Griffith to Mildura road trip: Distance, driving time & best stops

The Griffith to Mildura drive covers a 428km distance in a driving time of around 4h40m. The best stops along the way are Yanga National Park, Balranald and Robinvale.

The Griffith to Mildura drive connects two wine-producing hubs via a long stretch of country New South Wales.

To track down the best rates on Griffith accommodation, investigate here.

Mildura is on the cusp of several excellent outback national parks, and offers winery and wetland tours. Book the best value Mildura accommodation before setting off..

This guide is aimed at travellers planning a Griffith to Mildura road trip itinerary.

Griffith to Mildura distance and driving time

Travelling by car along sealed roads, the distance from Griffith to Mildura is 428km. This makes for a driving time of around four hours and 40 minutes.

Things to do in Griffith aside from wine-tasting include the Griffith Regional Art Gallery and Griffith Pioneer Park Museum. You can also go walking and peregrine falcon-watching in Cocoparra National Park.

The best places to stay in Griffith, NSW

The top Griffith accommodation options are:

For a cheap, but good quality, motel: Coro Club Motel.
For a four star with flair (and free private parking): The Gem.
For a business-friendly aparthotel: Quest Griffith.

Griffith to Mildura drive: Griffith to Hay

The first section is from Griffith to Hay. Head west along Brogden Road until you reach Warrawidgee. Then turn south along Bringagee Road until you reach the Murrumbidgee River Road. As the name suggests, this largely follows the northern bank of the Murrumbidgee River until you reach Carrathool.

Near Carrathool, the Toganmain Woolshed gives a glimpse of how big the wool industry was in these parts.

That’s just to the north of Carrathool. If not fussed about seeing it, branch off down Carrathool Road through the small town, and join the Sturt Highway towards Hay.

Things to do in Hay include Shear Outback, which is devoted to the tale of Australia’s nation-forming wool industry. There’s also the Dunera Museum, which pays tribute to World War II internees, and the architecturally striking Bishop’s Lodge House.

The best accommodation in Hay includes the Big4 holiday park, the Saltbush Motor Inn and the Nicholas Royal Motel.

Griffith to Mildura drive: Yanga National Park

The best road trip stop on the Hay to Balranald section of the Griffith to Mildura drive is Yanga National Park. There are two key components here, the first of which is the Yanga Woolshed by the Murrumbidgee River. This enormous woolshed is devoted to the shearing industry, and features tales of the record-breaking shearers who worked there.

The Yanga Woolshed is an incredibly atmospheric place to walk through.

The other key sight is the Yanga Homestead, which has been left as it was when the Yanga Station was shut down. It offers a fascinating insight into the management of a big pastoral property and has a pretty location by Yanga Lake.

The Yanga National Park on the Murrumbidgee River is a welcome diversion on the drive from Sydney to Adelaide. Photo by David Whitley/ Australia Travel Questions

The main attraction in Balranald is the Balranald Discovery Centre. This complex hosts a café, visitor information centre and an Interpretive Pavilion explaining the history of the region. The surrounding precinct also includes a children’s playground and a handful of heritage buildings.

Balranald can also be used as a base for exploring Mungo National Park. Outback Geo Adventures runs tours from here.

For Balranald accommodation with a pool, try the Sturt Motel or Balranald Motor Inn.

Click through to the next section: Balranald to Mildura.

Griffith to Mildura road trip: Balranald to Mildura

The Balranald to Mildura section of the drive goes past several small lakes before arriving in Euston. You might prefer to pop over the Murray River to Robinvale in Victoria, where you can visit the Rural Life Museum or swim at Robinvale Leisure Centre.

It’s 89km from Robinvale to Mildura. Kemendok National Park lines up by the Murray River, with a campground and lots of river red gum forest.

There are also a couple of Mildura region wineries along the route. Monak Wine opens its cellar door on Fridays and Saturdays, while Trentham Estate’s stunning riverside location and restaurant helps it open all week.

Wine-tasting at Trentham Estate near Mildura. Photo courtesy of Visit Victoria.

The Robinvale to Mildura drive then hugs the Murray River and enters Gol Gol. Here you can visit the Rest-a-while Gardens and Gallery, have a beer at the Gol Gol Hotel or enjoy the river scenery in the Drings Hill Reserve.

Buronga and Mildura

The next town on the highway is Buronga, where you can enjoy a dose of nature at the Buronga Wetlands and classic cars at the Mildura Holden Motor Museum.

From here, you cross the George Chaffey Bridge into 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.

Things to do in Mildura include visiting the various sites on the Chaffey Trail, which tell of the ambitious project to irrigate the area and turn it into a fruit-growing powerhouse.

You can also use it as a base for day trips into the nearby national parks. The Hattah-Kulkyne National Park and Murray Sunset National Park are interesting, but the Mungo National Park is exceptional.

Top Mildura accommodation options include the Best Western Chaffey International Motor Inn and the River City Motel.