Explore Echuca Moama Four Day Itinerary - An Extended Long Weekend Exploring Echuca Moama
Proudly rooted on the banks of the iconic Murray River, this charming twin-town destination is a blend of rich history, natural beauty, and vibrant local culture. Whether you’re drawn to relaxing river cruises, exploring heritage sites, or indulging in fine local food and drink, Echuca Moama can deliver.
Over the next four days, you’ll discover the unique blend of contemporary experiences and our famous old-world charm which makes this region one of Victoria’s most beloved destinations. From a fascinating paddle-steamer ride to more adventurous pursuits such as long bike rides and stand up paddleboarding, this itinerary will ensure your visit is full of unforgettable memories.
So pack your bags, set your sights on adventure, and get ready to explore the best of Echuca Moama.
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Target Market
This four-day, three-night self-drive itinerary is developed for adult visitors and is geared towards an extended long weekend in Echuca Moama from Friday through to Monday. It can however be undertaken at other times. The itinerary has been designed to appeal to Murray Region Market Segments of Explorers and Discoverers, which make up 35% of visitors to the Murray Region. These socially conscious and adventurous travellers are open to new destinations and seeking out unique experiences.
Itinerary Guide
Pricing for attractions is mentioned where relevant, under the heading “All You Need To Know”. Pricing guide for accommodation and meals is identified by a scale of low to high – using $, $$, and $$$ to identify general price range information.
Accommodation Options
You are spoilt for accommodation choices in Echuca Moama with hotels, motels, caravan parks, resorts and even houseboats. To help narrow down the choices we have suggested four options in a variety of styles and price ranges that suit the target market and our curated itinerary.
1. CocknBull Boutique Hotel
Positioned on the banks of the Campaspe River in the historic port precinct of Echuca, The CocknBull Boutique Hotel is a luxurious home away from home. With only five perfectly appointed self-contained boutique apartments it never feels crowded staying at the CocknBull. A solar heated pool and tranquil courtyard garden overlooking the river is the perfect place to sit back and relax after each days’ adventures.
Price range is $$$
2. Mercure Port of Echuca
Part of the Accor Hotel Group, the Mercure Port of Echuca is a 4.5 star accommodation property located in the heart of Echuca, offering a blend of modern comfort and historic charm. The hotel features 62 well-appointed rooms, an outdoor pool and spa area and onsite breakfast options.
Price range is $$$
3. Nirebo Motel Echuca
When it comes to motels, there is no more convenient base from which to experience Echuca and its surrounds than the Nirebo Motel Echuca. The motel has 42 rooms all offering tasteful yet affordable accommodation.
Price range is $$
4. Echuca Holiday Park
Echuca Holiday Park’s selection of fully self-contained cabins offers a delightful escape for those seeking both relaxation and adventure and are designed to cater to a variety of preferences. Step onto your cabin’s private veranda and immerse yourself in the tranquil atmosphere of Echuca’s riverfront. Centrally located, with a bushland outlook, it’s the best of both worlds.
Price Range is $$
Getting to Echuca Moama Safely
The twin towns of Echuca Moama are the closest point on the Murray River to Melbourne, just a two-and-a-half-hour drive. The main route from Melbourne to Echuca Moama (205 km) is the Northern Highway.
We want visitors to arrive in Echuca Moama safely for a wonderful holiday – so be sure to plan ahead, pull over and recharge during your trip.
Victoria’s Transport Accident Commission’s (TAC’s) Pause Stop partnership with Visitor Information Centres offers important tips on reducing driver fatigue and arriving safely:
• Plan a pause from the road every two hours
• Get enough sleep before driving
• Avoid driving late at night
• Don’t travel for more than 8 - 10 hours a day
• Share the driving wherever possible
• Don’t drink alcohol before your trip
• Take a 15-minute powernap if you feel drowsy
• Grab a coffee to recharge
Depending on the route you travel to Echuca Moama, around halfway into your trip you can take advantage of either the Heathcote or Bendigo Visitor Centres which are Pause Stop locations.
Echuca Moama’s Visitor Information Centre is also a Pause Stop location.
To find out more about the TAC Pause Stop Campaign please visit TAC Pause Stop Campaign.
DAY ONE - Friday
Morning:
Welcome to Echuca Moama, this is Yorta Yorta Woka (country), nestled proudly on the Banks of Dhungala (Murray River). On your mid-day arrival into Echuca, after a 2.5-hour drive via pause stop locations in Heathcote or Bendigo, head to Echuca Moama Port Visitor Information Centre, in the historical port precinct.
Once one of our friendly volunteers has given you all the local tips they’ll direct you around the corner to your destination for lunch, Monkee and Co. This funky Asian fusion restaurant serves traditional and modern Asian dishes with flavours from Vietnam, China, Malaysia and Thailand. Located on the main High Street, the outdoor area is perfect for soaking up the hustle and bustle around you. Or if a slower pace is your preference the riverside deck area lets you unwind and enjoy the peaceful flow of the Campaspe River.
Afternoon:
Explore Echuca Moama in a more adventurous way with Green Pedal Cycles guided E-Bike tours. Led by local expert David, these tours offer a 360-degree view of the area’s natural beauty and wildlife, as well as a glimpse into the local history and culture. Today you are taking the Bike to Winery Guided Tour – cycle through Echuca’s port area, over the Murray River, then meander along the scenic route that leads to St Annes Winery where you'll enjoy complimentary tastings of award-winning wines.
Enjoy a ploughman’s platter overlooking the pond and enjoy the tranquility of the place where St Anne’s wines are grown and produced. On the return trip you’ll take a slightly different route, stopping at Moama Beach and Horseshoe Lagoon for stunning Murray River scenery before returning to Echuca’s port precinct.
It’s time to head to your accommodation, check in, put your feet up for a while and prepare for your next adventure.
Evening:
Your dinner destination tonight is Bar Lee, the culinary offering of the award-winning Echuca Distillery. This lively venue offers a mix of locally crafted beverages, delectable share plates, and a welcoming atmosphere. With options for indoor dining, alfresco charm, and a rooftop deck, Bar Lee caters to every preference.
From the restaurant you can see “Lavender”, Echuca Distillery’s Italian born copper still, as she undertakes the intricate and ancient distillation process crafting spirits including gin, flavoured vodka and liqueurs. Echuca Distillery encourages “Drink Less – Enjoy More” and their craft spirits are 100% pure thanks to a combination of naturally derived botanicals and spirit.
Day One - All you need to know:
Echuca Moama Port Visitor Information Centre
Shop 1/41 Murray Esplanade, Echuca
Open 10am to 4pm daily.
All day parking available at Pumphouse carpark (2 Heygarth St). This is a 600 metre walk to the Echuca Moama Port Visitor Information Centre.
Monkee and Co 531 High Street, Echuca
Open Tuesday to Saturday from 12 noon to 9pm.
Price range is $$
Bar Lee and Echuca Distillery
555 High Street, Echuca
Open Wednesday to Sunday.
Price range is $$ to $$$
Green Pedal Cycles
Murray Esplanade (near the wharf).
90-minute tours start from $65 per person. 3 hour Bike to Winery tour is $85 per person and departs at 1.30pm daily.
St Annes Winery Ploughman’s Platter is an additional cost and must be prebooked (Platter for two is $40).
DAY TWO - Saturday
Morning:
For an active start to your day, why not join the locals at Parkrun, for a free and friendly 5km community event – walk, jog, run – it’s up to you! After working up an appetite, head to The Sweet Meadow, a vegetarian café in the heart of Echuca. This popular eatery’s plant-based menu centres around eating whole foods, fresh from the earth, prepared with minimal fuss and eaten in a way that nourishes the body.
On that note it’s time to stock up on fresh seasonal produce at the Echuca Farmers Market, held on the first and third Saturday of the month. You can walk to the market to pick up some fresh fruit and vegetables, gourmet cheese and freshly baked goods. If you happen to be here on a week where the market is not taking place, Rich Glen Provedore in High Street is the place to go for all your regional delicacies.
And you can’t visit Echuca’s port precinct without indulging in a spot of retail therapy at a range of beautiful boutique stores offering unique finds and local craftsmanship. The popular retail strip is the perfect place to buy a keepsake from the Port of Echuca Blacksmith, Customs House Gallery or Echuca Chocolate Company.
Now armed with beautiful fresh market produce it would be the perfect day for a riverside picnic. A five-minute drive from Echuca’s centre, Moama Beach has a grassy area overlooking a sandy riverbank beach with views of the historic wharf. It offers a laid-back option for lunch while watching our famous paddlesteamers cruise on by. If you’d prefer not to make your own picnic, swing by Hammond Providore on your way and select from their delicious grab and go fresh lunches.
Afternoon:
It’s time to discover The Great Aussie Beer Shed and Heritage Farm Museum. The hero of this quirky attraction is its collection of more than 20,000 beer cans from all over the world. The venue is a showcase of Australian history with its extensive and exclusive collection of memorabilia and artifacts – there is Australiana, a coca cola collection, heritage farm machinery, horse drawn carriages, vintage and classic cars, and even a partially restored WW1 cannon. An entertaining and engaging guided tour by owner and local character, Neil Thomas, brings the whole experience to life. And it wouldn’t live up to its name without a licenced bar, so at the end of your tour enjoy a refreshing drink before heading back to your accommodation to freshen up before dinner.
Evening:
Tonight Nick and Maria are pleased to offer you a seat at their table as you enjoy authentic and traditional Greek food in central Echuca at OPA Echuca – Eat like a Greek with family style Greek mezze and traditional Hellenic dining.
After your Greek feast, head to the Port of Echuca for the Port After Dark Tour. Unexplained happenings, ghost stories, local urban legends, and chilling historic events all unravel at the Port after dark. Explore restricted areas not normally accessible to the public and time travel back to the (rightfully) hidden parts of Echuca’s history when mystery, murder, and mayhem ran the town.
If you’re not quite ready for bed after all that excitement and intrigue, kick on at Paradise Bar. For those who want to check out Echuca Moama’s edgy nightlife, this exquisite cocktail bar offers an inviting atmosphere and handcrafted cocktails.
Day Two - All you need to know:
Echuca's Parkrun
Lions Park, Cnr Ogilvie Avenue and Campaspe Esplanade, Echuca. (2.9km from central Echuca).
Saturday's from 8am.
Entry is free, registration required.
The Sweet Meadow
640 High Street, Echuca.
Price range is $$
Echuca Farmers Market
Aquatic Reserve, 2 Heygarth Street.
Price Range is $ to $$
Rich Glen Provedore
519 High Street, Echuca
Open daily 9am to 5pm.
Price range is $$ to $$$
Hammond Providore
28 Meninya Street, Moama
Open daily 6.30am.
Price range is $$
Moama Beach
Blair Street, Moama
Open all hours.
Entry is Free
The Great Aussie Beer Shed and Heritage Farm Museum
377 Mary Ann Road, Echuca (7.5km from central Echuca).
Entry is $
OPA Echuca
554 High Street, Echuca
Open 5pm to 9pm Tuesday to Saturday.
Price Range is $$ to $$$
Port of Echuca’s Port After Dark Tour
74 Murray Esplanade, Echuca.
Tour operates Wednesday and Saturday from 9pm.
$22 per person (restricted to ages 16+)
Paradise Bar
Rear of 554 High Street, Echuca
Open Thursday to Saturday 4pm to 1am and Sunday 11am to 10pm.
Price Range is $$ to $$$
DAY THREE - Sunday
Morning:
No matter the season, the perfect way to start your day in Echuca Moama is a sunrise paddle with Echuca Moama Stand Up Paddleboarding. There is nothing more invigorating than gliding downstream on the river on a stand-up paddleboard as the sun rises from behind the trees. After that breathtaking start to the day, make your way to Johnny and Lyle, not far from the centre of Echuca. Serving all day breakfast and lunch, Johnny and Lyle is known for its coffee, delicious food and warm hospitality. You know it’s good when locals flock there daily.
After breakfast it’s time for a short walk to Riverboat Dock, to board the Paddlesteamer Canberra for the Wharf to Winery Cruise. While enjoying a scenic 30-minute cruise aboard this majestic timber vessel you’ll learn about the region’s pioneer history from the captain’s commentary and enjoy the views from the wide viewing windows and decks. You will arrive in style at the stunning riverside vineyard, Morrisons Winery, where you will savour a chef-inspired two course lunch and complimentary drink.
Afternoon:
The return leg of your cruise delivers you back at Riverboat Dock in time for a leisurely afternoon stroll through our art galleries and specialty shops. You’ll find a delightful mix of galleries including The Foundry Arts Space, showcasing a variety of artworks from paintings to mixed media installations in the restored Freeman’s Foundry building. The Whistle Stop Studio Gallery is a working studio in the heritage listed former Strathmerton railway station which has been relocated to Echuca’s port precinct. Here you can watch artist Glenda Cornell create art works featuring the Murray River, paddlesteamers, local wildlife and contemporary works.
After an early start and a busy day, you might want to head back to your accommodation for a quick recharge ahead of dinner. If not, you could head to the Social Wine Bar for a pre-dinner drink. Boasting some of the best river views from the back courtyard and deck, the Social is a mix of rustic charm and stylish modern interior. The Social is a great place to meet the locals and make new friends with sunset drinks under a century-old pine tree overlooking the Campaspe River.
Evening:
Dinner tonight is at The Mill, a vibrant neighbourhood gathering space in Echuca with an industrial charm and contemporary vibe. The five-storey building was constructed in 1881 and is the former home of Echuca’s original flour mill. The philosophy here is simple: source the best produce and cook with love. An ever-changing seasonal menu ranges from global street food and sharing plates to classic dinner and dessert options.
Day Three - All you need to know:
Echuca Moama Stand Up Paddleboarding
Echuca East Boat Ramp, Goulburn Road, Echuca.
Bookings are essential. The sunrise paddle is 1.5 hours and departure time varies seasonally.
Cost is $50 per person.
The Foundry Arts Space
17 Murray Esplanade, Echuca
Open 10am to 4pm daily (closed Tuesday).
Entry is free.
Murray River Paddlesteamers’ Wharf to Winery Cruise
Riverboat Dock, Echuca
Departs 11.30am, returning by 2.30pm. Bookings are essential.
Price range from $110 per person.
The Whistle Stop Studio Gallery
34 Murray Esplanade, Echuca
Open 10am to 4pm daily (closed Tuesday/Wednesday).
Entry is free.
Johnny and Lyle
433 High Street, Echuca
Open daily 6am to 3pm (7am to 3pm on weekends).
Price range is $
The Social Wine Bar
533 High Street, Echuca
Open Wednesday to Sunday.
Price Range is $$
The Mill
2 Nish Street, Echuca
Open for dinner daily, and lunch Friday to Sunday.
Price Range is $$ - $$$
DAY FOUR - Monday
Morning:
Enjoy a slower start to the day today with a leisurely and decadent breakfast at Echuca’s Essen, an all-day dining destination housed in a heritage listed mechanical engineering workshop. Essen is German for ‘to eat’ and is the essence of the Oberin family’s love of food, wine, people and their German heritage.
Today it’s time to explore the Port of Echuca Museum and Wharf. The Port of Echuca is a living monument to the 1870’s when Echuca was the third largest port in Australia, behind Sydney and Melbourne. A guided tour will transport you back to the 1800s and set the scene of what life was like in the Port of Echuca’s heyday. Hear tales of the characters who were part of Echuca Moama’s development, visit the underground bar and escape tunnel used to avoid police, and experience the power of steam via working displays. At the conclusion of your guided tour, wander through the museum displays and take in the view of the Mighty Murray River from the top of the wharf.
A short stroll across the street you will find the Beekeepers Table, your destination for lunch. Home to My Dad’s Honey, producers of Australian certified organic honey straight from the bees to you, Beekeepers Table boasts a delicious menu showcasing local produce and of course their amazing honey products. My Dad’s Honey retail shop is also located in the premises, so you can stock up on goodies to take home. And on that note, it is time to bid Echuca Moama farewell as you head for home
For those who are travelling south, why not call in at Rochester, 28 kms down the road. Home to a thriving arts community, Rochester is a vibrant town nestled on the banks of the Campaspe River. It forms part of the Australian Silo Art Trail with the iconic Jimmy Dvate painted silos sitting at the centre of town. Other outdoor art installations include Iddles Lane, commemorating the career of one of Victoria’s most respected homicide detectives, Ron Iddles, and Mural Park, which showcases Murals from Rochester’s annual Mural Festival.
Day Four - All you need to know:
Essen
542 High Street, Echuca
Open daily from 7am to 3pm.
Price range is $$
The Port of Echuca Museum and Wharf
74 Murray Esplanade, Echuca
Open daily 9am to 5pm. Guided tour daily at 11.30am and 1.30pm.
Guided tour cost is $13 adults
Beekeepers Table
51-53 Murray Esplanade, Echuca
Open daily 8am to 2.30pm.
Price Range is $$
Rochester
28km south of Echuca Moama on the Northern Highway, the main route for visitors travelling south.
Rochester Silos - 18 Ramsay Street, Rochester. Iddles Lane - 11-13 Gillies Street, Rochester. Mural Park - Moore Street, Rochester.
Outdoor art installations free of charge and open all hours.
DAY ONE HIGHLIGHTS
Savour Asian fusion at Monkee and Co. Experience a different side to Echuca Moama with Green Pedals Bike to Winery Guided Tour. Relax at St Anne’s Winery with wine tastings and platter by the pond. Enjoy locally produced spirits from Echuca Distillery paired with delicious food options at Bar Lee for dinner.
DAY TWO HIGHLIGHTS
Meet the locals at Parkrun and stock up on seasonal produce and delicacies at Echuca Farmers Market and Rich Glen Providore. Discover quirky stories and Australiana at The Great Aussie Beer Shed and Farm Heritage Museum. Be welcomed into the family, Greek style, at Opa Echuca. Learn the little-known side of Echuca Moama’s history with the Port After Dark Tour - taking you to a time when mystery, murder, and mayhem ran the town.
DAY THREE HIGHLIGHTS
The perfect way to start your day in Echuca Moama is a sunrise paddle with Echuca Moama Stand Up Paddleboarding. Partake in the iconic Wharf to Winery Tour aboard the PS Canberra, with delicious lunch at Morrisons Winery. Discover Echuca Moama’s vibrant arts and cultural scene at The Foundry Arts Space and Whistlestop Gallery. Enjoy sunset drinks under a century old pine tree overlooking the Campaspe River at The Social Wine Bar.
DAY FOUR HIGHLIGHTS
Explore the Port of Echuca Museum and Wharf where you will hear tales of characters who were part of Echuca Moama’s development and visit the underground bar and escape tunnel used to avoid police. Take a taste of Echuca Moama home with locally sourced organic honey from My Dad’s Honey, located in the Beekeepers Table. On your way home, call in at Rochester for their amazing silo art and outdoor art installations.
Safe Travels for your journey home.
Again don’t forget to plan ahead, pull over and recharge during your trip. We want you to arrive home safely, and hope to see you again in Echuca Moama
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