This 8-day touring itinerary gives you a taste of some of the Murray River region’s experiences. Shape it to fit your time and tastes.
Start in Albury Wodonga, an excellent base for cycling along the river. Mountain-bikers should head to the trails at Nail Can Hill Reserve while keen riders can tackle the 30km High Country Rail Trail around the shores of Lake Hume. The lake is a great spot for fishing and water sports. Local operators hire out canoes and can drop you one-way for paddles on the Upper Murray, including the popular 2-3 hour trip from Mungabareena Reserve to Noreuil Park or a paddle to the dam wall on Lake Hume.
If you’re an adrenalin junkie, stop off at Corowa and visit the ‘Jump Shak’, Sky Dive Victoria’s local drop zone, where you can take a heart-thumping tandem or static-line leap from 12,000 feet.
Otherwise, take advantage of the thermals to cruise the skies in a glider with Australian Soaring. Only half an hour down Spring Drive, Yarrawonga Mulwala is a hotspot for boating and water sports, thanks to expansive Lake Mulwala. The Mulwala Waterski Club hosts events and offers lessons and gear hire, and other operators can take you wakeboarding, tubing and much more. Spectacular microlight flights over the lake can be arranged at Yarrawonga airport.
Albury – Corowa: 57km, 45 minutes
Corowa – Yarrawonga: 44km, 36 minutes
On the drive between Yarrawonga and Echuca, you have the option to stop off and join Murray River Horse Trails for trail rides through the spectacular Barmah forest from Strathmerton, or detour to Tocumwal where Sport Aviation offers gliding and microlight flights.
Echuca Moama is equal parts history and adventure. Explore the port then take a cruise on a restored paddle steamer, one of the Murray’s great experiences. Adventure comes in the form of water sports and Brett Sands Water sports and iWaterski both offer plenty of fun with professional instruction in waterskiing, wakeboarding, kneeboarding and barefooting. Echuca Boat & Canoe Hire can set you up on ‘campanoeing’ trips, or saddle up with Billabong Ranch horse riding for short trail rides and overnight camping rides.
Yarrawonga – Echuca: 147km, 1 hour 40 minutes
Head north on the Cobb Hwy and detour off into Murray Valley Regional Park to the exhilarating purpose-built Five-Mile mountain bike trail (7km each way), with walls, jumps and bridges to suit all skill levels. Also in the park, Gulpa Creek is an excellent walking and kayaking route.
Continue north to Deniliquin, a great place to experience part of the Edward River Canoe Trail. Paddle the easy 2km ‘beach to beach’ stretch via the Island Sanctuary.
Echuca – Deniliquin: 79km, 1 hour
Spend some time exploring the signposted Backroads Trail between Deniliquin, Barham and Echuca-Moama before entering Gunbower Island near Cohuna, where fishing, canoeing and camping among the river red gums is a pleasure. End your day at Swan Hill.
Deniliquin – Swan Hill 185km, 2 hours 20 minutes
From Swan Hill, head up the Murray Valley and Sturt highways via Robinvale to Mildura, where you’ll be spoiled for choice with experiences. Take an early morning hot-air balloon ride (weather permitting), a paddle steamer cruise or a sunset kayaking trip on Kings Billabong. Sandboarding on the Perry Sandhills at nearby Wentworth is a blast. Finally, you can sleep easy on one of Mildura’s wonderful houseboats.
Swan Hill – Mildura 222km, 2½ hours
