Adelaide to Echuca road trip: Best stops, distance & drive time

Adelaide to Echuca drive: Ouyen to Swan Hill

To continue to Echuca, however, you need to go south then east along the Calder Highway, past several underwhelming bushland reserves.

Then swing a left down the Chinkapook-Mittyack Road, where a detour to the south will bring you to Lake Tyrrell – one of Australia’s most impressive pink lakes.

Afterwards, you’ll eventually head south on the Robinvale-Sea Lake Road. You’ll need Springfield Road out of Chinkapook, then east on the Chillingolah Road. Once near Swan Hill, the Woorinen-Vintera Road and Woorinen Road will bring you into town.

Things to do in Swan Hill include visiting the Swan Hill Pioneer Settlement open air museum and going for a cruise on the PS Pyap paddlesteamer.

Find the best Swan Hill accommodation

The best Swan Hill accommodation choices are:

For families – with a pool and water park: Big4 Swan Hill holiday park.
For a solid, cheap motel – with a pool and great reviews: Murray River Motel.
For central location and convenience: Jane Eliza Motor Inn.

Adelaide to Echuca road trip: Swan Hill to Koondrook

The first section of the Swan Hill to Echuca section of the drive passes Lake Boga. This is a popular swimming spot, but it’s also home to the Lake Boga Flying Boats Museum, where you can learn about the World War II flying boats operation.

Stay close to the Murray River and you’ll pass through Koondrook. This border town faces Barham in New South Wales, and offers a few good river experiences.

These include Wetlander Cruises, which offers dining cruises along Gunbower Creek.

Koondrook to Echuca

You can also explore what is allegedly Australia’s largest inland island on the Gunbower Island Forest Drive.

Starting in the town of Cohuna, this scenic driving route combines wetlands, river red gum forests and imperious black box trees. There are plenty of good spots for a picnic, while seeing native Australian wildlife is practically guaranteed.

Cohuna is also the base for Murray River Adventures, which operates kayaking tours on the lakes, river and Gunbower Creek.

From Cohuna, it’s a short drive to Echuca.

Your Echuca checklist

Combine a one hour Murray River paddlesteamer cruise with lunch at Morrison’s Winery.
Book a nature-focused guided e-bike tour.
Or an extended three hour e-bike tour with a winery visit.
Find the best deals on Echuca accommodation.

The best things to do in Echuca include Murray River paddlesteamer cruises, e-bike tours and the Port After Dark ghost tour run by the Port of Echuca Discovery Centre. The Echuca weather is at its best in April or October.