Don’t let the chilly weather put you off venturing around River Country this school holidays! Come rain, hail or shine below we have a list of activities to keep all members of the family entertained.
Get Crafty
The Moama RSL has a great craft program which you can enjoy from home. From June 27 to July 12th
they will be running their 'Stufflers Made by You' program. Just purchase your animal of choice from the RSL reception, take your new friend home or back to your accommodation and stuff. Yours to keep, love and hug.
River Cruising
Echuca Moama’s cruising Cafe and Restaurant the MV Mary Ann is back! Enjoy the majestic Murray in heated comfort as you cruise underneath the iconic Echuca Moama bridge and past the historic Echuca Wharf. The Cafe is open from 9.00am Wednesday through to Sunday and cruises can be booked online for 10.00am, 12.00pm and 1.30pm. Dinner Cruises operate from 6pm on Saturday evenings.
Re-live the magic and romance of the Riverboat Days with Murray River Paddlesteamers . Both the PS Emmylou and PS Canberra will be operating this holidays. Numbers are limited so book in early to avoid disappointment. Check out the Murray River Paddlesteamers website for their current cruising schedule.
School Holidays at the Port of Echuca
The Port of Echuca Discovery Centre are running a range of activities to keep the little ones (and big ones!) entertained.
Try the Kids Torchlight Tour which is running Wednesday and Friday nights July 1st, 3rd. 8th, 10th, 15th and 17th from 6.30pm. Experience the Port of Echuca by torchlight on this fun and engaging evening tour. Catered for the whole family, their guides tell the story of Echuca's historical figures. Cost is $10pp. Book online or over the phone
Other activities at the Discovery Centre include 'Spotto', where your little detectives will learn about Echuca's rich history as you search to find each item, and the 'Kid Trail', filled with fun activities whilst learning about the importance of the river trade and paddlesteamers. Both the 'Kids Trail'and 'Spotto' are included in the Discovery Centre entry and no booking required.
Get TwistED
TwistED Science is back! Be curious! Create! Connect!
Share family fun with a difference - at TwistED Science, you'll experiment together to figure out how things work. Whether you launch a plane, build a mountain or catch a ball, it’s fun your way!
Science will rule the world one day so we're on a mission for everyone to love it as much as we do. Go on.... give it a go!
With strictly limited numbers, bookings are essential. Open Mondays to Saturdays during the Victorian school holidays.
Session times: 10-11:30am, 12:30-2pm, 2:30-4pm
Burger Bliss
If you haven’t had a burger from the Koraleigh General Store than you are truly missing out on a River Country hidden gem.
Worthy enough to jump in the car for a road trip to Koraleigh, these burgers are amazing!
Whilst available all week round, on Wednesdays the Koraelgih General do a burger special, with all house burgers $10 or $14 with Chips.
Weekly special burgers have included the ‘Peppa Pig’ (Twice cooked sticky pork belly with chilli caramel sauce, Asian slaw and kewpie mayo), the Koraleigh BLT (Southwest sauce, buttermilk fried chicken, tasty cheese, bacon, chilli and lime tortilla chips, tomato and lettuce) and Steamed Ham (Smashed beef pattie with cheese, bacon, caramelised onion relish, special burger sauce and lettuce).
Can you say yum!!
Mini Golf madness
Guaranteed fun for the whole family, mini golf s sure to provide plenty of laughs and entertainment. Both the Tooleybuc Sport Club and Rich River Golf Club have an 18 hole mini golf course open to all ages and abilities.
To Mooloomoon!
Mooloomoon is home to a magnificent historical shearing shed tells the story of the shearing settlers, showcasing historical displays of Moulamein history and the history of many Australian historical Shearing Sheds. Visitors are always welcome but are advised to call call ahead for information regarding opening times
Family Walks
Put on an extra layer, beanie and get outside.
River Country have some great walking trails to keep you on your toes. If you are not up for a long walk we recommend the Koondrook Barham Red Gum Statue Walk, which has over 15 red gum statues spread along the riverbank depicting local people and wildlife. Pop into one of the cafes nearby and grab a hot choccy if you need a little something extra to warm you up. Or if the weather is nice enjoy a picnic and play at Barham Riverside Park.
If you want to get back to nature the Gulpa Creek walk and Reedsbeds Bird Hide Broadwalk in Mathoura both exude stunning scenery and bird life. The Reedsbeds boardwalk is a easy walk where the kids will love the audio visual displays.
Have you ever seen a tree this big?
You need to see it to believe it, the Big Tree Moulamein is believed to be the largest living red gum in Australia. Over 300 years old and has an impressive circumference of more than 11 meters. The Big Tree is part of the Moulamein River walk, which follows along the Edward River and Billabong Creek. Read the nearby storyboards and learn about the history and heritage of the oldest town in the Riverina.
How about the Big Stump? Big Ant or Dinosaur?
Whilst you are ticking off you ‘Big Thing’s list in River Country, drop by the Tooleybuc Sporting Club, home to the world’s second largest Mallee Root. We are still a little sore that our big root didn’t take out the top honour but its still an impressive feat and biggest stump in NSW. Whilst you’re at the Tooleybuc Sporting Club also take a moment to learn all about the rare and endangered Dinosaur Ant.
Did someone say Roadtrip?
With a variety of towns and attractions to visit throughout the region we’ve developed some easy trails for you to follow so you can see the most during your time exploring.
Each trail can be completed as a stand alone day trip or link each trail to explore the whole region
For the parents
River Country is also home to many cellar doors, abundance of local produce and wide variety of eateries, including country cafes, clubs, pubs and award-winning restaurants.
If you are after a real foodies experiences we recommend taking a detour off the beaten track and discovering the Backroads Trail. Meet the locals, taste the home-grown produce, sample the boutique wines and explore our rich cultural, artistic and social heritage. For more information on the Backroads Trail you can download the touring map here.
Wanting some wine time? St Anne’s Echuca and Moama cellar doors are open for tastings and sales, whilst Morrisons winery is back open lunch with a new winter menu.
If you are in Barham, boutique vineyard ‘Barham Vines’ is a small family owned vineyard at heart of the Murray River Country. Planted in 2012, the established vines are the only commercially grown wine varieties in Barham. They offer seated wine tastings and wood fired pizzas on Saturdays (booking essential). What’s not to love?
For all businesses mentioned we recommended contacting them ahead for bookings and up to date information on opening hours.
Discover River Country ... where the best memories are made.
