Mildura road trip

With your sense of adventure all packed, make the most of the road journey to stop off in the charming villages of Inglewood, Wedderburn and Charlton. Take time to stretch your legs and mooch around the old buildings and antiques shops.

Lunch today should be a late-ish one at Bakery on Broadway in tiny Wycheproof on the edge of the Mallee. This is an ideal spot to refuel on artisan coffee, pies, cakes and local gourmet goods.

Next you’ll pass through the vast and arid Murray-Sunset National Park before hitting the citrus groves of sunny Mildura, an oasis on the edge of the desert.

After a day of driving, wind down fully into holiday mode with a Mildura breakfast next to the water. Place an order for coffee and whatever takes your brunch fancy at Dockside Cafe, or Cafe 1909 on the banks of the Murray.

Stroll along the river after your meal, hire a paddleboat and cruise the waterways, or get going to Kings Billabong for a nature walk through the wetland forests.

Peruse glittering crystals and tackle the maze at Woodsies Gem Shop before satisfying hunger pangs and low caffeine levels at Blk.Mlk. Kick back with an arvo tipple at Fossey's Distillery, before sitting down to a (pre-booked) evening meal at Stefano’s, helmed by local cheffing hero Stefano de Pieri.

Ready for desert adventuring? Explore the extraordinary World Heritage–listed Mungo National Park on a full-day tour run by Mungo Lodge or Discover Mildura. The road to Mungo is long and corrugated, so be prepared for some genuine outback action.

Let the local experts take the wheel and guide you as you learn about the sandy desert park’s Indigenous heritage, fascinating geological formations, and native fauna and flora. Don’t miss the in-depth tour of the unique lunar-like Walls of China sand dunes.

Back in Mildura, shake the sand from your shoes and edit down all those snaps before hitting bed.

Set your Spotify for Talking Heads, 'Take me to the river', and head to where the mighty Murray and the Darling rivers merge. Climb the spiralling lookout tower for an aerial view of the confluence.

Gear up for desert play in the ancient Perry Sandhills. The historic lands of the Barkindji people, these ochre sands formed roughly 40,000 years ago when megafauna such as Thylacteo - a carnivorous lion-like marsupial - still roamed. Contemplate this extraordinary landscape and history before shooting down the red dunes on a makeshift sled.

In nearby Wentworth, see more of the Murray and Darling rivers from aboard a historic 1907 paddlesteamer, the PS Ruby Wentworth, and gape at replicas of megafauna at the Pioneer Museum.

Start the day among spectacular Australian native flora at the Australian Inland Botanic Gardens. Wander the network of walking tracks and check out the rose garden.

Quench your desert thirst at Orange World with a glass of freshly squeezed juice. Peruse the cute souvenirs, cool down with an ice cream, and find out more on a tractor train tour around the working citrus property.

Treat your palate for lunch or afternoon grazing at Trentham Estate Winery on the banks of the Murray. Sample award-winning wines at a cellar door tasting and dine alfresco amid the scenic river setting.

Venture into unforgettable desert national parks around Mildura. Local experts such as Murray Offroad Adventures make it super easy for you to explore a little off the beaten track.

Discover freshwater lakes in Hattah–Kulkyne National Park, fed by the Murray. Walk, kayak and picnic in a stunning landscape brimming with birds and wildlife. The almost untouched, semi-arid Murray-Sunset National Park is home to stunning salt lakes, which change in hue from pink to white through the year.

Get out for some hiking and four-wheel-driving, and make the most of the landscape with breakfast on a pristine beach just after sunrise.

Time to farewell this remarkable river-meets-desert region and head for home. Make it a return trip to remember with a stop just outside Sea Lake at the Lake Tyrrell viewing platform. The shallow salt lake is renowned for its brilliantly reflective surface, and at night is an ideal spot to stargaze.

Check out the art adorning the Sea Lake silo as you make your way through town. Part of the Silo Art Trail, The Space in Between is the work of street artists Drapl and The Zookeeper.

Round out your getaway with a stop in Bendigo, home to standout cafes, restaurants, wine bars and an impressive regional gallery, before arriving home.