Two towns, two states, one river. Echuca sits on the Victorian bank of the Murray and Moama faces it from New South Wales, joined by a bridge and a shared love of slow days on the water. The town was built on river trade: in the 1870s the Port of Echuca was among the busiest in the country. That heritage is still here, in the red gum wharf, the paddlesteamers and the old pubs and warehouses lining the Port precinct. Around it has grown a region of riverside wineries, ancient forests and some very good places to eat.
We've cooked on High Street for years, and these are the experiences we send our own guests to. Whether you have an afternoon or a long weekend, here is how to see the best of Echuca-Moama.
1. Walk the historic Port of Echuca and its red gum wharf
Start where the town started. The Port of Echuca is a living monument to the 1870s, when it ranked as the third-largest port in Australia behind Sydney and Melbourne. The Nationally Heritage Listed Echuca Wharf once stretched 332 metres along the river, and much of the precinct you walk through today, with its timber, iron and brick, would be familiar to the rivermen who worked it.
Begin at the Port of Echuca Discovery Centre on Murray Esplanade. Its models, audiovisual displays and working steam exhibits tell the story of Australia's inland river system and the paddlesteamers that connected a young colony to its cities. Admission includes access to the wharf, daily guided tours, a historic sawmill display and a kids' space in the old cargo shed. The Centre is open every day from 9am to 5pm (closed Christmas Day).
Local tip: go early. The light on the river is softest before 10am, and you'll have the wharf mostly to yourself before the first cruise leaves.
2. Take a paddlesteamer cruise on the Murray
You can't really say you've been to Echuca until you've heard the slap of a paddlewheel. The region is home to the largest fleet of operating paddlesteamers in the world, and several still run daily sightseeing cruises from the wharf.
- PS Pevensey ("The Pev") is an authentic steam-driven paddlesteamer running one-hour cruises from Echuca Wharf every day, booked through the Port of Echuca.
- PS Canberra has carried passengers on the Murray, Darling and Murrumbidgee since 1944. Murray River Paddlesteamers restored her back to steam in 2002–03. Children get to take the wheel with the skipper and earn a signed Skipper's Certificate.
- PS Adelaide, built in Echuca in 1866, is the oldest wooden-hulled paddlesteamer still operating anywhere in the world. These days she sails mostly for special occasions, so she's usually moored at the wharf for you to admire. In October 2026 the Port marks her 160th anniversary with a ceremony at the wharf on Saturday 17 October.
For something more immersive, PS Emmylou offers small-group overnight cruises, with just eight cabins.
Local tip: cruise times change with the season and river conditions, so check departures on the day and collect tickets at least 15 minutes ahead.
3. Swim, picnic and watch the boats at Moama Beach
On a warm afternoon, cross the bridge to Moama Beach on Blair Street. It's one of the best places to get into the Murray: a sandy shore, shaded lawns, picnic tables and free public barbecues, with a front-row view of the Echuca Wharf and passing paddlesteamers. Entry is free.
The Murray is a working river, so swim with care. Enter feet first, never dive, keep an eye on currents and submerged snags, and stay out of the water when the river is running high.
4. Walk among giants in Barmah National Park
About 30 minutes' drive east, Barmah National Park protects the Victorian side of the largest river red gum forest in the world. Together with the adjoining Murray Valley parks in NSW, these Ramsar-listed wetlands are internationally significant for waterbirds. Some of the red gums are more than 500 years old.
This is Yorta Yorta Country. Begin at the Dharnya Centre, the cultural heart of the park, then follow the easy Yamyabuc Discovery Trail (1.5 km return) or the Lakes Loop (4 km). Both pass Aboriginal oven mounds and the edge of Barmah Lake. Paddlers can follow marked canoe trails through the lakes and creeks; check water levels before you go.
5. Spend an afternoon in the Perricoota wine region
Moama is the centre of Perricoota, one of NSW's smallest wine regions and best known for Shiraz. It makes for an easy, unhurried afternoon of cellar doors.
- St Anne's Winery (77 Twenty Four Lane, Moama) pours daily tastings in a rammed-earth cellar door overlooking a lake. The family has made wine for more than 40 years.
- Morrisons Riverview Winery & Restaurant (123 Merool Road, Moama) has 15 hectares under vine, a seasonal restaurant and river views. It's open Wednesday to Sunday during the day.
- Cape Horn Vineyard (489 Stewarts Bridge Road, Echuca) sits on a sand hill between the Murray and Goulburn rivers, about 15 minutes from town, with a riverside deck and acoustic music on weekends. It's open Saturdays and Sundays.
Choose a designated driver or book a transfer, and check cellar-door hours before you set out, as some are weekends-only.
6. Shop the Echuca Farmers Market
On the first and third Saturday of each month, the Echuca Farmers Market sets up under the river red gums at the Aquatic Reserve on Heygarth Street, beside the Campaspe River. It's an accredited Victorian Farmers' Market, so every stallholder grows, breeds, catches or makes what they sell. Expect seasonal fruit and vegetables, cheese, bread, olive oil, honey, coffee and live music. Upcoming dates include 17 October, 7 and 21 November, 5 and 19 December, and 2 and 16 January.
7. Dig into local history
Two minutes from the wharf, the Echuca Historical Society Museum occupies the 1869 police station and lock-up complex at 1 Dickson Street. It has river charts, flood records, paddlesteamer stories and an archive of the Riverine Herald going back to 1864. Volunteers open it daily from 10am to 2pm (closed Good Friday and Christmas Day). In spring and autumn the Society also runs guided historic town walks, which are worth booking.
8. Eat and drink your way along High Street
Food is half the reason people come back. Echuca-Moama's dining has come a long way: riverside brunch, a rooftop bar inside a distillery, a courtyard wine bar on the Campaspe and wood-fired Italian over the bridge in Moama. Our full Where to Eat in Echuca guide covers them all.
Here at Opa, on the corner of High and Radcliffe streets, we cook modern Greek over charcoal: share-style mezze, seafood and lamb straight off the coals. Two moments in an Echuca day suit us especially well:
- The Long Greek Lunch (Friday and Saturday, 12–3pm). After a morning at the Port, it's a short stroll up High Street to a slow, two-course Greek lunch with a glass of wine and no reason to rush. See the lunch menu.
- Dinner on the Cyclades Oasis Balcony (Tuesday to Saturday from 5pm). Bougainvillea, warm festoon light and a long table under the river gums: our favourite way to end a day on the Murray.
Book a table at Opa or call (03) 5480 7886.
9. Time your visit around the big events
Echuca-Moama's calendar is busy, and a festival weekend is a great reason to visit (just book accommodation and dinner early).
- Festival of Stories, 16–18 October 2026: the region's first storytelling festival, with more than 30 events in and around the Port of Echuca and aboard the paddlesteamers.
- Echuca Moama Show, 7–8 November 2026: the 150th Show, with carnival rides, livestock, food vans and fireworks at Campaspe Park.
- Perricoota Pop & Pour, Saturday 28 November 2026: a one-day, multi-venue wine, beer and music trail with hop-on, hop-off buses.
- Riverboats Music Festival, 19–21 February 2027, at the Aquatic Reserve.
How to plan your time
One afternoon: Port of Echuca Discovery Centre and wharf, a one-hour paddlesteamer cruise, then an early dinner on High Street.
A full day: add Moama Beach or a cellar door in the morning, with the Long Greek Lunch at Opa in between (Friday or Saturday).
A long weekend: add Barmah National Park, a farmers market Saturday and a sunset drink by the Campaspe.
Frequently asked questions
How far is Echuca from Melbourne?
Echuca-Moama is about two and a half hours' drive north of Melbourne, which makes it an easy weekend escape or a long day trip.
Is Echuca in Victoria or New South Wales?
Both, in a sense. Echuca is in Victoria and Moama is directly across the Murray River in New South Wales. The two towns are linked by a bridge and are usually visited together as Echuca-Moama.
Can you still ride a paddlesteamer in Echuca?
Yes. Paddlesteamers depart Echuca Wharf daily for one-hour cruises. PS Pevensey runs through the Port of Echuca and PS Canberra through Murray River Paddlesteamers, and overnight cruises are also available. Check departure times on the day.
Where can you swim in the Murray at Echuca-Moama?
Moama Beach on Blair Street is one of the most popular spots, with sand, shade, picnic tables and barbecues. Always enter the river feet first, never dive, and avoid swimming when the river is high.
What is the best day to visit Echuca for lunch?
Friday or Saturday. Many restaurants open for lunch at the end of the week, and Opa serves its Long Greek Lunch every Friday and Saturday from 12 to 3pm. Booking is recommended, especially on event weekends.
