Bendigo to Echuca drive: Time, distance and road trip attractions

The Bendigo to Echuca drive is only 91km long, with a driving time of 1h8m. Road trip attractions on the way include silo art in Rochester and the Ballendella Streamside Reserve.

The Bendigo to Echuca drive connects two of the most engaging towns in regional Victoria. You can visit both as part of an Australian road trip, after first travelling from Melbourne to Bendigo.

To fix up good value Bendigo accommodation, look here.

To fix your Echuca accommodation, look through your options here.

Bendigo to Echuca distance and driving time

The drive from Bendigo to Echuca is 91km in distance. By Australian standards, this is a short drive, with an estimated Bendigo to Echuca driving time of around one hour and eight minutes.

Where to stay in Bendigo

The best Bendigo accommodation options are:

For good quality, spacious apartments: Quest Bendigo Central.
For art, liveliness and personality: Mercure Bendigo Schaller.7
For historic charm: Hotel Shamrock.
For central location and (usually) cheap rates: City Centre Motel.

There’s not a massive amount to see along the way, so you can be forgiven for tackling this one in one hit.

The route follows 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.

Bendigo to Echuca drive: Rochester silo art and Ballendella Streamside Reserve

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.