10 things you must experience on your Murray River road trip

Lucy CousinsBy Lucy Cousins
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From houseboats and pink lakes to sandboarding rust-colour sand dunes and tasting local whisky, this part of Australia has it all.

Besides snacks, podcasts and energy drinks, all good road trips have three key elements; amazing scenery, unique attractions, and comfortable, modern places to stay. The Murray River region boasts all three and more.

PS Pevensey, Echuca Paddlesteamers, things to do along the Murray River
Tick a famous paddlesteamer ride off your bucketlist.

The longest river in Australia, the Murray, coils and meanders for 2500km from the Upper Murray in Victoria, to form the border with New South Wales and finish in South Australia’s Great Australian Bight.

As you would expect, there is a tonne of things to do along the Murray River (including putting at one of the 37 golf courses or sinking a line literally anywhere from the shore), but for something a little different, book in a few of these attractions to take your road trip to the next level.

1. Get a bird’s eye view of Lake Tyrrell pink salt lake

A spiritual site of the Wergaia traditional owners, Lake Tyrrell is a gloriously, expansive pink, violet and white salt-crusted basin. Seeing it from up on high with Murray Darling Scenic Flights is a must for any photography buff as it allows you to also experience the mirror effect when the surface perfectly reflects the sky. Not surprisingly, sunset tours are popular.

Lake Tyrrell pink salt lake
Take in the otherworldly scenes at Lake Tyrrell pink salt lake.

2. Take command of a luxury houseboat

If you fancy being called Captain, consider hiring out a houseboat from specialists in Echuca Moama or Mildura. You don’t need a boat license to drive (but if you prefer, they can offer pilot assistance) so you can feel free to explore the river at your leisure. They even have pet-friendly houseboats, or for something smaller, try a kayak, canoe or SUP board.

Houseboat on the Murray River
Don the captain’s hat onboard your own hired houseboat.

3. Visit the Walls of China in Mungo National Park

Not only are Mungo National Park’s Walls of China formations famous for their stark beauty, but they also tell of a time when large megafauna roamed these lands. The ancient lakebeds also reveal evidence of Indigenous culture dating back 36,000 years. Today, you can get up-close-and-personal from the wheel-chair accessible viewing platform and lookout.

Mungo National Park Wall of China
Watch the sunset change the colours of the earth at Mungo’s Wall of China. (Image: Tyson Mayr)

4. Go sandboarding at Perry Sandhills

Located just six kilometres from the small border town of Wentworth, the Perry Sandhills are both starkly beautiful and rich in heritage. Formed over thousands of years and used as the backdrop for movies and TV, they are also extremely fun to ride down on a sandboard. Don’t own one? Hire one 40 minutes up the road at Intersport in Mildura.

sandboarding down Perry Sandhills
Get your heart racing by sandboarding down Perry Sandhills. (Image: Tyson Mayr)

5. Hop on a mountain bike trail in Murray Valley Regional Park

This diverse regional park is home to Deniliquin and its three Mountain Bike Trails . The terrain is mostly flat, winding through the tranquil red gum forest, and you’ll find a trail with a length to suit you: a 7.6km, 12km or 15km loop. If you don’t have a bike strapped to your car, stop by the Deniliquin Visitor Centre and hire one for free.

Get on your bike in Murray Valley Regional Park. (Image: Ain Raadik)

6. Learn the art of weaving from the Wemba Wemba people

Hosted by the Yarkuwa Indigenous Knowledge Centre staff and Elders, this weaving workshop is hands-on so come prepared to be creative. Not only will you be instructed in the Wamba Wamba traditional weaving technique, but you’ll also begin to understand the importance of weaving in the local economy. Come away with a beautiful mityat (basket in Wamba Wamba).

7. Jump on a Paddlesteamer in Echuca

Arguably the most famous feature of the Murray River is the paddlesteamers that puff up and down its waters at Echuca. Travel in elegant, olden-day style as you take a long or short river cruise.  Join the new sunset offering from Echuca Paddlesteamers to experience the river as the sky lights up pink and orange.

PS Pevensey, Echuca Paddlesteamers, things to do along the Murray River
Jump on a river cruise with historic paddlesteamers, like the PS Pevensey.

8. Sizzle up a steak on your very own BBQ boat

A man–made reservoir, Lake Mulwala is famous for its clean, glassy water and eerie river red gums poking out of the surface like a Tim Burton film. Sure, you could water ski, kayak or windsurf this lake, but you could also hire a BBQ boat and cook up a feast out on the water with Lake Mulwala Barby Boats . No boat license is needed.

Lake Mulwala Barby Boats
Fire up the BBQ on board a Lake Mulwala Barby Boat.

9. Sample some of Australia’s greatest whisky

Home of the Wiradjuri People, Corowa has a long and varied historical heritage, but these days it’s fast becoming recognised for its whisky. The Corowa Distilling Co is Australia’s first whisky distillery using locally grown ingredients. Housed in a heritage-listed 1920s flour mill, the distillery serves up world-class food and offers whisky tasting and behind-the-scenes tours.

Corowa Distilling Co
Sip on Australia’s first whiskey with homegrown ingredients at Corowa Distilling Co.

10. Buy local at the Albury Wodonga Farmers Market

When you buy fresh vegetables, preserves, sourdough bread or even a pie at the Albury Wodonga Farmers Market , you’ll be buying directly from the local farmers, chefs and artisans from the Albury-Wodonga region. This popular market is held every Sunday. Our pick? The Peaks Artisan Cheesemakers , Ian’s Dumplings and the Hachibee Honey .

Hachibee Honey, Albury Wodonga Farmers Market
Pick up some Hachibee Honey at the farmer’s market.
Find out more and start planning your Murray River road trip at visitthemurray.com.au .
Lucy Cousins
Lucy is an experienced travel and lifestyle writer who loves exploring Australia and further afield any chance she gets. Whether it's on the water, in the air, by car or on foot, she’s always planning her next new adventure with her family and rescue dog, Stella.
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Victoria’s most memorable guided tours to book now

    Lara PiconeBy Lara Picone
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    Get around the natural beauty and bounty of regional Victoria on a guided tour that reveals extraordinary moments from coast to country.

    Walk the Great Ocean Road

    forest walk along the Great Ocean Road
    Swap your car for walking shoes on the Great Ocean Road.

    The Australian Walking Co’s immersive three-day, lodge-based walk is absolute bucket-list fodder. The easy-going, guided coastal hike is marked by epic scenery and end-of-day luxury. You’ll have no need for heavy packs or tents, instead expect fresh-caught crayfish, post-walk canapés and local wines. Each day explores the drama of this ocean-facing landscape with an approachable three-hour-ish walk, leaving plenty of time to unwind at the lodge.

    Swim with seals and dolphins at Port Phillip Heads

    dolphins swimming in Port Phillip Head Marine Park
    Swim with dolphins in Port Phillip Head Marine Park.

    Dive into Popes Eye, within Port Phillip Heads Marine National Park, for this wild swimming experience with mankind’s BFFs of the sea. On the See All Dolphin Swims 3.5-hour experience, departing from Queenscliff, you’ll begin in shallow, calm waters before venturing off to Chinaman’s Hat and beyond to meet seals and dolphins in their own habitat. All gear is provided and all ages are welcome.

    Get your ghost on in the Grampians

    For those with a penchant for the paranormal, get ready for goosebumps when you embark on the Lantern Tours J Ward Paranormal Investigation excursion that takes place under the moonlight in the west wing of Aradale Lunatic Asylum. As you keep a lookout for supernatural activity, you’ll enjoy tales of the criminally insane inmates that will make the hairs on your neck stand to attention.

    Paddle along the mighty Murray

    a woman on a stand-up paddle board along the Murray
    Glide along the scenic Murray on a stand-up paddleboard.

    Swoosh softly through the silky waters of the mighty Murray on a stand-up paddle board with Echuca Moama Stand Up Paddle . This gentle downstream sojourn meanders for one-and-a-half hours covering 4.5 kilometres of the river, taking in the beauty on the banks and the vibrant birdlife. From Echuca Moama slip under the Moama Bridge and glide beside its iconic paddlesteamers and the historic port.

    Sip and cycle in the Yarra Valley

    cyclists exploring Yarra Valley
    Cycle around Yarra Valley wine country.

    Wine and wheels make a great pairing on the Tour De Vines six-hour Yarra Valley tour that weaves through vine-threaded roads. It’s a relaxed pace along 20 kilometres of the Warburton Rail Trail as you spot native birds and stop in at local vineyards and produce stores. You’ll pull in at a local winery for a tasting and enjoy lunch before hitting up a couple of cellar doors. Depending on your pedal power, there may be time to sneak in a visit to a chocolate or cheese factory.

    Dig for gold in Bendigo

    Think you have what it takes to unearth a gilded treasure? Try your hand at prospecting and learn the art of gold-digging (in the geological sense) on the two-hour Gold Nugget Hunter tour in the Loddon Valley. On the tour, mine the wisdom of locals Shane and Jackie – who have honed their hobby of gold-detecting into an art – to learn how to read the land and use a gold detector. You may even go home with a nugget of your own.

    Cruise around Wilsons Promontory

    the Skull Rock in Wilsons Prom
    Cruise around Skull Rock in Wilsons Prom. (Image: Connor Vaughan)

    It’s a thrill to drive directly from the sand into the waves aboard the Wanderer Adventures ’ bright-yellow amphibious boat. On this 2.5-hour tour, you’ll skip along the water to take in Wilsons Prom’s top highlights, such as the imposing Skull Rock, The Glennies, Anderson Islets and Anser Island. Spot seals, penguins and seabirds as you absorb the tranquillity of this stunning environment.

    Walk with llamas in the Macedon Ranges

    a llama in the Macedon Ranges
    Make friends with a llama in the Macedon Ranges.

    If you’ve always felt an affinity for long-lashed camelids, then bonding with a llama on a leisurely walk might just be the thing for you. Opt for either a three-hour, five-kilometre hike or a longer 12-kilometre trek along the Domino Rail Trail paired with a gentle, hooved friend. Things kick off with a llama orientation, where you’ll learn how to lead and look out for your new mate before you hit the track. It’s a lovely way to explore the beauty of the region with a sensitive and curious companion by your side.

    Go underground in the Grampians

    a subterranean tour of Seppelt Wines
    Take a subterranean tour of Seppelt Wines. (Image: Ben Savage/We Are Explorers)

    Oenophiles and cave-lovers alike will enjoy going underground at Seppelt’s ‘Drives’ . The largest underground cellar in Australia, The Drives were dug by local goldminers in 1868 and meander for three-kilometres – keeping wine treasures at a temperate 16-degrees year-round. A 50-minute tour through the heritage-listed granite tunnels happily conclude with a tasting of the label’s celebrated sparkling wines.

    Discover island life in the Mornington Peninsula

    a guided tour of French Island
    Discover the Mornington Peninsula’s flora and fauna on a guided tour of French Island.

    Eject from the mainland on a catamaran bound for the wildlife haven of French Island with Naturaliste Tours . Once you disembark from the boat, you’ll hop into a 4WD to explore the pristine flora and fauna, from salt marshes to vast Fairhaven Beach. Look out for echidnas and koalas and enjoy short walks and historic sites on this half-day tour.

    seals in Wilsons Prom
    The southernmost tip is a haven for wildlife. (Image: CMcConville)