Caravanning the Mighty Murray River – One of Australia’s Greatest Aussie Road Trips

Follow one of Australia’s greatest caravanning adventures along the mighty Murray River — from Cowra to Goolwa — featuring paddle steamers, wineries, historic river towns, caravan parks, hidden gems, great food and unforgettable Aussie road trip experiences.

There are road trips… and then there are proper Aussie road trips.

The sort where the caravan tyres hum along endless country roads, giant river gums lean over the water like old bush storytellers, and every country pub has a tale about paddle steamers, bushrangers, floods, fishermen or “the one that got away.”

The mighty Murray River journey is exactly that sort of adventure.

Stretching more than 2,500 kilometres, the Murray River is Australia’s longest river and one of the country’s ultimate caravanning and self-drive holidays.

Starting near the Australian Alps and eventually winding its way to the Southern Ocean at Goolwa in South Australia, the Murray ties together inland Australia like a giant watery ribbon.

But this isn’t a “rush to the finish” type itinerary.

This is a journey where you pull over because somebody mentioned a legendary country bakery… or because an old bloke at the servo reckons there’s a distillery “worth a stickybeak.”

That’s how the Murray should be done.

I’ve travelled sections of the Murray many times over the years, and every trip feels different. One day you’re cruising through rolling farmland, the next you’re parked beside red gum forests, historic paddle steamer ports, wineries, cliffs and wetlands overflowing with birdlife.

And for history lovers? This trip is absolute Aussie gold.

The Murray River helped build inland Australia. During the 1800s it became the country’s inland highway system, with paddle steamers carrying wool, timber, supplies and people between isolated settlements. Many of those river towns still proudly wear that history today.

You can feel it everywhere. Old wharves, heritage pubs, steam engines, riverboats and stories of floodwaters and river trade are woven into almost every stop along the journey.

So with the caravan packed, fridge stocked and playlists loaded, oh yeah, and the kids! we pointed the bonnet toward inland New South Wales and began one of Australia’s greatest touring adventures.

Stop 1 – Cowra, New South Wales

Technically the Murray River begins much further south near the Australian Alps, but for travellers leaving Sydney or central NSW, Cowra makes a brilliant inland starting point before linking into the Murray route proper.

Cowra surprised us. This beautiful country town blends wartime history, Japanese culture, food, wine and quirky attractions far better than most people realise.

Cowra became internationally famous because of the WWII Cowra Breakout — one of the largest prison escapes in military history — when Japanese POWs escaped from the local camp in 1944.

Today though, Cowra feels peaceful, relaxed and quietly sophisticated.

Things To Do In Cowra

Cowra Japanese Garden and Cultural Centre

One of the largest Japanese gardens in the Southern Hemisphere and genuinely one of the most beautiful inland attractions in Australia. Waterfalls, koi ponds, bonsai displays and traditional landscaping make this an absolute must-see.

Cowra POW Camp

The Cowra POW Camp site is a fascinating and emotional historical attraction detailing the infamous Cowra Breakout and Australia’s wartime connection with Japan.

The site became famous during World War II after the 1944 Cowra Breakout, when more than 1,000 Japanese prisoners attempted a mass escape from the camp — still considered one of the largest prison breakouts in military history.

Today, the site features preserved camp remnants, interpretive displays and memorial areas that tell the story of the prisoners, guards and the lasting friendship that eventually formed between Cowra and Japan after the war.

It’s a genuinely moving experience and gives the town a depth of history many travellers simply don’t expect.

Corowa Distilling Co.

The Cowra Distilling Co. is worth the visit alone. Its an outstanding tourist attraction that will easily eat up an afternoon for you and the family.

Set inside a restored heritage flour mill (legend has it they bought it for $1 on the proviso they turned it into an awesome tourist attraction – mission accomplished!), this award-winning whisky distillery also features handmade chocolates, tasting experiences, café dining and one of the coolest industrial conversions we’ve seen anywhere in regional Australia.

Cowra Regional Art Gallery

A surprisingly good regional gallery featuring rotating exhibitions and local Australian artists. Its pretty much in the centre of town.

Housed inside a beautifully restored former railway building, the gallery is best known for showcasing contemporary regional Australian artists, touring exhibitions and local cultural history tied to the Cowra region.

 It has a ‘down to earth’ feel that a “big city” gallery atmosphere just cant compete with, and we found ourselves spending far longer there than expected browsing everything from modern paintings and photography through to local heritage exhibitions and Indigenous artwork.

Where We Stayed

Cowra Holiday Park offers powered sites, drive-through access and cabins close to town. It turned out to be a brilliant little country caravanning stopover.

Set just outside town in a quieter rural setting, the park has a more old-school Aussie caravan park feel rather than one of the newer overdeveloped resort-style parks.

Large shady drive-through sites made parking the van easy, while the undercover heated pool, camp kitchen, fire pit BBQ area and relaxed communal atmosphere made it easy to unwind after a day exploring Cowra.

One thing we really liked was the rustic “country hospitality” feel of the place — fellow travellers actually stop and chat here. Plus it’s pet friendly, has clean amenities, good hot showers and sits safely away from flood-prone river areas.

Where We Ate

• Breakout Brasserie - right in the centre of Cowra, it was exactly what you hope to find in a good country town café. Great coffee, massive breakfast portions and friendly local service without any pretentiousness. Sitting out the front watching the town wake up while tucking into bacon, eggs and proper café coffee was a brilliant way to start the day.
  

• Japanese Garden Café - we had lunch at the Japanese Garden Café and it ended up being one of the most relaxing meals of the trip. Overlooking the lakes and manicured Japanese gardens, it barely felt like inland NSW anymore. We slowed right down here — coffee in hand, koi gliding through the ponds below us, magic.

Stop 2 – Albury-Wodonga, New South Wales / Victoria Border

After leaving Cowra, the journey south toward Albury-Wodonga starts to feel like the Murray River adventure is properly beginning. The countryside opens up, the roads stretch longer, and by the time you reach the NSW/Victorian border, the whole feel of the trip has changed.

Albury and Wodonga sit on opposite sides of the Murray River, with Albury in New South Wales and Wodonga in Victoria. Together, they form one of Australia’s most important inland regional centres.

Historically, Albury became a major crossing point during the 1800s, particularly once river trade, road transport and railways began shaping inland Australia.

Today, Albury-Wodonga blends heritage buildings, excellent food, wineries, modern cafés and outdoor river culture surprisingly well.

Things To Do In Albury-Wodonga

Bonegilla Migrant Experience

Bonegilla Migrant Experience is one of the most important historical attractions in regional Australia and absolutely worth making time for.

Located just outside Wodonga, Bonegilla was once a migrant reception and training centre after World War II. More than 300,000 migrants passed through Bonegilla between the late 1940s and early 1970s, many arriving from Europe with little more than a suitcase and the hope that Australia might offer them a better future.

Walking through the remaining huts and interpretive displays gives you a real sense of what arrival in Australia must have felt like for so many families. Some were excited. Some were homesick. Some were shocked by the heat, the flies, the food and the isolation. But their stories became part of the making of modern Australia.

It is not a loud or flashy attraction. It is thoughtful, emotional and very human. For travellers who enjoy Australian history, migration stories and places that actually mean something, Bonegilla is a standout stop.

Murray Art Museum Albury – MAMA

Murray Art Museum Albury, better known as MAMA, is one of those regional galleries that feels far bigger and more polished than you expect.

Located right in the centre of Albury, MAMA is known for contemporary Australian art, touring exhibitions, photography, sculpture and cultural exhibitions that change throughout the year.

The building itself is modern and inviting, and it gives Albury a strong creative edge many travellers may not expect from a Murray River stopover.

We found it a great contrast to the outdoor, river-based parts of the trip. After a few days of driving, caravan parks and country roads, stepping into a cool, well-curated gallery gave the stop a different rhythm.

Albury Botanic Gardens

The Albury Botanic Gardens are a lovely slower-paced stop, especially if you want something gentle between bigger museums, drives and meals.

The gardens are right near the town centre and have been part of Albury since the 1800s. They are best known for their mature trees, shaded lawns, walking paths and peaceful layout.

Families will particularly appreciate the children’s garden area, while grey nomads and couples will enjoy the quiet, old-world feel of the place.PS – if you have younger kids, they will love these gardens.

Rutherglen Wine Region

This ones for Mum and Dad. One of the best things about staying around Albury-Wodonga is how close you are to Rutherglen, one of Victoria’s most historic wine regions.

Rutherglen is especially famous for fortified wines, muscats and old family-run cellar doors. If you enjoy wine, this is not just a quick side note — it is a major reason to add an extra night to the Albury-Wodonga leg of the trip.

Campbells Wines is one of the big names in the region and is well known for its classic Rutherglen style.

Stanton & Killeen is another excellent cellar door, with a long family history and a strong reputation for fortified and table wines.

Where We Stayed

Discovery Parks – Lake Hume

Discovery Parks – Lake Hume is a strong caravanning base for this part of the trip because it gives you access to Albury-Wodonga while still feeling like you are properly out near the water.

The park has powered caravan sites, cabins, family facilities, camp kitchens, BBQ areas, playgrounds and resort-style features that make it more than just somewhere to park the van overnight.

The big drawcard is the Lake Hume setting, which gives the stay a real holiday feel rather than just a town stopover feel.

For families, the facilities make life easy. For grey nomads, the space and quieter lakeside atmosphere are a big plus. For couples, it works nicely as a relaxed base where you can explore Albury during the day, head out to Rutherglen for wine, then return to the van for a quiet evening.

Where We Ate

Miss Amelie

Miss Amelie in Wodonga gave this stop a real food highlight. Set in a stylish heritage railway precinct, it feels polished without being stiff, and the menu leans far more toward regional fine dining than standard country-town fare.

It is the sort of place you book when you want one special meal on this leg of the journey. The food is modern, the wine list is strong and the whole experience feels like a reminder that regional Australia can do seriously good dining without needing big-city fuss.

The River Deck Café

The River Deck Café is a great breakfast or lunch option because it ties the meal back to the Murray River itself.

Set near the river in Albury, it has that relaxed daytime feel travellers want after a few hours on the road. Good coffee, proper breakfasts and river surroundings make it a simple but memorable stop before heading off to explore the gardens, gallery or river precinct.

Stop 3 – Echuca-Moama, Victoria / New South Wales

Echuca-Moama is where the Murray River story really comes alive.

Echuca sits on the Victorian side of the river, while Moama sits directly opposite in New South Wales. Together, they make one of the most iconic destinations on the Murray.

During the 1800s, Echuca became the largest inland port in Australia. Paddle steamers carried wool, timber, supplies and people along the river system, and Echuca became a booming centre of trade.

You can still feel that history today in the old wharf precinct, the paddle steamers, the heritage buildings and the red gum timber structures that line the river.

Things To Do In Echuca-Moama

The Port of Echuca Discovery Centre is the essential attraction in town and one of the best heritage experiences anywhere along the Murray.

The old wharf precinct has been carefully preserved, and the whole area tells the story of Echuca’s boom years as a paddle steamer port. You can walk along the massive red gum wharf, explore displays about river trade, learn how wool and goods moved through inland Australia, and get a real sense of how busy this place once was.

What makes it work so well is that it does not feel like history trapped behind glass. The river is right there. Paddle steamers still operate nearby. The timber wharf creaks underfoot.

You can almost imagine the noise, heat, horses, cargo and river workers that once filled the area.

PS Emmylou - A cruise aboard the PS Emmylou is one of the most atmospheric experiences on the Murray.

The Emmylou is a wood-fired paddle steamer, which means you are not just sitting on a modern tourist boat pretending to be historic. You can actually see and feel the old riverboat technology at work.

The sound of the paddle wheel, the smell of timber smoke and the slow pace of the cruise all add to the experience.

It is the kind of attraction that appeals across the board. Grey nomads love the history, families enjoy the boat ride and younger travellers get that rare “this is actually different” experience.

TwistED Science Echuca

TwistED Science is one of the best kid-friendly attractions in Echuca and a very handy option for families needing something interactive.

Rather than expecting kids to quietly look at displays, this place is built around hands-on science, experiments, illusions, movement and play. It gives families a break from heritage attractions and lets younger travellers burn off some energy in a way that still feels educational.

Where We Stayed

Discovery Parks – Echuca

Discovery Parks – Echuca is a strong choice because it keeps you close to the main attractions while still giving you the easy facilities caravanners need.

The park offers powered sites, cabins, playgrounds, swimming pools, camp kitchens and plenty of space for families. It has that larger holiday park feel, which works well in a town like Echuca where many travellers stay a few nights rather than just passing through.

What we liked most was the convenience. After a day exploring the port precinct, cruising on a paddle steamer or wandering through town, it was easy to head back to the park, relax outside the van and still feel connected to the destination.

Where We Ate

The American Hotel

The American Hotel is one of Echuca’s best-known pubs and brings plenty of classic river-town energy. It used to be a pretty rough pub back in the day, but it has been modernized over the years and its transformation to what it is today is remarkable.

Now it is the kind of place that works for a big dinner after a full day exploring. The meals are generous, the drinks list is solid and the atmosphere has that busy country pub feel that suits Echuca perfectly.

Morrisons Winery & Restaurant

Morrisons Winery & Restaurant, across the river near Moama, gives the Echuca-Moama stop a more relaxed food and wine experience.

Set beside the river, it combines cellar door appeal with proper dining, making it ideal for couples, grey nomads or anyone wanting a long lunch rather than a quick pub meal. The setting is a big part of the experience — wine, river views and a slower pace.

Beechworth Bakery Echuca

Beechworth Bakery is a reliable road trip favourite, and the Echuca location is a very easy win, and pretty much everyone who visits Echuca visits this Bakery, seriously!

This is the place for pies, cakes, coffee and something sweet before getting back on the road. It is especially useful for families or caravanners wanting a casual, no-fuss food stop.

Stop 4 – Mildura, Victoria

Mildura feels completely different from Echuca.

Where Echuca is all paddle steamer history and timber wharves, Mildura has a warmer, sunnier, almost resort-style Murray River feel. Palm trees, wineries, riverfront dining, citrus farms and wide streets give the town a relaxed inland holiday atmosphere.

Mildura’s modern story is tied heavily to irrigation. In the late 1800s, irrigation transformed the region into one of Australia’s great food-producing areas. Grapes, citrus, olives and dried fruit all became part of the Mildura identity, and you can still see that agricultural history everywhere.

Things To Do In Mildura

Psyche Bend Pumping Station

Psyche Bend Pumping Station is one of those attractions that sounds dry on paper but turns out to be genuinely fascinating.

Built in the late 1800s and early 1900s as part of the irrigation system that helped develop the Mildura region, the pumping station tells the story of how engineering, steam power and the Murray River changed inland farming.

The old machinery, brickwork and industrial design give the place a strong historic character. It feels rugged, practical and very Australian — less polished tourism, more “this is how the place was built.”

Orange World

Orange World is one of the quirkiest and most memorable attractions in the Mildura region.

Located across the river at Buronga, it is a working citrus property offering tours through the orchards. The big orange-shaped tour vehicle gives the whole thing a slightly eccentric, classic Australian roadside attraction feel, which is part of the charm.

The tour gives visitors a look at how citrus is grown, picked and packed, while also explaining the importance of irrigation to the region.

It is especially good for families, younger kids than ours though, because it is light, visual and different from another museum or gallery.

Trentham Estate Winery

Trentham Estate Winery is one of the best food and wine stops along the Murray.

Set right on the river, it offers cellar door tastings, a restaurant and one of the most relaxed long-lunch settings on the trip. It is the sort of place where you arrive for a tasting and end up staying for lunch because the view and atmosphere are too good to leave.

The winery is known for approachable regional wines, good food and a setting that makes full use of the Murray.

Mildura Holden Motor Museum

The Mildura Holden Motor Museum is another strong stop for classic Australian car lovers.

It taps into Australian motoring nostalgia, but it is worth including because road trips and Holden history sit so naturally together.

For many travellers, these cars are tied to childhood holidays, family drives, first cars and working life.

Where We Stayed

Apex RiverBeach Holiday Park – KUI PARKS

Apex RiverBeach Holiday Park was one of the most memorable caravan stays of the trip because it gives you genuine Murray River frontage.

This is not a park where the river is somewhere “nearby.” It is right there. You can walk from your site toward the riverbank, watch pelicans moving across the water and feel like you are properly camped in Murray country.

The park has powered sites, cabins, camp kitchen facilities, BBQ areas, boat access and a relaxed bush-style feel. It is especially appealing for caravanners who prefer space and atmosphere over flashy resort-style extras. There is a boat ramp for those that love their water sports and fishing as well!

Probably my Favorite Holiday Park stay on this trip, highly recommended, make sure you check it out for yourself if staying in and around Mildura.

Apex is part of the Kui Parks Holiday Parks, as a member we saved money on this booking – they have 60+ parks across Australia and growing fast, so become a member yourself and save – KUI PARKS MEMBERSHIP

Where We Ate

Stefano’s Restaurant

Stefano’s is one of Mildura’s most famous dining names and adds a serious food element to the stop.

It has long been associated with high-quality regional dining, Italian influence and the use of local produce. This is not the quick counter meal option — this is the place to book if you want Mildura to feel like a genuine food destination.

Brass Monkey

Brass Monkey gives you a more relaxed, lively local option.

It is the sort of place that works well when you want good food, drinks and atmosphere without making the night too formal. After a day of sightseeing, wineries and riverfront wandering, it fits the Mildura mood nicely.

Stop 5 – Renmark, South Australia

Crossing into South Australia, the Murray begins to change again.

The river feels wider and slower, the light seems harsher and warmer, and the landscape starts to shift into classic Riverland country.

Renmark is one of the key towns in this part of the journey and makes an excellent first major South Australian stop.

Renmark was founded as one of Australia’s first irrigation settlements in the late 1800s. Like Mildura, its story is tied closely to water, farming and the transformation of dry inland land into productive agricultural country.

Pro Tip: there is a real fruit fly problem in this part of Australia. You will almost 100% be stopped at the border so they can check and make sure that you have not fruit or unpackaged food goods with you – this also goes for what you may or may not have in your caravan!

Be sure to eat the food or dispose of it responsibly before you reach the border.

Things To Do In Renmark

23rd Street Distillery - 23rd Street Distillery is one of the standout adult attractions on the South Australian leg of the trip.

Set in a restored historic distillery building, it has been transformed into a modern tourism experience with tastings, cocktails, gin, whisky, vodka and liqueurs. The building itself gives the place character, while the fit-out and branding make it feel contemporary and fun.

This is a great stop for couples, groups and grey nomads who enjoy tasting experiences.

It is also another strong example of how regional towns are reworking old industrial buildings into modern tourism drawcards.

Olivewood Historic Homestead - Olivewood Historic Homestead gives Renmark its historical depth.

Built in the late 1800s, Olivewood is strongly connected to the early irrigation settlement of Renmark and the people who helped shape the district.

The homestead, gardens and museum displays give visitors a look at domestic life, farming and community development in the early days of the Riverland.

It is a slower attraction, but an important one. After visiting distilleries, riverfront areas and modern cafés, Olivewood reminds you that Renmark was built through hard work, water management and settlement ambition.

Possum Parade

Possum Parade is one of those quirky regional attractions that sounds almost too small to bother with — until you realise it is exactly the kind of thing that makes a trip memorable.

At dusk, possums appear in the trees near the Renmark riverfront and town centre area, and visitors often gather to watch them. It is simple, a bit odd and very charming.

Families will love it because kids get genuinely excited by wildlife encounters. Adults will probably enjoy it more than they expect because it feels local and unpolished in the best possible way.

Where We Stayed

BIG4 Renmark Riverfront Holiday Park

BIG4 Renmark Riverfront Holiday Park is one of the most popular and well-positioned parks on this section of the Murray.

The big attraction is the riverfront setting. Sites and cabins sit close to the water, and the park has the feel of a proper family holiday destination. Facilities include powered sites, cabins, playgrounds, water-based activities, pools, camp kitchens and plenty of space for kids to move around.

For families, this park is a very easy choice because there is so much built into the stay. For grey nomads, the riverfront atmosphere and proximity to town make it practical and pleasant.

Where We Ate

Renmark Hotel - Renmark Hotel is one of the great riverfront pub stops of the journey.

Set right beside the Murray, it offers that classic combination of cold drinks, big meals and river views. The location is the key. Sitting outside with the Murray in front of you makes even a simple pub meal feel like part of the trip.

Stop 6 – Mannum, South Australia

Mannum is one of the most important historical towns on the Murray River and deserves more than a quick stop.

The town is often described as the birthplace of the Murray River paddle steamer era, largely because Captain William Randell launched one of the first steam-powered vessels on the river from this region in the 1850s.

That history still shapes Mannum today. The town feels deeply connected to the river. Houseboats line the banks, old pubs face the water, paddle steamer stories are everywhere and the whole place has a slower, older Murray feel.

Things To Do In Mannum

Mannum Dock Museum - Mannum Dock Museum is the key attraction in town and one of the best places to understand the Murray’s paddle steamer history.

Located around the historic dry dock precinct, the museum tells the story of river trade, paddle steamers, boatbuilding and life along the Murray. It gives context to the old vessels, the working river and the communities that depended on river transport before roads and trucks took over.

This is the sort of museum that works particularly well because it belongs exactly where it is. You are not reading about river history in some random building far away from the water — you are right beside the Murray, in a town shaped by that history.

PS Marion -The PS Marion is one of Mannum’s great historical treasures.

This restored paddle steamer is closely connected to the town’s river heritage and gives visitors a much stronger sense of what travel and trade on the Murray once looked like, and it feelslike no two paddlesteamers are the same.

When operating or open for inspection, it is a wonderful way to connect the museum history with a real vessel.

Seeing these boats up close makes you appreciate the engineering, labour and sheer toughness involved in working the Murray.

Mannum Waterfalls - Mannum Waterfalls adds a completely different kind of attraction to the stop.

Not far from town, the waterfalls are best after rain, when water flows through the rocky landscape and creates a surprisingly scenic walking area. It feels unexpected because most travellers associate this part of South Australia with dry river country, cliffs and houseboats — not waterfalls.

Where We Stayed

BIG4 Mannum Holiday Park

BIG4 Mannum Holiday Park turned out to be an excellent Murray River base and fitted the relaxed pace of Mannum perfectly. Sitting right beside the river just outside town, the park combines proper Murray River scenery with the sort of facilities caravanners actually appreciate after a long day on the road.

Large powered sites, riverfront camping areas, clean amenities, camp kitchens, BBQ facilities and easy river access give the whole place a genuine holiday atmosphere rather than just an overnight stop.

One of the standout things here is simply sitting outside the van late in the afternoon watching houseboats drift slowly along the Murray while pelicans cruise overhead.

The park also works well for every type of traveller — families have plenty of space and facilities, while grey nomads and couples will appreciate the quieter riverside setting and easy access into Mannum itself.

Where We Ate

Pretoria Hotel

The Pretoria Hotel is exactly the sort of pub you hope to find in a Murray River town.

Big meals, cold drinks, river-town character and a strong local feel. This is not delicate fine dining, and it does not need to be.

After a day exploring paddle steamer history, walking the riverfront or visiting the waterfalls, a proper pub meal here makes perfect sense.

Special note: walking distance from the Holiday Park – winning!

So very very close to the Holiday Park!

Mannum Community Club

Mannum Community Club is another good local option, especially if you want a casual meal with river views and straightforward country hospitality.

It is the kind of place that works well for caravanners because it is relaxed, practical and friendly. You can sit down, have a proper feed, enjoy the view and not feel like you need to dress up or make a production of it.

Final Stop – Goolwa, South Australia

Arriving in Goolwa gives the whole journey a proper sense of completion.

After following the Murray through inland towns, irrigation regions, paddle steamer ports, wineries, cliffs and caravan parks, you finally reach the place where the river nears the sea.

Goolwa sits near the Murray Mouth, where the river system meets the Southern Ocean after travelling more than 2,500 kilometres. The landscape changes dramatically here. The river opens into lakes and wetlands, birdlife becomes a major feature, and the air starts to feel coastal rather than inland.

Historically, Goolwa was one of the great river ports of South Australia. It played a key role in connecting Murray River trade with ocean shipping and became an important transport centre during the paddle steamer era.

Things To Do In Goolwa

Cockle Train - The Cockle Train is one of the best-known heritage experiences on the Fleurieu Peninsula and a wonderful way to mark the final stop of the Murray journey.

Running between Goolwa and Victor Harbor, the train follows a scenic coastal route with views across beaches, hills and historic seaside towns. It is one of Australia’s oldest railway lines and has a lovely nostalgic feel without being too staged.

For families, it is easy and fun. For older travellers, it brings back the romance of slower travel. For couples, it is a relaxed way to see more of the coast without needing to hitch up the van again.

Spirit of the Coorong / Murray Mouth Cruises

A cruise toward the Murray Mouth is one of the most important experiences in Goolwa because it shows the final chapter of the river’s journey.

After days or weeks following the Murray by road, seeing where it finally approaches the Southern Ocean gives the whole trip scale. The river is no longer just a scenic backdrop beside caravan parks and towns — it becomes part of a huge environmental system of lakes, wetlands, sand dunes, birdlife and ocean.

Cruises in this area often include commentary on the Coorong, the Murray Mouth, local wildlife, Indigenous history and the changing environment.

Coorong National Park

Coorong National Park is one of the most remarkable landscapes in South Australia.

Stretching along a long coastal lagoon system, the Coorong is known for birdlife, wetlands, sand dunes, fishing, kayaking, Indigenous cultural significance and wild coastal scenery. It feels very different from the inland Murray towns upstream.

The Coorong is not a theme-park style attraction. It is bigger, quieter and more atmospheric.

Pelicans, migratory birds, open skies, water, wind and sand all combine to make the place feel remote even when you are not far from Goolwa.

Goolwa Wharf Precinct

The Goolwa Wharf Precinct is the heart of the town’s heritage and tourism area.

This is where you will find river history, cafés, markets, old buildings, galleries, boat activity and the relaxed atmosphere that makes Goolwa such a strong final stop. It is an easy place to wander without needing a strict plan.

The precinct gives you a final reminder that the Murray was once a working transport route, not just a holiday destination.

Steam Exchange Brewery

Steam Exchange Brewery is a great adult stop in the Goolwa Wharf area.

Located in a heritage-style setting near the wharf precinct, it offers craft beer with a strong local feel. After days of driving, sightseeing and caravan park evenings, sitting down with a tasting paddle near the end of the route feels like a proper reward.

Where We Stayed

Discovery Parks - Goolwa Caravan Park

Goolwa Caravan Park makes sense as the final accommodation stop because it gives travellers easy access to town, the river, the wharf precinct and the coast.

The park offers powered sites, cabins, amenities and the practical facilities caravanners need at the end of a long journey. Let's be honest, its a kids paradise! After covering so many kilometres, there is real value in staying somewhere simple, central and easy.

Goolwa is also a good place to add an extra night or two. Between the Cockle Train, Coorong cruises, beach walks, cafés, breweries and Victor Harbor nearby, the final stop can easily become a small holiday of its own.

Where We Ate

Hector’s Modern Australian Kitchen is a strong dining option for travellers wanting a proper final-night meal in Goolwa.

The menu leans modern Australian, with the sort of food that suits a coastal town at the end of a major road trip — fresh, relaxed and a bit more special than another pub counter meal.

Motherduck Restaurant brings a relaxed local dining feel to Goolwa and works well for breakfast, lunch or dinner depending on how you plan the day.

It has that easy South Australian coastal-town atmosphere — good food, friendly service and a pace that suits travellers who are no longer rushing.

EPIC TRIP & SPECIAL MENTIONS

This was no small journey. Its truly epic. For a serious caravanner with a lot of time on their hands, there are so many more places that you can visit and stay. A couple of special recommendations if you have the time include – Swan Hill, home of the giant Murray Cod and one of the largest towns at the Victorian end of the Murray.

When you get to South Australia though I highly recommend checking out and staying at the BIG4 Berri Riverside Holiday Park. Pizza nights a couple of times a week around a roaring fire, the best mini-golf course I have seen inside a park – and – just when you thought it couldn’t get any better they have turned a boat into a Restaurant so you can do a sunset cruise, enjoy the Murray in a way that everyone should. Be sure to call ahead though to see what nights they are running the cruise.

My last big recommendation for caravanners is the Loveday 4X4 Adventure Park just outside of Barmera. It’s a serious off grid caravanners paradise which includes the Loveday Tavern where Tony will serve you a cold beer, a Parma , Wood Fired Pizza and hot chips and get the fire going if its cold.

For daredevils you can run your 4X4 around the huge property to discover all sorts of place, great views of the river and lake systems and test out your car, as well as Buggy hot lap rides around the ready made track, even kids over 8 can experience and learn how to drive a car around their rally track.

The big kicker at Loveday? 8 kilometres of Riverside camping, so you are spoilt for choice and you can even have your own campfire most of the year round.

For caravanners the mighty Murray River is a must, put it on your bucket list!

MURRAY RIVER ACCOMMODATION LINKS

·         COWRA, NSW - Cowra Holiday Park – HERE

·         ALBURY-WODONGA, NSW/VIC - Discovery Parks, Lake Hume – HERE

·         ECHUCA-MOAMA, VIC/NSW - Discovery Parks, Echuca – HERE

·         MILDURA, VIC – Kui Parks Apex RiverBeach Holiday Park – HERE

·         RENMARK, SA – Discovery Parks, Renmark Riverfront Holiday Park – HERE

·         MANNUM, SA - BIG4 Mannum Holiday Park - HERE

·         GOOLWA, SA – Discovery Parks, Goolwa Caravan & Holiday Park – HERE

OTHER

·         BERRI, SA – BIG4 Berri Riverside Holiday Park – HERE

·         BARMERA, SA – Loveday 4X4 Adventure Park - HERE