Where to Next?
Are you heading to Broken Hill, the National Parks or one way to Melbourne?
Mildura - Getting There
By plane
Mildura airport is one of the largest in regional Australia. The airport services regular flights from Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide.
By train
The Mildura train station is located on the corner of Langree Avenue and 7th St. Currently, no passenger trains arrive or depart from Mildura. However, passenger lines are scheduled to reopen, but a set date has not been decided yet after delays on reopening other railway lines in Victoria.
By bus
The bus station is located next to the train station. Buses to Melbourne depart daily and run direct or to Swan Hill or Bendigo to connect with train services. Mildura is on the daily bus route from Adelaide to Sydney (via Canberra). Local buses connect Mildura with surrounding smaller towns.
Sites To Visit
- The Murray River Still flowing strong despite drought, the Mighty Murray winds its way through the region, with the Rowing Club just a few minutes walk from the Langtree and Deakin Avenue food and entertainment district.
- Lock 11 - Lock & Weir and Lock Island A man made island with easy walking tracks and native bushland. Camping is not permitted, but there are some good swimming sand bars. Great place to catch the big Paddle Steamers as the go through the complex Lock & Weir system. Also a good place to sit back and fish, catching stunned carp as they come through the Weir (though you're not allowed to fish too close to the weir for the unfair advantage it gives!),
- Apex Park Apparently Australia's (or at least Victoria's) largest inland beach, Apex is a great place to swim. Its easy to find, has a huge sandbar (beach) and occassionally is even manned by lifeguards.
- Perry Sandhills Large set of red sandhills 5km from Wentworth
- Murray Sunset National Park
- Mildura is a good jumping-off point for day trips to Mungo National Park, located between Mildura and Broken Hill
- Woodsie's Gem Store in Nichols Point is a great place for adults and kids. It has a huge garden maze to get lost in, spooky Aladdin's cave with an extensive display of fossils, precious stones, and rocks that glow in the dark! There is also a cafe, huge jewlery store, and extensive jewlery-making displays.
Activities
- Visit wineries including Trentham Estate, Mildara and Lindemans or one of the growing number of boutique producers.
- Cruise the Murray River on the Paddlesteamer Melbourne or a chartered houseboat.
- Watch the Speedway races. Oval, flat track motorbike racing.
- Time your visit to coincide with the annual jazz, country music or arts festivals.
- Go camping! Free camping is still available almost anywhere on the banks of the pituresque Murray River. It is easy to find a private campsite with good river access for swimming, skiing, fishing, or just looking. Birdlife on the Murray is abundant, and you may spot the odd Goanna or Kangaroo.
- Local bands such as "Off the Handle " at gigs around town. Check out Thursday's Sunraysia Daily (local newspaper) for the gig guide. Usual venues include the Sandbar and The Sett's.
Money & Shopping
- Some superb Murray pink salt from the visitor centre. These salts also help farmers who have lost their fertile soil to salinity problems.
- Local dried fruit produce from the Australian Dried Fruits Association on Deakin Avenue.
- Locally grown fruit and vegies such as oranges, grapes, avacados, mandarins, rockmelon, watermelon, tomatoes, mulberries, and onions from the roadside stalls. All stalls have an 'honesty box' system and charge very reasonable rates well below local supermarkets. Local Coles & Woolworths supermarkets may buy their produce locally, but they are not permitted by company policy to negotiate their own price with growers. The supermarkets also end up having to buy their fruit from local growers at wholesale markets in Adelaide or Melbourne, meaning the carbon footprint is massive after two approx 5 hour trips in B Double trucks!
Eating & Drinking
- Make a booking at Stefano's at the Grand Hotel, considered to be one of the best restaurants in Victoria. The Grand Hotel has a number of other restaurants, including one housed in the old Avoca paddlesteamer on the river.
- Visit the restaurant strip in Langtree Avenue.
- The Mildura Brewery at the Grand Hotel serves its own boutique beer in the old Astor Theatre. For live bands check out O'malleys Irish pub on the coner of Deakin Avenue and 8th Street, or The Sandbar on the corner of 8th St. and Langtree Ave. Doms nightclub and the Settler's bar are also popular nightspots.
Hotels & Accommodation
Aarinda Holiday Apartments have self- contained apartments at reasonable prices. Freecall 1800 637 269, or check out www.murrayriver.com.au/accommodation/aarinda/default.htm
Budget
- Sunraysia Motel in Mildura has 12 fully renovated motel rooms and 4 self contained holiday apartments. 441 Deakin Ave Mildura, Vic, 3500, ☎ (03) 5023 0137 (fax: (03) 50 222 638). . Best rates online starts at AUD $74.00. ==Get out==
4-5 Star
- Grand Hotel in Mildura, The Quality Hotel Mildura Grand is an historic landmark with a contemporary outlook. A cross-section of services and facilities have been designed to suit individual guests needs. There is an extensive range of accommodation from specialty suites to simpler, yet equally comfortable rooms.
PARTNER CAR HIRE LINKS
Melbourne Car Rental - Melbourne City & Melbourne Airport, Adelaide. - www.melbournecaranduterentals.com.au
Macedon Ranges Car Rental - Gisborne, Victoria - www.macedonrangescarrental.com.au
OTHER TRAVEL LINKS -