A 3-day itinerary in The Murray for Instagrammable moments

Fill your feed with the most incredible sights in the Murray Region. Order fancy food experiences in Mildura, head to the red desert lands of the Perry Sandhills, cruise the river on your very own houseboat, and soak in the sights at pastel-pink Lake Tyrrell. Fly into the clouds for views you’ll have to see to believe – the moon-like landscape of Mungo National Park, where you can connect to 40,000 years of rich First Nations culture – is like nothing on Earth. 

Morning 

Kick off the first day of your photogenic adventure in Mildura: a riverside oasis that teeters on the edge of the outback. This spirited town is on the Victorian side of the Murray, and as you stroll its charming streets, you’ll feel its culture and heritage all around you. Get acquainted with the river – the lifeblood of the region – by walking along its banks lined with river red gums and snapping a quintessentially Australian selfie.  

On the banks of The Murray, outside Trentham Estate Winery - Credit: Trentham Estate

Next on your snap schedule, Trentham Estate Winery. Picture this: rows and rows of grape-covered vines perched right on the banks of the Murray River. Drink in the ambience of these stunning surrounds, as well as the winery’s famed chardonnay and shiraz, during a tasting at the waterfront cellar door. And for lunch, savour the earthy flavours of the region at Trentham’s award-winning restaurant, with dishes such as crunchy pork belly glazed in spicy plum or pan-fried cod fillet. 

Pork Belly at Trentham Estate Winery - Credit: Trentham Estate

Afternoon  

A 30-minute drive through the pretty countryside toward Wentworth will take you to the Perry Sandhills: 10 phenomenal hectares of ancient desert sand dunes. Shaped over tens of thousands of years by wind and erosion, the vast, undulating terrain will leave you reeling at the wild majesty of nature. Make sure to hire a sandboard in Mildura for a thrilling slide down the hills, or simply wander these stunning lands; often covered in wildflowers, the rich red hues of the sands, influenced by the iron oxide, create a stunning contrast against the blue sky.  

Perry Sandhills in Wentworth - Credit: Tyson Mayr

Evening 

The galaxies far, far away can be your subject for tonight – do your best night-time snaps from the glamping tents at Outback Almonds. This pet-friendly, working almond farm boasts three luxe canvas bell tents, each with modern decor, queen beds and quality linen, and groups can book the entire site. The owners even stock you up with fresh ingredients prior to your arrival, and provide recipe cards and cooking equipment so you can have a go at cooking in the camp oven for dinner.   

Outback Almonds glamping tent - Credit: Eddie Ablett, Mallee Media

Morning 

You’ll want to hit the road early today, as we explore the wide-open spaces of Mungo National Park, a traditional meeting place and spiritual site for the Muthi Muthi, Nyiampaar and Barkinji Nations, Indigenous Peoples who have been living in the area for more than 40,000 years. Long ago in that history, this otherworldly spot was a fertile lake where humans and prehistoric mammals roamed side by side. Since then, the landscape has become a surreal desert topography, punctuated by lunettes, the eroded remnants of sand dunes, some towering up to 40m in height. 

A scenic sand formation (lunette) in the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Mungo National Park

Afternoon  

Explore this World Heritage-listed region a little deeper and learn about the heritage of this magical place on the Walls of China guided tour with a National Parks Aboriginal Discovery Ranger. Learn about traditional ways of life of the region’s first people; spot middens, ancient firepits and other parts of the world’s longest continuing culture; and understand the incredible significance of Mungo Man and Mungo Lady, 40,000-year-old remains discovered in 1968 and 1974. 

Mungo National Park

Or, if you prefer a bird’s-eye view of this unbelievable region, Mungo Scenic Flights (organised through Mungo Lodge) can give you the down low from up above, with a thrilling flight over the desert’s contrasting colours and moon-like landscape. 

Evening 

Settle down for the evening in an oasis in the outback: Mungo Lodge. Sitting right on the doorstep of Mungo National Park, the lodge offers deluxe king and twin cabins or camping grounds, and can also help organise all your tours for you. You can also head into the national park itself to experience the Murray’s outback desert life, staying the night in the refurbished Mungo Shearers' Quarters. Formerly a sheep station, this rustic outback lodging offers both shared bunk rooms or private multi-bed rooms. If you feel like extending your tour, this is also a starting point for the Mungo self-guided drive tour, a 70km loop through picturesque mallee country you’ll share with curious kangaroos and numerous birds of prey.  

Mungo Lodge, Mungo National Park

Morning 

Today you’ll set your sights on a photographer’s dream, Lake Tyrrell. The 120,000-year-old saltwater lake turns pink during wet and warm periods and draws visitors from all over the world, eager to capture the unique bubblegum-pink salt formations, reflective water and sparkling night skies. You can make your own way to the lake and check out the sights from the viewing platform, but for the ultimate vantage point, capture the pink lake from above, courtesy of a heart-pumping adventure with Murray Darling Scenic Flights, which departs from Swan Hill. 

Aerial of Murray Darling Scenic Flights over one of the pink lakes (Lake Tyrrell)

Afternoon  

Head back to Mildura this afternoon, and if you have a few extra days up your sleeve, hire a Mildura Houseboat to explore the river at your own pace. Journeys begin and end in Mildura and many houseboats come with an on-board spa, the perfect spot for a braggable selfie and to cheers your big adventure.  

Mildura Houseboats, The Murray