River & Outdoor Recreation
Three national parks, hundreds of kilometres of Murray River frontage, and some of Victoria's darkest night skies. A curated starting point — check Parks Victoria for current conditions, track closures and fire bans before heading out.
National parks
Murray-Sunset National Park
Victoria's second-largest national park — remote mallee scrub, the Pink Lakes, and one of the best dark-sky stargazing spots in the state. High-clearance vehicle recommended for most tracks.
Parks Victoria ↗Hattah-Kulkyne National Park
Murray River frontage, ephemeral lakes and river red gum forest between Mildura and Ouyen — popular for camping, canoeing and birdwatching when the lakes are full.
Parks Victoria ↗Wyperfeld National Park
One of Victoria's oldest national parks — mallee woodland, dry lake beds and outstanding wildflowers and birdlife in spring. Camping at Wonga campground.
Parks Victoria ↗Fishing & camping on the Murray
The Murray River runs the length of the Mallee's northern border, from Mildura through Merbein, Red Cliffs, Robinvale, Swan Hill and on to Gunbower. Riverside reserves and free/low-cost camping are common along both the Victorian and NSW banks — check current rules before you go, as some sites are permit-only during peak season. Popular target species include Murray cod, golden perch (yellowbelly) and redfin.
Boating
Houseboating and boat ramps are concentrated around Mildura, Robinvale, Swan Hill and Kerang/Lake Charm. Murray River boating is jointly regulated by Victoria and NSW — a recreational skipper's licence isn't required, but boats must be registered and life jackets carried.
Transport Victoria — boating & waterways ↗Walking trails
Shorter walks are found at Hattah-Kulkyne (Lake Hattah loop, Nowingi Track lookouts), Murray River foreshore trails at Mildura and Swan Hill, and the Wyperfeld nature walks near Wonga campground. Longer, more remote hikes through Murray-Sunset and Wyperfeld require good navigation, water and vehicle preparation.
Hattah-Kulkyne walking tracks ↗