoed by owners Russell and Julie, who lay on a fabulous afternoon tea and keep the self-catered apartments topped up with the necessities. Many of these overlook the Campaspe River and walking trail right next door, while a lush outdoor pool and garden only add to that home-away-from-home feeling. Sure, parking can be a little tight, but the hotel is on the desirably quieter end of town – close to everything that matters but without the late-night noise.

Address: 17/21 Warren St, Echuca VIC 3564

Golden River Motor Inn

a look inside the bedroom at Golden River Motor Inn, Moama
This classic Aussie motel offers comfortable beds in each suite. (Image: Golden River Motor Inn)

Best for: No-frills excellence

The low-slung exteriors, the brick walls, the promise of a pool tucked away out back… There’s something undeniably nostalgic about a classic Aussie motel, and the Golden River Motor Inn delivers exactly this air of history and expedience. Only a few doors down from the brilliant restaurants of the Moama Bowling Club complex, this motel has loyal fans leaving glowing reviews across every platform. You’ll spot them raving about spotless rooms, comfy beds and fantastic showers – not always the case at your average motel. Above-and-beyond service is also part of the package: from effortless upgrades to a gloriously helpful reception. Whichever room you pick, it’ll come with a Nespresso machine, split-system air con, kitchen facilities and 50-inch smart TV, but there’s only one room with a spa bath. Fear not, though – the pool is waiting for you out back.

Address: 34 Meninya Street, Moama NSW 2731

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Hannah Ralph
Hannah Ralph is an award-winning travel editor turned freelance writer. She’s currently chasing stories across Australia, until reality (and her inexplicable fondness for chilly British weather) demands a return to the UK, where her globe-trotting career began more than a decade ago. Following a formative start as Features Assistant at The Sunday Times Travel Magazine, Hannah went on to hone her aviation chops for several years on the British Airways editorial team, serving as Editor and Deputy Editor on numerous titles, including the flagship in-flight mag, High Life. She later returned to The Times and Sunday Times as an in-house Travel Writer. Now freelance, Hannah finds herself a roaming reporter with bylines for Mr & Mrs Smith, The Telegraph, Business Traveller UK, National Geographic Traveller, Eurostar’s Metropolitan magazine, and more. Her mission? To track down all of Australia’s greatest, most unforgettable stays – and live what might just be the most glamorous gap year yet.
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From coast to bush: these are Gippsland’s best hikes

    Michael Turtle Michael Turtle
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    Video credit: Tourism Australia

    From coast to mountains, hiking in Gippsland offers a stunning array of landscapes, with trails that take you deep into the region’s heritage.

    I step out onto the sand and it cries out underfoot. Kweek! I take another step and there’s another little yelp. Screet! Picking up the pace, the sounds follow me like my shadow, all the way down to the water. It’s obvious how this spot got its name – Squeaky Beach – from the rounded grains of quartz that make the distinctive sounds under pressure.

    For many, Wilsons Promontory National Park is the gateway to Gippsland, and the best way to explore it is by walking its network of hiking trails, from coastal gems such as Squeaky Beach through to the bushland, among the wildlife. But it’s still just a taste of what you’ll find on foot in the region.

    Venture a bit further into Gippsland and you’ll discover the lakes, the rainforest, and the alpine peaks, each changing with the season and offering summer strolls or winter walks. Just like that squeaky sand, each step along these trails has something to tell you: perhaps a story about an ancient spirit or a pioneering search for fortune.

    The best coastal hikes in Gippsland

    sunset at Wilsons Promontory National Park
    Wilsons Promontory National Park is a sprawling wilderness with many coastal bushland trails. (Image: Mark Watson)

    Wilsons Promontory National Park (or ‘The Prom’, as you’ll end up calling it) is an easy three-hour drive from Melbourne, but you might ditch the car when you arrive, with much of the park’s 50,000 hectares accessible only by foot. From the inky water of Tidal River (dyed dark purple by abundant tea trees), I like the easy walks along the coast, among lichen-laden granite boulders, to golden beaches and bays.

    a couple on Mount Oberon
    Panoramic views from the summit of Mount Oberon. (Image: Everyday Nicky)

    The trail to the panoramic views at the summit of Mount Oberon is a bit harder, up steep timber and granite steps, but it’s a popular 6.8-kilometre return. The more remote hikes are found through the open banksia and stringybark woodland of the park’s north, or along the multi-day Southern Circuit, which ranges from about 35 to 52 kilometres, with sunrises and sunsets, kangaroos and cockatoos, and maybe even whales.

    a golden sand beach at Wilsons Promontory National Park
    Walk ‘The Prom’s’ golden sand beaches. (Image: Tourism Australia/Time Out Australia)

    You might also see whales on the George Bass Coastal Walk, even closer to Melbourne on the western edge of Gippsland. This dramatic seven-kilometre trail along the clifftops takes in sweeping views of the wild ocean, occasionally dipping down from grassy green hills to coastal gullies and a secluded beach. It also now links into the Bass Coast Rail Trail for an extra 14 kilometres.

    the George Bass Coastal Walk
    George Bass Coastal Walk trails for seven kilometres along clifftops. (Image: Visit Victoria/Time Out Australia)

    Over at the eastern edge of Gippsland, in Croajingolong National Park, you can wander along the lakeshores beneath koalas and around goannas (I keep my distance since one chased me here!). For those who are even more adventurous, the park is also the starting point for the 100-kilometre Wilderness Coast Walk, usually done over seven days.

    the Croajingolong National Park, Gippsland
    Wander along the lakeshores in Croajingolong National Park. (Image: Tourism Australia)

    The best bush hikes in Gippsland

    the Baw Baw National Park
    The alpine heath of Baw Baw National Park. (Image: Everyday Nicky)

    Deep in the Long Tunnel Extended Gold Mine at Walhalla, mining guide Richard tells me how this small town in the mountains east of Melbourne boomed when prospectors found gold here in 1862. These days, you’ll find most of the town’s treasure – its heritage – above ground, with the Walhalla Tramline Walk a wonderful way to explore it.

    Just seven kilometres long, the walk takes you through decades of Gold Rush history, following the original rail trail from lush bushland to the mining sites, and through the charming village of just 20 residents with its wooden cottages and old shopfronts adorned with turn-of-the-century advertising posters. Blazing a trail where trailblazers once opened up the region, this is also the starting point for the 650-kilometre Australian Alps Walking Track.

    Nearby, Baw Baw National Park has walks through gnarled snow gums and alpine heaths that show off the colourful wildflowers in summer and the pristine carpet of white in winter. Several trails are perfect for snowshoes, including a 45-minute route from St Gwinear up to vast views across the Latrobe Valley.

    Further up into the mountains, the Toorongo and Amphitheatre Falls Loop Walk is an easy 2.2-kilometre path that serenades you with the sound of flowing water as you pass mossy rocks and tree ferns en route to two sets of waterfalls cascading over boulders in the remote wilderness.

    The best cultural hikes in Gippsland

    the Mitchell River National Park, Gippsland
    Hike the Mitchell River National Park. (Image: Parks Victoria/Grace Lewis)

    Across a pool in a natural sandstone amphitheatre, deep within a cave behind a waterfall, it’s said the Nargun has its lair. A fierce creature, half human and half stone, that abducts children and can’t be harmed by boomerangs or spears, the story of the Nargun has been told around the campfires of the local Gunaikurnai people for generations.

    As a culturally significant place for women, hikers are asked not to go into the Den of Nargun, but a 3.4-kilometre loop walk leads you through a rainforest gully to the entrance where you can feel the powerful atmosphere here in Mitchell River National Park, along Victoria’s largest remaining wild and free-flowing waterway.

    the bee-eaters at Mitchell River National Park
    Bee-eaters at Mitchell River National Park. (Image: Parks Victoria/Grace Lewis)

    The Den of Nargun is part of the Bataluk Cultural Trail, a series of important traditional Gunaikurnai sites through central Gippsland. Another location is Victoria’s largest cave system, Buchan Caves Reserve, with trails to important archaeological sites of human artefacts up to 18,000 years old. The FJ Wilson Interpreted Walk includes the naturally sculpted white limestone steps of the 400-metre-long Federal Cave, while the Granite Pools Walk goes among tall timber and moss-covered gullies.

    the ancient rainforest of Tarra-Bulga National Park
    The ancient rainforest of Tarra-Bulga National Park. (Image: Josie Withers)

    Also important to the Gunaikurnai people is Tarra-Bulga National Park, known for its ancient myrtle beeches and enormous mountain ash trees. Just 40 minutes return, the Tarra Valley Rainforest Walk offers a taste of this verdant landscape, while the Grand Strzelecki Track takes you deep into the lost world of forest giants on an epic 100-kilometre trail rich with tradition.

    A traveller’s checklist

    Staying there

    the WildernessRetreats in The Prom
    Wilderness Retreats in The Prom. (Image: Christian Pearson)

    Wilderness Retreats in Wilsons Promontory offers glamping-style tents with luxurious queen beds. Star Hotel is a reconstruction of a Gold Rush-era hotel from 1863 in the heart of heritage Walhalla. Caves House is a historic three-bedroom house with views over the Buchan River.

    Eating there

    the Carrajung Estate, Gippsland
    Enjoy a post-hike lunch at Carrajung Estate. (Image: Everyday Nicky)

    Kilcunda General Store serves great coffee and meals of local produce at the George Bass Coastal Walk. Alpine Trout Farm is located near Toorongo Falls in Noojee. Fish for your own lunch and barbecue it with the provided cookware.

    Carrajung Estate is a short drive from Tarra-Bulga National Park. The winery’s restaurant offers a seasonal menu of regional ingredients and you can stay at The Lodge.

    a seafood feast at Carrajung Estate, Gippsland
    The table is set for a seafood feast at the estate.

    Video credit: Tourism Australia