From the source of the Murray River in the Snowy Mountains of New South Wales, much of the mighty river defines the border between Victoria and its northern neighbor. Its first major community on its way from the mountains to the sea comprises the twin towns of Albury in New South Wales and Wodonga in Victoria.
River ports
Traveling northwest to the South Australian border, the Murray River passes through the Victorian towns of Echuca, Swan Hill and Mildura, important river ports before railroads and other forms of overland (and air) transport became the norm for moving passengers and cargo through this area of the Australian continent.
Mildura and Swan Hill
Mildura, the most populous of the Victorian river towns, is the site of the first Murray River irrigation projects and is noted for its orchards and vineyards. Swan Hill has rather less than half the population of Mildura, but it has its own particular attractions, one of which is an interesting re-creation of a river town in the paddle-steamer era, the Swan Hill Pioneer Settlement.
Echuca
In Australia's riverboat days, Echuca was the busiest inland port, and it is here that the Goulburn and Campaspe Rivers join the Mighty Murray. Although the Darling River joins the Murray farther west beyond Mildura, rivercraft of all kinds traveled from, and through, Echuca into the Murray-Darling river system reaching farther north into the Australian Outback.
Paddle-steamers
The historic port of Echuca has the largest collection of operating paddle-steamers, offering a wide variety of river cruises, on paddlewheelers or other types of boats. Paddle-steamer cruises are also available at Swan Hill and Mildurra.
Sports and leisure
River sports and leisure activities from fishing to water-skiing to boating are available. Check with the visitor information centres in each river town for your own particular interests.
Getting there
There are daily bus services from Melbourne to Echuca, daily trains from Melbourne to Swan Hill, plane flights from Melbourne or Adelaide to Mildura. Bus services are generally available through the Victorian river towns, some of the long-distance coaches traveling from such capital cities as Melbourne, Adelaide and Sydney.
