Wagga Wagga to Echuca: Distance, drive time & best stops
The best road trip stops on the Wagga Wagga to Echuca drive are Cobram and Cactus Country. By car, the distance from Wagga Wagga to Echuca is 327km, with a driving time of around 3h40m.
Planning a Wagga Wagga to Echuca road trip
A Wagga Wagga to Echuca drive takes you from the biggest city in New South Wales’ Riverina region to arguably the most charming Murray River town.
Wagga Wagga is home to Wagga Beach, one of Australia’s top inland beaches. To pick out the best Wagga Wagga accommodation deals, head here.
Echuca offers guided e-bike tours and paddlesteamer cruises with winery lunches, plus plenty of history. To fix your Echuca accommodation, look through your options here.
This guide should help you plan a great Wollongong to Echuca road trip itinerary. Click on the links to the town and city names for more detailed information on potential stops.
If you need a hire car, search for the best car rental deals here – and remember to stock up on your road trip essentials before setting off.
Wagga Wagga to Echuca distance and driving time
By car, the distance from Wagga Wagga to Echuca is 327km. That makes for a driving time of around three hours and 40 minutes.
Before leaving Wagga Wagga, you can pay a visit to Wagga Beach, the most famous inland beach in Australia.
Wagga Wagga accommodation recommendations
- For business: International Hotel Wagga Wagga.
- For a pool and city centre location: Townhouse Hotel.
- For character: Charles Boutique Hotel.
- For riverside location: Prince of Wales Motor Inn.
- For family cabins: Ingenia Holidays Wagga Wagga.
Wagga Wagga to Echuca road trip: Wagga Wagga to Urana
The quickest route from Wagga Wagga to Echuca leaves Wagga along the Sturt Highway. You can see the Aboriginal murals painted on the Collingulliie water tanks before turning south-west down Lockhart Road.
This will take you past bird-watching spot Lake Lashbrook, before reaching Lockhart. This is a fairly generic country service town – fuel station, showground, pub, caravan park. But there’s another impressive mural on the water tower.
From Lockhart, head down the Lockhart-Urana Road, a drive not exactly brimming with excitement. Urana brings more generic country service town vibes, albeit with an added newsagent, bowling club and aquatic centre, should you feel like a swim.
Urana is also home to perhaps the creepiest of Australia’s roadside Big Things – the Big Spider.
Wagga Wagga to Echuca drive: Urana to Cobram
Leave Urana along Cocketgedong Road, which curves around the bottom of the sizable Lake Urana, then branch left down Back Berrigan Road. Further along, that becomes the Berrigan-Oaklands Road and brings you to Berrigan.
No prizes for guessing what Berrigan is – it’s another generic country service town! The Golf and Bowling Club is the main attraction here.
Leave Berrigan to the south along the Riverina Highway, then quickly turn right down Berrigan Road. This quickly becomes Cobram Road, and leads you to the twin towns of Barooga and Cobram, either side of the Murray River.
The Cobram Barooga golf resort is in Barooga, as is the Barooga Aquatic and Recreation Area. But Cobram in Victoria has more to it.
Things to do in Cobram include swimming at the river beaches, of which Thompsons Beach is best known. You can also do mini paddlesteamer cruises along the river.
Where to stay in Cobram, Victoria
The best Cobram accommodation options are:
- For gorgeous cottages amid gardens, with a pool, tennis court and driving range: Tokemata Retreat.
- For a resort with loads for the family: RACV Cobram Resort.
- For a solid, affordable motel: Cobram Colonial Motor Inn.
Wagga Wagga to Echuca road trip: Cobram to Echuca
You’ll leave Cobram along the Murray Valley Highway, which takes you to the gloriously bizarre Cactus Country in Strathmerton. Here, gardens are made up of thousands of cacti, and you can even taste cactus-flavoured ice cream in the café.
Further along, the Nathalia Natural Features Reserve on Broken Creek is a pretty spot for stretching the legs. The winding riverside scenery of the Lower Goulburn National Park is also not far off the Murray Valley Highway.
The next small town, Wyuna, is primarily known for hosting one of Australia’s Big Things. The Big Cherry poses for photos by the side of the highway.
As you approach Echuca, you’ll pass close to the Great Aussie Beer Shed. This museum offers a collection of Australian beer memorabilia, but there’s also a heritage farm attached.
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.
Book your Echuca accommodation
The best Echuca accommodation options are:
- For a solid motel with low rates: Paddlewheel Motel.
- For prime position in the historic Port of Echuca: Campapse Lodge.
- For apartments with a touch of style: Cocknbull Boutique Hotel.
- For a family-friendly holiday park: Discovery Parks Echuca.
More New South Wales travel
How long is the Port Macquarie to Macksville drive?
What to see on an Albury to Parkes road trip.
The top attractions on the Blayney to Orange drive.
Are there sharks at Coogee Beach?
What to see on a Wangaratta to Sydney road trip.