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

Ballarat to Echuca road trip: Taradale to Elmore

From Malmsbury, head north on the C794 to Taradale – where there’s another impressive viaduct – and Elphinstone.

Turn onto the Bendigo-Sutton Grange Road, past the Sutton Grange Winery and wildlife-heavy Pilchers Bridge Nature Conservation Reserve. Then continue up Axe Creek Road and Longlea Lane to Longlea.

Swing a right down the McIvor Highway to Axedale, where you can walk a section of the O’Keeffe Rail Trail. Then continue north along the Axedale-Goornong Road until you join the Midland Highway.

Follow the Midland Highway until Elmore, where you join the Northern Highway, or B75. Take a slight detour via Burnewang instead, however, and you can stop by scenic Aysons Reserve on the Campaspe River.

Ballarat to Echuca drive: Rochester and Echuca

Either way, you’ll come out at Rochester, a small agricultural town. The highlight here is the silo art – a massive mural has been painted onto grain silos by the Northern Highway.

Following the Northern Highway north towards Echuca, there are a few more pleasant beauty spots. These include the Ballendella Streamside Reserve in Ballendella and the Campaspe River Highway Park.

The Bendigo to Echuca drive passes west of Strathallen before arriving in Echuca, perhaps the most appealing of the Murray River towns.

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.