Top 15 Must-Do Activities in Mildura, Australia

The city of Mildura is situated in the midst of “Victoria’s Food Bowl”, cultivating significant quantities of citrus fruits, wine grapes, avocados, and wheat.

Engaging with this agriculture is integral to the Mildura experience, where numerous wineries and open farms are in close proximity.

The Murray River has consistently played a vital role in Mildura’s prosperity, irrigating farms and facilitating the transport of their products.

Visitors can learn about the river’s navigation improvements made in Mildura during the 1920s while enjoying a leisurely afternoon strolling or cycling along the city’s verdant riverfront.

Feast Street traverses the heart of Mildura, offering a plethora of dining options and showcasing beautiful Art Deco architecture.

1. Lock 11

Australia’s longest river was not always readily navigable due to its susceptibility to floods and occasional dry spells.

The solution for Mildura, which needed to transport citrus fruits, wine grapes, wool, and grains to market, was a sophisticated and extensive lock and weir system established during the 1920s.

Lock 11 represents a significant engineering feat: the weir consists of 24 steel trestles, each weighing 11 tonnes, which can be fully removed from the river during flood events.

The lock itself is a spacious concrete chamber, capable of holding 4.5 megalitres, filled via two tunnels.

After observing a boat transit through the lock, visitors can walk over to the tranquil parkland on Lock Island, accessible during daylight hours, which features a perfect vantage point overlooking the weir from its south-eastern corner.

2. Vineyards and Wineries

Exceeding three-quarters of all grapes cultivated in the State of Victoria originate from Mildura and its surrounding regions.

Many of Australia’s esteemed wineries source their grapes from this area.

Traditionally, varietals such as Shiraz, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Chardonnay thrive in Mildura’s warm Mediterranean climate, characterized by low rainfall and abundant sunshine.

This wine-producing region has been creating vintages since 1891. Numerous vineyards and cellar doors (tasting rooms) are conveniently located within a short distance from Mildura’s central business district, including esteemed names in the industry.

The Trentham Estate, for example, is merely 15 minutes away and boasts an extraordinarily picturesque location along the Murray River.

Visitors can sample estate-grown Shiraz, Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc, or Pinot Gris at the cellar door or enjoy a fine dining experience at the restaurant, featuring a menu that highlights Mildura’s celebrated fresh produce.

3. Mildura Riverfront

The Murray River ensures complete public accessibility along its banks.

Since 1881, the State of Victoria has mandated a 60-metre green strip along the south bank to provide protection against floods and erosion, while also creating a space for public recreation.

This river has become a significant asset for Mildura, which has recently been focused on a riverfront redevelopment initiative.

A series of parks line the riverside, extending from Rio Vista in the north, through Jaycee Park, and continuing to Ornamental Lakes Park.

At Ornamental Lakes Park, visitors can board a paddle steamer for a cruise along the Murray, while the park features the Mildura Water Play Park, a popular destination during summer for families with young children.

The area is adorned with stately mature trees, well-maintained lawns, and picnic spaces, interspersed with indigenous sculptures and inviting spots to sip coffee while observing the river.

4. Australian Inland Botanic Gardens

Promoted as the first semi-arid botanical garden in the Southern Hemisphere, this horticultural attraction across the Murray showcases a vibrant desert landscape.

Over 20,000 plantings can be found here, with approximately half of them scientifically labeled.

These specimens are sourced from Australia and New Zealand, as well as Africa, Europe, and both North and South America.

Notably impressive are the mature eucalyptus mallees, believed to be up to 2,500 years old, alongside a captivating rose garden featuring over 1,600 bushes arranged in color-coordinated patterns.

For visitors seeking a quick overview, a tractor-train ride is available every Saturday morning at 11:00.

5. Feast Street

Langtree Avenue has been Mildura’s primary shopping and dining avenue since the town’s inception.

A whole block between Eight and Ninth Streets is designated as a pedestrian mall, while the stretch lined with palm and gum trees just north is known as Feast Street, renowned for its plethora of cafes, bars, and a diverse array of restaurants.

Mildura’s warm days and pleasant evenings facilitate plenty of outdoor seating on terraces along the footpaths, and during special events, the entire street can be closed to vehicular traffic.

Moreover, visitors can appreciate significant historical architecture, much of which exhibits the Art Deco style, such as the Mildura Brewery (No. 20), a converted cinema, and the early 1940s T&G Building at the corner of Eight and Langtree, easily identifiable by its clock tower.

6. Mungo National Park

Mildura is the nearest city to one of the most astonishing landscapes in Australia.

This park, a sacred gathering place for multiple Aboriginal nations and highly protected, features striking white dunes and desiccated lakebeds resembling a lunar landscape.

Within this environment, the 40,000-year-old remains of Mungo Lady and Mungo Man were discovered, preserved by sand and low humidity.

The park continues to yield new archaeological findings annually.

One can connect with this remarkable landscape and its human and ecological history at the visitor center, where insights about the formerly vast Lake Mungo and the megafauna that once inhabited the area are shared.

For an Aboriginal perspective, visitors may embark on a guided tour to view ancient burial sites and fireplaces that have existed for over 40 millennia.

7. Murray River Cruises

The locally-operated tour company, Mildura Paddlesteamers, boasts a fleet of three historic paddle steamers offering cruises along the picturesque Murray River year-round.

The flagship vessel, P.S. Melbourne, originally constructed in 1912 and restored in 1965, departs from the Mildura Wharf twice daily for two-hour cruises, provided with informative commentary, navigating downstream to the famous Lock 11. This vessel is equipped for all weather conditions, featuring heating and enclosed spaces, along with a kiosk for refreshments.

Additionally, the fleet includes P.V. Rothbury (1881) and P.V. Mundoo, a replica of an original from 1875, both offering less frequent lunch, dinner, and winery cruises.

8. Mildura Arts Centre

The city’s comprehensive arts hub is located adjacent to Rio Vista Park on the riverfront.

This modern facility encompasses a 444-seat theatre hosting live music, theatrical performances, dance presentations, discussions, and activities for children.

The gallery within the Mildura Arts Centre exhibits the city’s art collection through rotating curated shows, as well as hosting traveling exhibitions.

A café/bar is available for pre-event refreshments, and the center is surrounded by a beautifully landscaped sculpture garden.

Additionally, the nearby Rio Vista Historic House, a three-storey mansion built in 1889, is home to over 1,000 historical items.

This property once belonged to William Benjamin Chaffey, instrumental in introducing modern irrigation practices to Australia.

9. Fossey’s Ginporium and Whisky Distillery

This iconic establishment, The Setts, located on Eighth Street, is the home of a family-operated gin distillery and tasting room.

The range of artisanal infused gins includes innovative flavors such as Christmas Pudding, Shiraz, Gin Toddy, Rose Petal, Hot Cross Bun, and Desert Lime, complemented by their single malt whisky.

These creations draw inspiration from Mildura’s high-quality produce, which is also featured on the tapas menu provided by The Gourmet Chef, another local entity.

Thursday afternoons at 14:00 are optimal for a visit, as the Ginporium opens its doors to individuals interested in learning the intricacies of gin and whisky distillation.

Afterward, guests may opt for a tasting paddle to discern the nuanced differences between the various infusions.

10. Mildura Holden Motor Museum

This private museum allows visitors to explore the history of the Holden car brand, ranging from the late-1940s 48-215 sedan to the modern Statesman and Monaro models.

Remarkably, this collection belongs entirely to one individual, Ron Morello, who opened it to the public in 2016. At any given time, more than 30 models are displayed, all meticulously restored, accompanied by timelines and memorabilia adorning the walls of this spacious converted warehouse.

Visitors can take a respite at the museum’s café, decorated with additional Holden artifacts, offering a selection of sweet treats, hot and cold beverages, and light snacks.

11. Orange World

This operational 20-hectare citrus farm welcomes visitors for three daily tours, seven days a week.

During this educational experience, participants ride a 70-seater tractor train through the extensive orchard and avocado grove.

Come harvest season, Orange World buzzes with activity; in September, the entire farm blooms with delightful aromas.

Fruit and juice tastings are included in the tour, featuring educational talks at the nursery and a lookout tower offering panoramic views of the orchard.

12. Merbein Common

This floodplain reserve lies in a bend of the Murray River, located just north-west of Mildura.

Thanks to a large state-wide restoration initiative, these nationally significant wetlands at Merbein Common are being revitalized to their original magnificence.

The site is also suited for outdoor activities.

Visitors can hike alongside the river amidst black box and red gum woodlands, as well as explore open areas for observing local waterfowl.

A complimentary campsite is available at the reserve, along with a boat ramp for fishing or leisurely exploration of the wetlands.

The water in the river is exceptionally clear, allowing for swimming in a designated area.

13. Old Wentworth Gaol

Situated a short distance down the Murray River from Mildura, a remarkably preserved 19th-century gaol can be found in the small border town of Wentworth.

This establishment, constructed between 1879 and 1881 using locally-produced brick and bluestone dressings sourced from nearly 500 kilometers away in Malmsbury, Victoria, functioned as a prison until 1927, after which part of the facility was repurposed as a school for several decades.

Despite its evolution, the fundamental structure and cell block have remained intact, and it now serves as an enlightening museum that vividly depicts life and conditions in a colonial prison.

During a self-guided tour, visitors will find extensive information regarding the structure’s history and Wentworth in the late 19th century, detailed through mounted boards complemented by black and white photographs and historical documents.

14. Woodsies Gem Shop

This expansive, family-owned jewelry store offers more than its name implies, qualifying as an intriguing tourist destination, particularly for families.

Guests can observe the jewelry-making process firsthand at free grinding and cutting demonstrations held daily at 11:00 and 14:00, where they will discover how jewelry is cast and how precious stones are cut and polished.

In the garden, Woodsies Gem Shop features a whimsical maze spanning nearly half a hectare, with a notable highlight being Aladdin’s Cave, showcasing the Woods family’s extensive collection of gems, crystals, and fossils sourced from Australia and the globe.

15. Sunraysia Farmers’ Market

In a region celebrated as “Victoria’s Food Bowl”, one can expect the farmers’ markets to be exceptional.

Mildura’s market operates on the first and third Saturdays of the month, from 08:00 to 12:00 at Jaycee Park along the Murray River.

Here, one can purchase top-quality seasonal fruits and vegetables, alongside an array of additional products such as locally-raised meats, dried fruits, nuts, potted plants, herbs, wines, sauces, locally-roasted coffee, olives, sourdough bread, local chocolate, natural cosmetics, and flowers.

As a celebration of these remarkable products, the market features a volunteer-run stall serving delicious breakfast options.

Moreover, the event includes cooking demonstrations, live music, and various family-friendly entertainment to engage children.