Melbourne to Mildura road trip: Distance, driving time & best stops
Calder Highway road trip attractions: Lake Tyrrell
The Bendigo to Mildura leg of the drive from Melbourne to Mildura is a long slog. There’s not much to see on the way. The next highlight is Lake Tyrrell near the settlement of Sea Lake. This is where the nearest Lake Tyrrell accommodation can be found. It’s is one of Australia’s pink lakes. Even when not pink, Lake Tyrrell‘s salt basin makes for mirror-like refelections in the water. It’s great for photography.
There are more pink lakes to be seen in the Murray Sunset National Park, just past Ouyen. There are also red kangaroos here. Alternatively, opt for the grey kangaroos, emus and other abundant wildlife of the Hattah-Kulkyne National Park. This is on the other side of the Calder Highway after you pass through Ouyen. Realistically, though, both national parks can be tackled as day or half day trips from Mildura.
Your Mildura checklist
- Find the best accommodation.
- Book a half day visit to the Trentham Estate Winery and Mildura Wetlands…
- … Or a nature-focused Hattah Lakes 4WD tour.
The best time to visit Mildura is during the winter months – roughly May to September – as the Mildura weather isn’t as ferociously hot.
Mildura accommodation options include the functional Seven Pines Motor Inn, the sprawling Quality Hotel Mildura Grand and the kid-friendly All Seasons Mildura Holiday Park.
14 fantastic experiences that make the most of your free time in Melbourne
- Get the very best views – on a hot air balloon flight over the city.
- See the changing colours of the river – on a sunset kayaking tour – with dinner. (Highly recommended ✅)
- Feast and see the sights at the same time – on a four course dinner cruise along the Yarra River.
- A genuinely excellent street art tour, led by prominent street artists. (Highly recommended ✅)
- The also superb Aboriginal heritage, plants and bush food tour in the Botanic Gardens. (💲 Great value 💲)
- Best of Melbourne bike tour – you can see more on two wheels than walking.
- Hidden laneways bar crawl OR foodie discovery tour OR chocolate and dessert tour.
- Combo ticket for Australian Sports Museum and MCG tour.
- Hassle-dodging advance tickets for the Melbourne Skydeck, Melbourne Zoo, the Ice Bar (with cocktails) and Sea Life Aquarium.
More road trips from Melbourne
Melbourne to Adelaide | Melbourne to Albury-Wodonga | Melbourne to Ballarat | Melbourne to Canberra | Melbourne to Echuca | Melbourne to Halls Gap |