Murray River Area Overview

Home to the few population clumps in the mostly arid stretch of northwestern Victoria is Australia’s longest river, the Murray, which defines the border between New South Wales and Victoria and completes its 2600km journey by spilling out into the salty ocean near Adelaide. The ashen eucalyptus trees that haunt the banks of its muddy waters have been a hallowed home to Indigenous Australians for years. The river was an essential artery in the late 19th century, its waters traveled by giant freight-toting paddle steamers, but extensive rail and road networks rendered these boats obsolete by the end of the 1930s. Today, its only real draw for budget travelers is the many farms that call the region home, providing almost year-long work for those short on cash. If you’re stuck here, there are a few things that might hold your interest, but otherwise, this is one corner of Victoria that you can easily skip.

Buggah. The crops in the Murray area are guarded by a fruit-fly exclusion zone, which means that no fresh fruit or vegetables can enter the region. Several postings along major roads will remind travelers; those who are caught can face fines from $250 to $2000.

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For 52 years, we have published the world’s favorite budget travel guides, written entirely by students and updated every year. With pen and notebook in hand and a few changes of underwear stuffed in our backpacks, we spend months roaming the globe in search of travel bargains.