The Murray River

The mighty Murray River, one of the world's longest navigable rivers, stretches 2,700 kilometres from the mountains of the Great Dividing Range in north-eastern Victoria to near Adelaide in South Australia. A mountain stream in its upper reaches, the river turns into a meandering river lined with magnificent forests of red gum and sandy beaches in its lower reaches. The region is home to plentiful wildlife, supporting over 350 varieties of birds, as well as many species of mammals, reptiles and fish.

Traverse the region from end to end and delight in the activity and diversity found along the way. Inhabited by Aboriginal people for thousands of years, the Murray River is now the lifeblood of Victoria's food bowl and the centre of social, sports and cultural activities – from east to west.

A river's spirit

Since ancient times Aboriginal people have lived along the river and, after European settlement, the river was travelled by some of Australia's earliest European explorers. By the late 1800s, it was a busy trading route with boats carrying supplies to and carting wool from the region's stations and homesteads.

Want to learn more? Delve into Indigenous history with an Aboriginal tour guide, board a historic paddle steamer or visit museums and the river towns of Albury Wodonga, Echuca Moama, Swan Hill or Mildura.

At your own pace

Hire your own houseboat and coast along at a pace that suits your mood or rent a boat for a day's fishing. Four inspiring Murray River canoe trails offer the chance to explore the red gum forests and secluded creeks of the Murray Valley and Barmah National Parks. Or, take things up a gear with a waterskiing session on Lake Hume, Lake Mulwala or on wider sections of the Murray River.