Echuca is a thriving Murray River town on the Victoria – New South Wales border. Once the largest inland port in Australia, today it draws tourists in to experience its colonial heritage, amazing food and warm locals. In this article, we will explore all the best things to do in Echuca.
We can’t talk about Echuca without mentioning Moama. Echuca and Moama are the twin towns. Echuca lies on the Victorian side of the Murray while Moama lies on the New South Wales side in this article we will explore attractions in Echuca and Moama as travelling between the two towns is relatively easy.
- Know before you go. Our top Echuca travel tips
- All the very best things to do in Echuca
- Attractions in Echuca – Port of Echuca
- The Port of Echuca Discovery Center
- Paddle steamers
- Echuca attractions – Twisted Science
- Paramount Echuca Cinema
- Bike riding in Echuca
- Things to do in Echuca – National Holden Museum
- Stand-up paddle boarding on the Murray River
- What to do in Echuca – The Great Aussie Beer Shed
- Echuca things to do – Drink wine
- Shopping in Echuca
- Things to see near Echuca Moama
- Annual Events in Echuca/Moama
- Places to Eat in Echuca
- More holiday destinations in Victoria
Know before you go. Our top Echuca travel tips
Travelling to Echuca and having the best place to stay in Echuca is extremely important. There are so many different accommodation options in Echuca that are available for couples, singles, families and for every travelling budget. Take the hassle out of planning a trip to Echuca with our below travel tips.
Places to stay in Echuca Moama
Finding the perfect place to stay in Echuca will be easy with our top tips.
Quest Echuca: The newly refurbished Echuca Quest property is the best place to stay in town. The hotel features single and family rooms to suit everyone who stays.
Onsite parking, swimming pool and function rooms make Quest Echuca the perfect place to stay. Located just a 5-minute walk from the Port of Echuca and the Main Street of town. Book a stay at Echuca Quest.
Discovery Parks: There are some Discovery Parks in the Echuca Moama area. The days of the old-fashioned caravan parks are gone, with Discovery Parks delivering a number of accommodation options, from tent and caravan sites to cabins and chalets.
You will find many facilities such as swimming pools, camp kitchens, cafés, pump tracks and more. Check options for staying at Discovery Parks.
How to get to Echuca
- Echuca is located 223 kilometres from Melbourne via the Calder and Northern Highways.
- You can catch a train from Melbourne to Echuca via Bendigo in over 3 hours. Once there, you can hire a car, use the local bus network, or take a taxi to get around the town.
All the very best things to do in Echuca
There are so many beautiful things to do in Echuca that will entertain you for your whole stay in the Murray River Region.
Attractions in Echuca – Port of Echuca
Luckily many of the original buildings from the mid-1800s have remained on the riverfront. Today, these buildings house cafes, restaurants, souvenir shops and wineries. You can wander the street and look at the buildings for free or walk down the Murray River along the pedestrian walkway.
During the day, you may see people dressed in period wear or a horse-drawn carriage driving down the street.
The Port of Echuca Discovery Center
The Port of Echuca Centre offers tours along the reconstructed wharf. Your guide dressed in period costume will enthral and educate you with stories of the past, tales of the river and exciting characters of the time.
You will need to book your tickets at the information desk within the Discovery Centre for a wharf tour, or you can get information on things to do in Echuca.
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Paddle steamers
There is nothing like a cruise down the Murray River on one of the old, traditional paddle steamers that ruled the waterways back in the day. You have a few to choose from with differing lengths and facilities. Why not consider a lunch cruise on a paddle steamer?
Dogs on leashes are welcome on board some of the Paddle Steamers you need to check with the booking agent when you book your ride.
Echuca attractions – Twisted Science
If you are visiting Echuca with family, then Twisted Science is the best fun thing to do in Echuca with kids. This amazing little hands-on science centre will keep the kids in Echuca happy on their holiday. The Science Centre is well known for its hands-on activities, such as the magnet wall and paper aeroplane propelling machine.
Paramount Echuca Cinema
Echuca’s Paramount Cinemas is the perfect place to catch the latest blockbusters. With a wide range of movies, there’s something for everyone at this cinema. Whether you’re looking for a family-friendly movie or something more adult, you’ll surely find it at Echuca Paramount Cinemas. There are also plenty of snacks and drinks available to keep you refreshed during the movie.
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Bike riding in Echuca
Echuca and the surrounding area is a great place for bike riding with its flat landscape making it ideal. There are a number of rides suiting all levels of fitness and experience, from families with kids to frequent bike riders. Starting at the Echuca Moama Tourism Information Centre, you will find the following trails:
- Port of Echuca– 800m one way (Easy)
- Banyule State Forest – 500m one way (Easy to Intermediate)
- Campaspe River Shared Pathway – 3.5km one way (Easy)
- Warren Street Shared Pathway – 3.5km one way (Easy)
- Christie’s Beach – 8.7km one way and other spots along the river. (Easy to Intermediate)
You do not even need to bring your own bike as you can hire e-bikes in Echuca for your ride or go on a bike tour to a winery. A bike ride is one of the best things to do in Echuca for families.
Things to do in Echuca – National Holden Museum
The National Holden Museum in Echuca is a must-see for any car enthusiast. The museum showcases various Holden’s, from the first model to the last one ever made. You’ll also find several other General Motors vehicles on display and some interactive exhibits.
The National Holden Museum is open 7 days a week, and entry is just $10 for adults. Kids under 5 are free. So if you’re looking for things to do in Echuca, this is an attraction not to be missed!
Stand-up paddle boarding on the Murray River
If you’re looking for a new way to enjoy the Murray River, stand-up paddleboarding (SUP) might be the thing. SUP is a relatively new sport that involves standing on a large, surfboard-like paddleboard and using a long paddle to move through the water. People of all ages and abilities can do it. It’s also a great way to explore the river and see Echuca differently.
What to do in Echuca – The Great Aussie Beer Shed
A huge collection of Australiana in one place spread across 4 different museums. You can explore the Great Aussie Beer Shed, The Horse Drawn Carriage Museum, The Australian Museum and The Car and Heritage Farm Museum. Set aside a few hours to visit one of the best things in Echuca.
Echuca things to do – Drink wine
You will find the cellar door for St Anne’s winery at the port of Echuca. You can sample some of their products or buy a bottle or two.
Nearby is the Cape Horn Vineyard, about 15 minutes from Echuca. Cape Horn is open on weekends for wine tasting, wood-fired pizza, cheese platters and more. You will regularly find live musicians playing while you enjoy the food and wine of Cape Horn Vineyard. Call in at the Tourist Information Centre to get an Echuca wineries map and hit the food and wine trail
Shopping in Echuca
Echuca has a vibrant shopping scene for visitors to the area. You will find major retailers like Kmart Hub, Cotton On and more. Local shops include the Echuca Emporium, Emporium, Echuca Candle and Scents and Lords fashions. For those who love a good market, you can visit the Echuca Moama Market and the Echuca Farmers Market.
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Things to see near Echuca Moama
There are some great spots near Echuca that you can easily see within an hour’s drive.
Kyabram Fauna Park
The Fauna Park at Kyabram is a great short trip from Echuca. Located just 38 kilometres away, you will find native Australian animals on display. Animals such as kangaroos and emus roam freely around the park.
Koalas, Dingos, Cassowary, owls, reptiles, and more can be seen. A real highlight is participating in one of the well-priced animal experiences. You can get up close and personal with a koala. You can walk a dingo or feed a Cassowary at Kyabram Fauna Park.
Silo Art
There are a few sites within an hour’s drive of Echuca featuring some unique silo art. At Colbinabbin Silo, art celebrates the history of the railway that used to run through the town.
The painting is done on 5 silos on the edge of town. It is one of the best silo art sites around. You will also find artworks at Picola, Rochester and Tongala. If you have time, you can make a day of it by following the Echuca Moama Silo Art Trail.
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Billabong Ranch Adventure Park
Primarily a horse riding camp for schools and groups, this unique Echuca attraction is open to the public on Saturdays for horse and camel rides. Rock climbing, mini golf, frisbee golf, and archery are available for kids and families. Grab a bite to eat at a cafe, see the animal nursery or even book horse riding lessons.
Things to do at Echuca – Cactus Country
This a unique attraction near Echuca, a garden with over 400 different cacti from all around the world. The landscape around Echuca lends itself to help make Cactus Country feel like a little piece of Mexico on the Murray River. Spread out over 12 acres, you can look at, take photos of and buy Cactus on your visit. There is a Mexican-style café bar onsite for you to grab a little taste of Cactus country.
Annual Events in Echuca/Moama
Like most places in Australia and worldwide, some annual events in Echuca bring tourists and locals out to enjoy. Annual events are a great way to bring people who would not usually visit Echuca to the township to experience all the best things to do in Echuca.
Moama Lights
The Moama Lights Festival has only been running for a couple of years but is already highly popular and one of the best things to do in Echuca.
The event takes place in Moama’s culturally significant Horseshoe Lagoon, where a section of the river gum forest on the banks of the Murray River is lit up with lights and filled with music that tells the story of the local Yorta Yorta people. The festival is held yearly from July – August and runs for around 3 weeks making it one of the annual things to do in Echuca Moama.
Places to Eat in Echuca
One of the best things to do in Echuca is to sit down and have a wonderful meal. Having a good meal on holiday can cement a place in your heart for the place you are visiting and Echuca has some wonderful places to experience this.
Echuca Curry Club
The Curry Club in Echuca is the place to eat if you like traditional Indian cuisine. Located on the town’s main street, you can find all your favourites, such as Butter Chicken, Rogan Josh, Korma and Nann. Good-sized serving at a reasonable price awaits you at the Curry Club.
The Sweet Meadow
A breakfast hot spot for locals and visitors alike, Sweet Meadow markets itself as a plant-based food destination with a chic interior.
Open 5 days a week, the smoothies are excellent, while dishes rich in avocado, fruits, and organic ingredients are favoured. Coffee and refined sugar-free treats like slices make it an ideal coffee break destination.
Moama Bowling Club
The local Bowling club at Moama offers a comprehensive menu of favourites such as schnitzels, steaks, pasta and typical pub fare. The kids will love the dessert bar, where you can put together your own mouth-watering dessert. Those who like to gamble will also find a large gaming room to play gaming machines.
Forever Fresh
Forever Fresh is half gourmet delicatessen, half café, the sort of place that sells artisan bread and cheese while also cooking meals daily that can be taken away or eaten.
Pick up a grazing box with meats, cheese, fruits, biscuits and dips for a picnic on the Murray. You can eat freshly made pasta, roasted meats, and more in the store.
There are so many amazing things to do in Echuca and its surroundings that will have you returning to this amazing holiday destination in Northern Victoria year-round.
We hope this article from us here at Explore Victoria has inspired you to embark on your adventure in Victoria, Australia, from popular caravan parks and pristine beaches to drives along the Great Ocean Road. Enjoy weekends away on the Mornington Peninsula and discover the cosmopolitan charm of Melbourne, Victoria, with a range of experiences for every traveller who wants to visit Victoria.
Whether you’re drawn to the rugged beauty of the Grampians, the cultural richness of Ballarat, or the autumn colours of Bright and Northern Victoria, there’s no shortage of hidden gems waiting to be discovered in Victoria.
Even if you love exploring Gippsland or driving the Great Alpine Road, Victoria has something special for you, and there is so much more for you to discover. If you are looking for more incredible and best places to visit in Melbourne or more travel in Victoria destinations, Explore Victoria has some more articles below for you to check out. Expand your horizons and get out and about in Victoria, Australia, for an unforgettable experience.
If you have an idea, attraction, or top spot in Victoria, please comment or email us at contact@explorevictoriaaustralia.com.
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Author Bio
Mark Wyld is a passionate writer and explorer, weaving tales inspired by a deep love for his home state of Victoria. With local knowledge, Mark seeks to share insights and experiences that captivate and inspire readers. When not immersed in writing, you can find him working in Disability Support or spending time with family and friends. Follow Mark for a journey through Victoria’s best sights, tastes and attractions.