Things to do in Echuca, Victoria

The best things to do in Echuca, Victoria, include paddlesteamer cruises, the Port After Dark night tour and the Port of Echuca Discovery Centre.

Echuca has a strong claim to being the most attractive town on Australia’s Murray River. On the Victorian side of the border, there are plenty of things to do in Echuca – which is 223km north of Melbourne. The drive from Melbourne to Echuca takes around two hours and 32 minutes. There is also a direct train line, should non-drivers wish to visit.

Things to do in Echuca, Victoria

Much of Echuca’s appeal comes from its heritage. In the 19th century, it was the busiest inland port in Australia. Because it was the closest point on the Murray River to Melbourne, it became the distribution hub for the sheep stations all across the Murray-Darling basin. The Port of Echuca Discovery Centre, on top of Echuca’s huge wooden wharf, is a great place to get a more detailed historical overview.

The Discovery Centre is one of the best things to do in Echuca, but it is by no means alone. Venture towards the wharf at night, and you can do the Port After Dark tour. This is part history, part ghost stories, and it ventures into once-secret tunnel systems below Echuca’s historic pubs.

Other tours include guided e-bike adventures.

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.

This isn’t the tour Echuca is best known for, however. The classic Echuca activity is a Murray River cruise aboard a paddlesteamer. Several options are available, including dinner cruises aboard the PS Emmylou and shorter jaunts on other historic paddlesteamers. These cruises can be sticky in summer, when the Echuca weather gets very toasty.

Places to eat and drink in Echuca include the historic American Hotel.

National parks near Echuca, Victoria

The Echuca paddlesteamer cruises are amongst the best river activities in Australia. Longer, multiday river cruises head upstream to the neighbouring national parks. These natural treats also form a major part of Echuca’s appeal. The Barmah National Park has huge groves of river red gum trees and excellent walking trails. These include the Yamyabuc Discovery Trail, which explores traditional Aboriginal uses for plants.

PS Canberra paddlesteamer cruise on the Murray River from Echuca Wharf — The PS Canberra is one of several options for a paddlesteamer cruise from Echuca Wharf, Victoria. Three day Murray River cruises are also available. Photo by David Whitley/ Australia Travel Questions

On the New South Wales side of the Murray is the Murray Valley National Park. This park offers great birdwatching at Reed Beds Bird Hide in Mathoura. There’s also the Moira scenic drive through the river red gums, beachside campgrounds and kayaking launches.

Things to do in Echuca: Murray River road trip

Echuca can be tackled as part of a Murray River road trip. It’s 227km east of Albury, where you can do kayaking tours and riverside Aboriginal sculpture walks. That drive can be stretched out over a pleasant day tasting local produce and drinks on the Murray Farm Gate Trail.

Going west, the drive from Echuca to Swan Hill stretches for 155km past several Murray River Islands. In Swan Hill, the Pioneer Settlement full of relocated historic buildings is the star attraction.

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