Melbourne to Airlie Beach inland road trip: Distance & best stops

Melbourne to Airlie Beach drive: Shepparton to the Kidman Way

The next leg of the Melbourne to Airlie Beach road trip crosses into New South Wales. It’s 265km from Shepparton to Griffith, a journey that should take around three hours and five minutes.

Before entering New South Wales, you might like to take a look at the massive collection of cacti at Cactus Country in Strathmerton, or go for a swim in the Murray River from Thompsons Beach in Cobram.

Thompsons Beach in Cobram, Victoria. Photo by Emily Godfrey, courtesy of Visit Victoria.

There are more river beaches in Tocumwal, where you join the Newell Highway. Continue north through the small towns of Finley and Jerilderie, and you’ll eventually reach the junction with Kidman Way.

The best accommodation in Tocumwal, NSW

The best places to stay in Tocumwal are:

For a no-frills (but decent) motel with bargain rates: Tocumwal Hotel Motel.
For a pool, gardens and golf: Tocumwal Golf Resort.
For a family-friendly holiday park: Boomerang Way Tourist Park.
For good value, free parking and a pool: Kingswood Motel.

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Darlington Point to Griffith

This lonely country road – also called the B87 – passes through vast swathes of rural New South Wales. It hits the Murrumbidgee River at Darlington Point, which is best known for hosting the Altina Wildlife Park, but has some pleasant riverside parkland too.

Shortly afterwards, you’ll start to see signs of the Griffith wine region. The Nugan Estate vineyards are right next to the Kidman Way.

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.