 About the region: The Murray Valley region follows the Murray River which forms the state border between Victoria and neighbouring New South Wales. As the core river of Australia's largest river system, and as the world's seventh largest river and one of the world's longest navigable rivers, the Murray River has a long and important history to the people who live on or around it. It stretches 2,700 km from the mountains of the Great Dividing Range in north-eastern Victoria to near Adelaide in South Australia. It varies from a mountain stream passing through heavily wooded gorges over topped by snow-capped peaks, to a wide meandering river lined with magnificent forests of red gum and sandy beaches in its lower reaches. The river is also home to plentiful wildlife; it supports over 350 varieties of birds, as well as many species of mammals, reptiles and fish. In the 19th century, the Murray became Australia's Mississippi, the busiest highway in the land with hundreds of boats carrying supplies to and carting wool from the region's stations and homesteads. The legacy of the riverboat era remains in the heritage towns and river ports along its banks.
Echuca: a former paddle steamer port on the Murray River, Echuca has re-invented itself as one of the most interesting inland tourist towns in Australia, whilst maintaining its position as an important local agricultural centre. Its present day attractions centre around the old port - the shops, hotels and stores that once served the river trade; the huge 1865-built timber wharf with its three wharf decks to accommodate the river's ever-changing levels; the houseboats for those who wish to explore the river at their leisure; the six authentic paddlesteamers that take visitors for river cruises.
Corryong: the northern gateway to the High Country of Victoria, the Snowy Mountains and Kosciuszko National Park. The town was once home to the many High Country cattlemen of the 19th century who were known as overlanders. The most famous of these was "The Man From Snowy River", Jack Riley, whose story is told at the The Man From Snowy River Folk Museum (Corryong is reportedly his home town). Corryong is a also centre for whitewater rafting, canoeing and horse trekking in the High Country.
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Houseboats on The Murray: One of the most popular ways to cruise the Murray is to hire a houseboat. Offering both accommodation and transport, these purpose built vessels give travellers the freedom to explore the river or simply relax. At day's end you can moor near a sandy beach, cook your catch and enjoy a campfire sunset. Catering for 2 to 12 people, houseboats are available to suit every taste or budget and can be driven by anyone with a motor vehicle licence.
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Swan Hill: situated in the heart of the Murray Valley, Swan Hill is one of Australia's most diverse and productive rural areas. The major attraction for visitors is the Swan Hill Pioneer Settlement, a recreational of an old riverboat town. Swan Hill is near the lakes district of Lake Boga, a popular spot for camping, fishing, water sports, or a relaxing house boat holiday. Lake Boga Flying Boat Museum recalls the Flying Boat Repair Depot operated at Lake Boga during World war II. A Catalina flying boat marks the site of the museum which is located in an old wartime bunker.
Paddlesteamers On The Murray:
The colourful history of the river's colonial past and the leisure activities that today are associated with the river and its surround all come together when you take a leisurely cruise on the Murray River, particularly if the vessel you choose to make such a voyage is an old paddlesteamer. Some
operate on
day or half day trips, others offer on-board accommodation and ply the river on multiple day journeys.
Rutherglen Wine Region: Rutherglen, an old gold rush township, is today the agricultural and viticultural centre of Australia's oldest wine growing region located near the banks of the Murray River. The Rutherglen wine region is the premier fortified wine producing area in Australia, with winemaker's passing on their knowledge through up to five generations. The growth of the area has seen Rutherglen become the home of many boutique wineries.
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Murray-Darling Wine Region: the region is known for a range of wines across a wide spectrum of varieties and affordable price points. A cellar door tour will reveal a range of traditional and innovative styles - crisp whites, full bodied reds and fortifieds. The mainstream varieties from the region today are chardonnay, shiraz, cabernet sauvignon and merlot with new and emerging varieties planted each year including petit verdot, sangiovese, voignier and pinot gris.
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Keiwa Valley
Wodonga: twin city to Albury, which is on the NSW side of the Murray (Wodonga is on the Victorian side). The twin city concept was developed in the 1960s as a way of decentralising away from the capital cities. The towns are the northern gateway to North East Victoria from New South Wales, and to Victoria's High Country via the Keiwa Valley. Hume Weir, 31 km to the south-east near Tallangatta, was built in the 1950s. Lake Hume boasts an attractive inland beach and is a popular venue for watersports.
Mildura: One of Australia's fastest growing inland centres, its lush green golf courses, endless orange groves, orchards and vineyards hide the fact that you are still in the middle of Victoria's arid region, and that Mildura could not exist were it not for an extensive irrigation system that has caused the desert to bloom. Mildura has its fair share of attractions, like its wineries, fruit farms, a fauna gardens, Australia's only inland Botanical Gardens and Murray paddlesteamers.
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| Visiting The Region: The Facts |
How To Get There: By road from Perth, take Great Northern Highway via Meekatharra to Port Hedland. Continue north to Broome (2,238 km from Perth) and Derby 92,391 km from Perth). By road from Darwin, travel south on Stuart Highway to Katherine. At Katherine, take the Victoria Highway to Kununurra (830 km from Darwin).
Derby, Broome and Kununurra are connected by daily Greyhound Australia Coach Services.
By air: Broome and Kununurra are connected by daily flights to Perth and Darwin. Broome is also connected by daily flights to Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Port Hedland and Karratha.
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The Best Time To Visit: The Kimberley is a tropical region with two very distinct seasons - The Wet and Dry. December to March is the height of the wet season - humidity is high, it rains daily and cyclones are common. The Dry season begins around April and extends through to September. The Dry season is the peak tourist season. September to November is when humidity, air and water temperatures are building up to the start of the wet.
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Regional Centres
Towns and Villages
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