Albury kayaking: Can I do Murray River kayaking tour in Albury, NSW?

A self-guided Murray River kayaking tour in Albury is available through Murray River Canoe Hire or Canoe the Murray. Both Murray River kayak operators offer transport to points upstream such as the Hume Weir or Mungabareena Reserve, then allow you to paddle back to central Albury along the river.

The Murray River is the longest in Australia, and the nearest major city to the source is Albury in New South Wales. Or, as it is usually known, Albury-Wodonga – a 328km drive from Melbourne. As with many settlements along the river, there is a town on either side of the river, one in New South Wales and one in Victoria. They often get lumped together in a slightly uneasy wider urban area. Further downstream, there’s Echuca-Moama, home to paddlesteamer cruises and ghost tours, and Mildura-Wentworth. The latter acts as the gateway to national parks such as the Mungo National Park, Hattah-Kulkyne National Park and Murray Sunset National Park.

Albury-Wodonga, however, has the advantage of being in the middle of the drive from Melbourne to Canberra or Sydney. It makes a logical stopover on the long journey.

Albury kayaking: Kayaking and canoe hire

But being the first city on the river also makes Albury the first place on the Murray where overseas visitors can hire a kayak and paddle on the river.

The cheapest way to explore the Murray River from Albury in a canoe or kayak is to simply hire one. Murray River Canoe Hire offers single seat kayaks for $30 a day. However, that requires you to be able to transport the kayak yourself. You’ll also run into the not inconsiderable hurdle of getting back to the start point when you finish.

Murray River kayak rentals in Albury

Therefore, you’re better off booking a Murray River kayak rental and transportation package. This works a little like a guided Murray River kayaking tour, although you’re left on your own to paddle downstream at your own pace.

Murray River Canoe Hire offers a kayaking tour in Albury on Saturdays and Sundays. The $35 half day tour drops visitors 17km upstream, and the $45 full day tour starts 26km upstream. Transport runs at 9am, 11am, 1pm and 3pm.

Murray River kayaking tour in Albury, Australia — A kayaking tour in Albury can be a magical way to explore the Murray River. Photo by David Whitley/ Australia Travel Questions

Hume Weir kayaking tours from Albury

Rival river activity operator Canoe The Murray runs similar trips, all costing $40 but of varying lengths. All finish in Noreuil Park in downtown Albury. The longest Murray River kayaking tour starts at the Hume Weir – the first major dam on the Murray River. This takes four or five hours to complete. Other, shorter, trips start at the Waterworks, Mungabareena Reserve and Doctors Point.

The latter is the shortest kayak trip available – it’s about 6.5km in total and takes around one-and-a-half hours. But even in that time it’s possible to take in the willow trees on the banks, black swans on the water, plus wallabies and kangaroos hopping around river islands. If you get lucky, you might also see a platypus looking for yabbies in the river banks.

In truth, not much paddling happens. It’s more about steering than power. Stick to the middle of the river, avoiding potentially perilous microcurrents near the banks, and the kayak will lazily drift downstream. During the spring and autumn months, when the Albury weather is pleasantly warm, this is absolutely delightful.

Things to do in Albury, NSW

Other things to do in Albury-Wodonga include taking a self-guided walk around Albury’s historic buildings and getting an important dose of Australian post-war history at the Bonegilla Migrant Experience. You can also combine riverside wildlife-spotting with Aboriginal art on the Yindyamarra Sculpture Walk.

Within an hour’s drive are the walking trails of Woomargama National Park, plus Ned Kelly stories in Victorian High Country towns Glenrowan and Beechworth. If continuing along the Murray Valley towards paddlesteamer cruise capital Echuca, then try produce-sampling on the Murray Farm Gate Trail or walks in the Barmah National Park.

Best Albury accommodation picks

The best places to stay in Albury are:

For a heated pool and spa in a gorgeous location next to a riverside park: Best Western Plus Hovell Tree Inn.
For apartments with kitchenettes in a central location: Mantra Albury.
For a good quality motel next to the train station: Winsor Park Motor Inn.
For a holiday park with lots of facilities for the kids: Big4 Albury Tourist Park.
For a motel with cheap rates and fairly central location: Allawa Motor Inn.