Murray Valley Hwy

StartClick to Reverse the Dynamic Map and Driving NotesMildura
FinishYarrawonga
DifficultyDifficulty 0.5/5
Suitable For2WD Motorhome/Van Motorbike 
Distance552.83 km
Minimum Days2
Average Speed78.83 km/hr
Travel Time7 hrs
Page Updated: 21 Oct 2021

Description

This trek follows the Murray River, also known as the ‘Mighty Murray’, which is Australia’s largest river measuring at 2,575kms in length. The Murray River begins its journey by water draining from some of Australia’s highest peaks in the Snowy Mountains. It flows west through the Riverina Plains, heading past Mildura where it bends south at the historic township of Morgan and then coming to an end into Lake Alexandrina in South Australia.

This trek not only takes in the natural beauty of the Murray River and its surrounds, but also the historic beauty with the many towns along the way. Towns like Echuca which had the biggest inland port in Australia, Swan Hill which has an authentically recreated 19th century Mallee town and Mildura - which has abundant significance to Aboriginal culture as well as explorers such as Captain Charles Sturt who named the Murray and Darling Rivers.

How to Use this Trek Note

  • To download this information and the route file for offline use on a phone, tablet, headunit or laptop, go to the app store and purchase ExplorOz Traveller. This app enables offline navigation and mapping and will show where you are as you travel along the route. For more info see the ExplorOz Traveller webpage and the EOTopo webpage.

TIP

ExplorOz Traveller now features the NEW EOTopo 2023 mapset!

Environment

Due to the close proximity of the Murray River, there is a mixture of dry, arid country and fertile, irrigated land, which makes a rather interesting drive. The route is relatively good and there are many long straight sections on flatter terrain. As you journey from Yarrawonga, the timbered countryside diminishes and turns to more dry and arid conditions as you head closer towards Echuca and beyond.

Some of the Fauna you may encounter especially in the Murray River parklands region are predominantly kangaroos, emus and koalas. There are over 200 species of birds such as the Australian White Ibis and the Straw-necked Ibis. You may even be lucky to see a Peregrine Falcon flying high in the sky.

Gunbower Island State Forest, near Cohuna occupies around 130kms of river frontage and features magnificent Red Gum and Box forests covering about 80 percent of the 50km long island. This amazing floodplain between the Murray and Gunbower Creek features a large variety of waterbirds.

History

The Murray River region is rich with cultural and English/European historical significance. Local indigenous people had lived along the Murray River for more than 10,000 years. This is evident in some shell middens (kitchen hearths), burials and scar trees that you may discover while exploring around. Please respect these Australian heritage sites, which are protected by law.

One of the greatest explorations of this region in Australian history belongs to Captain Charles Napier Sturt. He was an English explorer who led several expeditions into the interior of the continent, starting from both Sydney and later from Adelaide. As he was searching to determine if there was an ‘inland sea’, his expeditions traced several of the westward-flowing rivers, establishing that they all merge into the one river, which he subsequently named ‘Murray River’.

TrekID: 152

Preparation

MUST READ: You are strongly encouraged to read the following articles prepared by the knowledge experts at ExplorOz for your safety and preparation before undertaking any published ExplorOz Trek - Outback Safety, Outback Driving Tips, Outback Communications, and Vehicle Setup for the Outback.

TIP

Please refer to Road Reports published by the local shire and/or main roads for the area you intend to visit. Road/Track conditions can change significantly after weather events. Travellers must be responsible for their own research on current conditions and track suitability.
Although there are many fuel outlets along this route for filling up your vehicle, this trek is nearly 600kms long so please make sure you carry enough fuel between major towns. Accommodation is plentiful and most towns will provide either caravan parks or motels if you wish to stay overnight. Your vehicle should also be in good working order before undertaking a long journey such as this trek.

Permits

As this trek traverses on public highways (Sturt Highway and Murray Valley Highway), no permits are needed to follow the Murray Valley Hwy trek.

Fuel Usage

DieselULPLPG
4cyl 78 litres4cyl 89 litres4cyl 111 litres
6cyl 85 litres6cyl 100 litres6cyl 97 litres
8cyl 85 litres8cyl 92 litres
Usage is averaged from recorded data (* specific to this trek) and calculated based on trek distance.

Best Time To Visit

Generally, this trek can be undertaken all year round, although it can get rather cold during the winter months. That said, this may be at a time when the Murray River is flowing at it's peak.

Closest Climatic Station

Swan Hill Aerodrome
Distance from Trek Mid Point 55.12km SW
 JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Mean Max. °C33.032.228.223.718.715.414.616.820.223.828.130.2
Mean Min. °C15.916.012.68.86.04.23.64.05.97.811.813.4
Mean Rain mm29.023.517.515.024.825.129.028.625.624.348.822.2
    Best time to travel      Ok time to travel      Travel NOT recommended

Map

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Directions

Mildura to Buronga
Driving: 3.7 km
Heading: 46°
Avg Speed: 71 km/hr
EST Time: 03:07
  • Drive southwest on A20/Deakin Avenue. for: 0.19 km time: 00:13
  • Make a right U-turn at Ninth Street to stay on A20/Deakin Avenue. for: 0.46 km time: 00:39
  • Keep right to stay on A20/Deakin Avenue. for: 0.04 km time: 00:05
  • Turn right at the end of the road, onto Seventh Street for: 0.65 km time: 00:33
  • Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit, onto Sturt Highway for: 2.14 km time: 01:16
  • Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit, onto Hendy Road for: 0.13 km time: 00:08
  • Turn left onto Chapman Street. for: 0.07 km time: 00:08
  • Turn left. for: 0.03 km time: 00:05
Buronga to Gol Gol
Driving: 4.35 km
Heading: 105°
Avg Speed: 59.93 km/hr
EST Time: 04:21
Gol Gol to Trentham Cliffs
Driving: 4.65 km
Heading: 154°
Avg Speed: 87.56 km/hr
EST Time: 03:11
Trentham Cliffs to Monak
Driving: 8.97 km
Heading: 160°
Avg Speed: 91.29 km/hr
EST Time: 05:53
Monak to Euston
Driving: 57.92 km
Heading: 127°
Avg Speed: 92.4 km/hr
EST Time: 37:36
Euston to Robinvale
Driving: 5.59 km
Heading: 112°
Avg Speed: 62.18 km/hr
EST Time: 05:23
Robinvale to Boundary Bend
Driving: 45.01 km
Heading: 113°
Avg Speed: 83.24 km/hr
EST Time: 32:26
Boundary Bend to Narrung
Driving: 9.77 km
Heading: 126°
Avg Speed: 88.54 km/hr
EST Time: 06:37
Narrung to Piambie
Driving: 8.96 km
Heading: 152°
Avg Speed: 88.09 km/hr
EST Time: 06:06
Piambie to Haysdale
Driving: 7.05 km
Heading: 169°
Avg Speed: 97.98 km/hr
EST Time: 04:19
Haysdale to Piangil North
Driving: 19 km
Heading: 167°
Avg Speed: 100.3 km/hr
EST Time: 11:21
Piangil North to Nyah
Driving: 16.84 km
Heading: 162°
Avg Speed: 88.87 km/hr
EST Time: 11:22
Nyah to Vinifera
Driving: 4.42 km
Heading: 149°
Avg Speed: 76.36 km/hr
EST Time: 03:28
Vinifera to Tyntynder South
Driving: 14.86 km
Heading: 123°
Avg Speed: 89.04 km/hr
EST Time: 10:00
Tyntynder South to Swan Hill
Driving: 8.44 km
Heading: 158°
Avg Speed: 65.38 km/hr
EST Time: 07:44
Swan Hill to Lake Boga
Driving: 16.02 km
Heading: 154°
Avg Speed: 77.08 km/hr
EST Time: 12:28
Lake Boga to Kerang Lakes
Driving: 19.15 km
Heading: 131°
Avg Speed: 87.84 km/hr
EST Time: 13:04
Kerang Lakes to Kerang
Driving: 23.56 km
Heading: 146°
Avg Speed: 90.93 km/hr
EST Time: 15:32
Kerang to Kerang East
Driving: 13.28 km
Heading: 123°
Avg Speed: 84.8 km/hr
EST Time: 09:23
Kerang East to Cohuna
Driving: 18.41 km
Heading: 97°
Avg Speed: 89.89 km/hr
EST Time: 12:17
Cohuna to Gunbower Island State Forest
Driving: 8.26 km
Heading: 76°
Avg Speed: 53.2 km/hr
EST Time: 09:18
Gunbower Island State Forest to Black Charlie Lagoon
Driving: 38.13 km
Heading: 140°
Avg Speed: 44.37 km/hr
EST Time: 51:33
Black Charlie Lagoon to Torrumbarry
Driving: 13.43 km
Heading: 149°
Avg Speed: 59.23 km/hr
EST Time: 13:36
Torrumbarry to Wharparilla North
Driving: 12.49 km
Heading: 121°
Avg Speed: 93.81 km/hr
EST Time: 07:59
Wharparilla North to Echuca
Driving: 13.37 km
Heading: 119°
Avg Speed: 79.06 km/hr
EST Time: 10:08
Echuca to Moama
Driving: 5.05 km
Heading:
Avg Speed: 34.62 km/hr
EST Time: 08:45
Moama to Barmah
Driving: 29.38 km
Heading: 60°
Avg Speed: 80.41 km/hr
EST Time: 21:55
Barmah to Nathalia
Driving: 27.56 km
Heading: 102°
Avg Speed: 89.37 km/hr
EST Time: 18:30
Nathalia to Strathmerton
Driving: 38.31 km
Heading: 59°
Avg Speed: 91.55 km/hr
EST Time: 25:06
Strathmerton to Yarroweyah
Driving: 7.37 km
Heading: 91°
Avg Speed: 80.94 km/hr
EST Time: 05:27
Yarroweyah to Cobram
Driving: 7.39 km
Heading: 85°
Avg Speed: 80.05 km/hr
EST Time: 05:32
Cobram to Cobram East
Driving: 14.79 km
Heading: 127°
Avg Speed: 54.1 km/hr
EST Time: 16:24
Cobram East to Yarrawonga
Driving: 27.35 km
Heading: 102°
Avg Speed: 87.98 km/hr
EST Time: 18:39
Distance is based on the travel mode shown (Driving, Straight, Cycling, Walking etc), Direction is straight line from start to end, Avg Speed & EST Time is calculated from GPS data.

What to See

Other things to do, include visiting: Ulupna Island, Barmah Forest, Tyntynder Homestead (the first brick veneer building in Australia), Vinifera River Murray Reserve, Nyah State Forest (almost entirely River Red Gum with a groundcover of native and introduced grasses), The Major Mitchell Trail, Passage Camp, Robinvale, Hattah-Kulkyne National Park, Murray Kulkyne National Park, Karadoc Beaches, Red Cliffs Scenic Reserve, Kings Billabong Wildlife Reserve and the historic Psyche Bend Pumphouse which is the oldest intact irrigation station in Australia.

Facilities

Where to Stay

Services & Supplies

Wildflowers

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