25 Best Things to Do in Mildura

There are so many things to do in Mildura it’s the perfect holiday spot. From the Murray to Mungo, you’ll love the area’s history and beauty. We have visited Mildura with and without the kids and we think there are things to do here to suit travellers of any age.

Featured Post: Paddle Steamer on the Murray River © Robert Blackburn

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Getting to Mildura

Mildura is in Northern Victoria and separated from New South Wales by the Murray River that runs along one side of the town. Despite being in Victoria and so close to NSW, Adelaide in South Australia is the closest state capital to Mildura. The 400km drive from Adelaide to Mildura takes a bit over 4 hours and takes you through the Riverland towns of Waikerie, Barmera and Berri.

It is a 540km, nearly 6 hour drive from Melbourne to Mildura taking the direct route through Bendigo and Ouyen. From Sydney you have a longer drive of 1000km through Wagga Wagga and the Hay Plain. Bus services and flights are available to Mildura from Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney but once in Mildura, you will likely want a car to look around the region.

Mildura FAQ’s

Is Mildura worth visiting?

Is Mildura worth visiting?

Mildura is a great place to visit. The weather is fantastic year-round, although pretty hot in summer, and there are a range of things to do from relaxing by the river, immersing yourself in the river town’s history and taking in the natural beauty of the river, lagoons and varied landscapes

How Long?

How long do you need in Mildura?

There is a lot to do in and around Mildura. If you just want to relax by the river and look around the town a long weekend would be enough but give yourself a week to get to all the sites in the region.

Best Time?

Best time to visit Mildura?

Mildura is known for its beautiful sunny weather. It can get hot in summer – which is great for being in the river but not so good for walking around. Spring is perfect, the wildflowers look amazing, and you avoid the chilly winter nights and hot summer days.

Free Things to Do

Free things to do in Mildura

Mildura has a lot of history and natural attractions – many of which are free to see. Walk around the Australian Inland Botanic Gardens, slide down the dunes at the Perry Sandhills, walk the historic Chaffey Trail around town, relax at the Mildura Arts Center and explore the wetlands at the Merbien Lookout and Blandowski Walk.

Activities with Kids

Things to do with kids in Mildura

Mildura is a great spot for a family holiday. Go for a paddlesteamer ride, take the kids for a paddle on Kings Billabong, give them a vitamin c boost at Orange World, see the sparkling world at Woodsies Gems, go sand boarding at Perry Sandhills and cool off at the Mildura Water Play Park.

Things to Do in Mildura

Mildura Walking Trails
Mildura © Roberto Seba

Explore the Mildura Riverfront

There is something for everyone on the Mildura Riverfront. It is a wonderful precinct where you can be as busy or relaxed as you like. If you want to take it easy there are gardens, murals, sculptures, cafes and plenty of places to just sit and take in the views across the river and watch pelicans swim by. Or go for walk, use the exercise stations, skate park and kids will love the big waterpark. Visit the Mildura Riverfront Endangered Fish Nursery, look around the wharf area and river boats, or have a look at the historical sites including the Chaffey Engine and Sawmill. It is a wonderful area; you could spend half a day looking around.

Farmers Market © Robert Blackburn

Sunraysia Farmers Market

When a town is in the heart of a food bowl you can be pretty confident that when they have a grower’s market it is going to be a good event. And that is exactly what you get at the Sunraysia Farmers Market held on the morning of first and third Saturday of each month in Jaycee Park. Expect live music, arts and crafts, and of course delicious fresh produce. There is everything here from sweets and savories and fruit and vegetables to wine, vinegar, oils and sauces.

Orange World

Orange World

Besides busloads of gambling grannies, the other thing Mildura is well known for is Oranges. The best place to have a Mildura orange experience is Orange World. There are three orchard train tours a day through the oranges and avocados.

There is also a wonderful produce shop that you can visit whether you go on the tour or not. The shop has everything from yummy marmalades and orange ice creams to orange cakes and chocolate. Of course, there are also plenty of bags of oranges and bottles of juice to buy too.

Things to do in Mildura - Gems

Woodsies Gem Shop

This is an amazing place. Gems, fossils, jewellery, there is something for everyone. The inside is bursting with shiny colour. Children will think it’s a magic place. There is an ‘Aladdin’s Cave’ that for a gold coin fee, you can go into to see even more gems and fossils.

There is display after display of jewellery made form every crystal or gem you can imagine. Gentlemen, you might be in strife here if your other half is in a shopping mood. There is plenty to attract her eye. On the other hand, if you give a bit here, you might be able to disappear for the day at the next location…

Mildura Holden Motor Museum

Located on the Buronga side of the river, this museum will send any motoring enthusiast on a trip down memory lane. There are around 30 cars on display along with Holden memorabilia and merchandise.

The great thing about the museum is you are walking around with like-minded Holden fans. It creates a friendly vibe where visitors happily swap motoring stories and memories. Admission is $12 for adults and $35 for families. The turn off to our caravan park was next to the museum. The carpark was always busy which speaks to the museum’s popularity.

Things to do in Mildura

Paddle Boat Cruise on the River Murray

There is no better way to experience the river than taking a cruise on a paddle steamer. The sound, the smell, the slow pace. It’s hard not to think back to a time when paddle steamers ruled the river. It’s also hard to think of a more relaxing way to take in some river scenery.

There are several cruise options available including 2 hour daytime cruises and dinner cruises. We have been aboard the Paddle Boat Mundoo and had a fantastic time on the water, The PS Melbourne also regularly makes its way up and down the river from Mildura. A paddle boat cruise is a must do when you are in Mildura.

Merbein Lookout & Blandowski Walk

Merbein is about 10 minutes from Mildura and there is a great river lookout here. It is tucked in behind a big wine packing plant, ignore that view and instead turn your eyes to the river because the view from the well-maintained lookout is fantastic. From the lookout you can walk along the Blandowski Track which follows the river. It is named after 19th century Zoologist who catalogued the wildlife in the area. It is a pretty spot, there is a BBQ/picnic spot at the base of the stairs and interpretive signage.

Things to do in mildura - waterplay

Mildura Water Play Park

If you have littlies and you want to cool off the water play park is the perfect spot. Situated alongside the river, the park has toddler friendly wading pools with waterspouts. There’s lots of grass, picnic facilities, playgrounds and plenty of shade. We travel without kids these days but even so, it was still a lovely, cool place to relax and watch the river go by.

Psyche Bend Pump House

Psyche Bend Pumping Station

The Psyche Bend Pumping Station is a fascinating piece of Mildura’s irrigation history. It is only 10 minutes from Mildura in the Kings Billabong Park.

We’re no engineers, but the sight of the old steam engine body and tall chimney stacks is impressive. During school and public holidays, they fire up the steam engine which would be a sight to behold. We only saw it because we were setting off from here on a kayaking trip…

Kings Billabong at Sunset

Kings Billabong

If you like getting onto the water, a paddle onto Kings Billabong is a must. We hired our kayaks from Wildside Outdoors. They dropped the kayaks off and collected when we were finished which was great service.

The billabong is a fabulous place to explore. There are no currents to deal with. There is plenty of birdlife. We saw pelicans and swans everywhere. The highlight of our paddle was seeing an ibis rookery. You can read about it in our post. It’s an ideal paddle for the whole family.

Read More :  Watch the sunset as you kayak Kings Billabong

Mildura Food & Wine

Trentham Estate Winery
Wine Tasting at Trentham Estate Winery © Robert Blackburn

Mildura Wineries

The clear skies and warm sunny weather in the Sunraysia make Mildura an ideal grape growing area so it’s no surprise you have a few wineries to try here. The wineries around Mildura are best known for its Chardonnays, Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz, but you never know what you might fins at the cellar doors. Here are a few of the best wineries in and near Mildura to try:

  • Oak Valley Estate – This dairy farm turned winery has a great ambience and fantastic wine
  • Trentham Estate Winery and Restaurant – Get amazing wine, food and views from the balcony
  • Vanden Estate @ D’Vine Shed – There’s wine, cheese platters and pizza, what more do you need?
  • Monak Wine Co – family run winery, the cellar door is open Friday and Saturday or by appointment
  • Chateau Mildura – One of the oldest wineries in Mildura, also has a fascinating winery museum
  • Sunraysia Cellar Door – Sample wine from across the region, home to the Mildura Farmers Markets
  • Capogreco Winery Estate – This family-owned winery produces delicious traditional Italian wines

Book Here: Trentham Estate Winery & Mildura Wetlands Tour – Enjoy the wetlands, wildlife, billabongs & forests + Winery Experience

Mildura Brewery Pub
Mildura Brewery Pub © Robert Blackburn

Fossey’s Ginporium and Whisky Distillery

If you think a paddle should be full of gin or whisky rather than something on a river boat, then here is your place. For appreciators of fine and fun whiskey and gin, you need go no further than Fossey’s Ginporium and Whisky Distillery. The atmosphere is great, the service is wonderful and the drinks… very, very nice. There is an amazing range of flavours, both whiskey and gin paddles, cocktails and a food menu Thursday to Sunday. The distillery is a sight to behold, distillers are there doing their thing on Thursday afternoons.

Wine & Dine on Feast Street

The river end of Langtree Avenue is known as Feast Street, and it is full of cafes and restaurants. Shaded by trees it is a buzzing area with plenty of alfresco dining and here you’ll find some of Mildura’s best known eating spots. As you do a lap of the area deciding where to eat, look out for favourite spots including Stefano’s Restaurant, Mildura Street Food and Co, The Province, Seoul Chicken and Beer, The Mildura Brewery Pub and Thai-Riffic.

Mildura Heritage Walks

If you want to do a deep dive into Mildura’s history, there are several walking and heritage trails that delve into Mildura’s past and look at the origins of Australia’s first irrigated city. The Chaffey Trail is a drive, but there are also a couple of short, well signed walking trails around the city too. Information on the walks is available from the Visitor Centre or the Chaffey Trail website.

The Chaffey Trail

The Chaffey Trail is a drive between 12 of Mildura’s most iconic sites including Lock 11, the Mildura Wharf, Psyche Bend Pump Station and Merbein.  Most of the sites are in around the heart of Mildura but you will need to drive to 4 sites that are slightly further afield. The trail is named after the Chaffy brothers who came to Mildura from Ontario California and brought with them their expertise in irrigation. The rest, as they say, is history…

Historic Deakin Avenue Walk

This short 1.8km, 45-60 minute walk packs in a whopping 31 sites as you make your way around Deakin Avenue. The walk begins at the Alfred Deakin Centre – also known as the Visitor Information Centre – from where you’ll see a range of buildings, memorials, sculptures and gardens tracing the history, people and events that made Mildura what it is today. The walk ends at the Mildura Grand Hotel which, along with the Mildura Club, are also part of the Chaffey Trail.

East Mildura Walk

The East Mildura walk is a 3km, 60-90 minute walk between Seventh and Eleventh Streets and includes 9 points of interest. The walk begins and ends at the Old Mildura Water Tower and takes you past several restored cottages. This walk feels a little more exposed than the short Deakin Avenue walk so bring a hat if it’s hot. There are no Chaffey Trail sites on this circuit but there are some interesting stories behind the cottages you’ll see on your way around.

Mildura Arts Centre & Rio Vista Historic House

This Cultural and historic hub in Mildura really blends the old with the new. A space for contemporary performances, exhibitions and workshops, the precinct is also home to Rio Vista – the grand home of important local identities the Chaffey brother. For some time, the house was a gallery, but focus is now on restoring it to its earlier glory, visitors can look through the house.

The Mildura Arts Centre, or MAC, as well as having several galleries also hosts a diverse range of events. If you are visiting Mildura, it is worth checking MACs website to see what exhibitions, films and visiting performers might be in town. If you are looking for somewhere for lunch, the Vista Café Bar is worth checking out too (the cakes are especially good!).

Nearby Mildura Attractions

Sturt Desert Pea
Inland Botanical Gardens © Andrew Mather

Australian Inland Botanic Gardens

You don’t need to venture far from Mildura to realise you’re in a dry environment. It makes the Inland Botanic Gardens an even more amazing place. If you’re used to the lush botanic gardens in the state capitals, you will enjoy the contrast here.

The centrepiece is the spectacular rose garden. There is also a great playground for children created from recycled materials. It contains musical instruments that the kids will love making some noise with.

Read More :  The stunning Alice Springs Arid Botanic Gardens

Red Cliffs

Red Cliffs + Big Lizzie

The town of Red Cliffs is 15 minutes from Mildura. We visited to have a look at the Red Cliff Scenic Reserve. There were works going on when we visited which hindered our view, but it was still easy to see how the town got its name.

The other thing to see in Red Cliffs is Big Lizzie. If you or someone in your family likes Tonka trucks, check this out. Big Lizzie is an enormous tractor built in 1915 and used to haul heavy loads through the sandy landscape. If you have a little (or even a grown up) truck lover in your family, they won’t soon forget the sight of Big Lizzie.

Perry Sandhills

Perry Sandhills

This is another great family activity. Sandboarding the red slopes of the Perry Sandhills is a fun memory our kids still have. The sandhills are located about half an hour from Mildura near Wentworth. These giant red dunes are spectacular whether you are walking over them or sliding down them.

As you walk towards the sandhills from the car park, lookout out on your right for a river red gum. What was once a giant tree, now only has its canopy sticking out above the dunes. It is an amazing experience to climb to the top of the dune and walk amongst the upper branches of the tree.

Old Wentworth Gaol

Old Wentworth Gaol

The Old Wentworth Gaol is interesting to look through. It’s in amazing condition for its 140 years. You can take a self-guided tour through the buildings and grounds. After it’s closure in 1927  the building was used as classrooms for the Wentworth School until 1963. 

Murray Darling Junction

Murray Darling Junction

For anyone who loves a natural landmark, you must see the junction of two of Australia’s most iconic rivers – the Murray and the Darling. There is a tower lookout you can climb to get a better view of the junction. It’s a nice spot if you are looking for somewhere to have a picnic lunch.

Wentworth Museum

Wentworth Pioneer Museum

When you visit a region there are some things that, somehow, escape your attention – and this was one of them! We were kicking ourselves later for not having a look through here. Pretty much everyone we chatted to as we moved between Echuca and Mildura said this museum is a beauty.

Since we missed it, we can only report what we have heard. By all accounts it tells a great story of Wentworth’s social, indigenous and natural history through a series of very good displays. What else can we say? It’s on our list for next time.

Mungo National Park

Mungo National Park

You will need at least a day to explore Mungo from Mildura, but it is worth it. Mungo National Park has a moon-like landscape with wind-sculptured rock walls and dunes. It also has an indigenous history dating back 40,000 years.

We went to Mungo for a guided sunset tour. For information about the area and the sunset tour read our post about the experience. It was certainly one of highlights of our stay in Mildura area.

Read More :  Visit the unique landscape of Mungo National Park

Buronga Caravan Park
Discovery Parks Mildura

Accommodation in Mildura

  • Discovery Parks Mildura – Buronga Riverside – 2-3 br cabins, some on the river front. Across the river in Buronga
  • Mildura Golf Resort – Double or family room with overlooking the golf course with bistro on-site

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