The Murray River, one of Australia’s most important rivers runs for more than 2500 km from the Snowy Mountains in Victoria to the coast in South Australia. It snakes along the border of Victoria and New South Wales cutting between both the states.
There are many beautiful towns along its banks, most of which have kept the history of the rivers time when it was used as a trade route. The magnificent river red gums, birdlife, sandy beaches and quiet atmosphere make the river a popular holiday destination. Drift along on a houseboat holiday calling in to vineyards, golf courses and rustic cafés.
Towns along the Murray include Albury, Corowa, Echuca (VIC)/Moama, Barham and Wentworth. Balranald, on the banks of the Murrumbidgee River is a great town to break your journey and is considered the gateway to Mungo National Park, the first area in Australia to gain a World Heritage listing. Mungo National Park is 150 kilometres north-west of Balranald and the park covers an ancient dry lake bed featuring crescent-shaped dunes, where evidence has been found of human settlement dating back 60,000 years. Recently the oldest human footprints in Australia, estimated to be up to 23,000 years old, were uncovered. Balranald is also where the Sturt Highway crosses the Murrumbidgee River in far north-western NSW, the towns of Swan Hill and Mildura sit on Victorian side of the rivers banks.
The rivers are the heart of these townships giving them a relaxed and peaceful atmosphere.