Car Rental Echuca Downtown

For a legendary experience of country Victoria, head to the historic river port town of Echuca. Nestled on the banks of the mighty Murray River, Echuca is a picturesque pocket around 2.5-hours north of Melbourne with a local population verging on 15,000. Heritage-rich Echuca offers the visitor a blend of traditional charm, splashed with outdoor adventure, and a fine dash of arts and culture. What’s more, the burgeoning culinary scene in Echuca is fuelled by its perfect position within the Riverina Murray food bowl, one of the most important agricultural regions in the country. Meet the growers of fresh produce and artisan creators at farm gates and markets; visit the vineyards, the breweries and local gin distilleries; dine at the restaurants, pubs and cafes offering delicious modern flavours with innovative flair. Your taste buds will certainly come alive in Echuca!

Situated in Yorta Yorta country, Echuca translates from traditional local language as ‘the meeting of the waters’. At 2,500-kilometres long, the Murray is Australia’s longest river system. Rising in the Australian Alps, this monumental river gathers another five major tributaries along its flow as it meanders through three states. Across shore, over the other side of its watery border with New South Wales, is Echuca’s twin town of Momoa. The Murray yolks Echuca and Momoa together, while forming the backbone that distinguishes each town.

Visitors will be greeted with a vibrant river scene on arrival: a veritable flotilla of paddle steamers evokes Echuca’s hey-day, while the steady stream of houseboats bobbing along this vital waterway provides a novel stay for holiday-makers. The Echuca Wharf stands today as a living legacy from the late 1800s, when Echuca was Australia’s third-largest port. Your visit wouldn’t be complete without cruising the Murray on one of the authentic paddle steamers leaving daily from the Wharf. And while you’re there, visit the recently opened Discovery Centre that captures the essence of Echuca’s glorious past.

With its neighbouring riverside villages, distinctive wine regions, renowned touring routes through the outback, and phenomenal wetlands and native forests, Echuca offers the ideal off-the-beaten track holiday, with all the conveniences of a welcoming regional town. A road trip in your hire car, starting from downtown Echuca, is a holiday you definitely won’t want to miss.

Discover Echuca’s wealth of attractions with your hire car

While swimming, fishing and boating are all popular pastimes, the slow-moving Murray also invites tranquil canoe rides. For an enchanting Echuca experience, why not try a spot of ‘camp-canoeing’ and watch the sun set over the riverbank at your campfire. The 61-kilometre Edward River Canoe and Kayak Trail is a splendid alternative to the Murray for paddlers wanting even more peace, and perhaps a picnic near the river bridge.

Take in the scenery and fresh air on bike or foot with a great range of walking and cycling trails that showcase the diverse landscapes and unique ecosystems in the region. For attractions of a more artistic nature, jump in your hire car and check out the colourful and wonderful silo art at nearby Colbinabbin and Rochester. Drive the rest of the Campaspe Arts Trail to view street art and pop into galleries, continuing the circuit from Stanhope to Kyabram with a few murals and an art depot in between. Back in town, aficionados can visit the National Holden Motor Museum which includes restored Holdens and rare prototypes.

Stay behind the wheel and follow the Cobb Highway, named after the celebrated Cobb & Co coach company. Discover the iconic outback towns of Bourke and Broken Hill along the Long Paddock Touring Route from Echuca past Wilcannia. Enjoy the open space along the old stock routes and witness the flattest plains this side of the equator. Rest and chat with the friendly characters you’ll likely meet along the way.

Your hire car will help you explore the range of Echuca’s unique assets

Echuca is swathed in timeless forests of native river red gums. These striking eucalypts with their twisting trunks are a quintessential feature of the Murray’s parks and bushland reserves, riverine plains and wetlands. We recommend you head to the heart of the spectacular Barmah-Millewa National Park that bridges its waters at the narrowest point. There you’ll encounter the largest forest of red river gums in the world. Captured famously by artists like Hans Heysen, you’ll feel as though you’ve just stepped into an early Australian landscape painting. These magnificent stands of trees also play habitat to a host of remarkable wildlife – from species of waterbirds to an abundance of native fauna. The Murray’s river red gums form a protected and complex ecosystem of international importance, while the river and trees continue to be of great cultural significance to the region’s local traditional owners.

Before your trip is over at the Port of Echuca, pop into the Olde Penny Arcade and have a bit of fun spending your pennies on the rare and original arcade machines dating from 1900 to 1950. Indulge yourself on the house ice-cream, home-made fudge or nougat treats. Learn about its history from your tour guide, and watch a selection of old film reels and footage, from comedies to paddle steamer stories. The fascinating town of Echuca promises an attraction to satisfy every visitor!