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The best wineries and distilleries in Echuca Moama

Forget the usual wine trails – these sister towns know how to drink, and they’re quietly becoming one of the country’s most rewarding places to do so.

The Garden State has a lot to love, but it’s a particular delight for anyone who enjoys a well-made drink. From the windswept edges of the Great Ocean Road to the High Country’s alpine peaks, you’ll find distillers, brewers and winemakers making exceptional libations, often in a heartfelt tribute to the land.

And while regions like the Yarra Valley and Mornington Peninsula tend to hog the spotlight for their cellar doors and cool-climate drops, the twin towns of Echuca and Moama, just across the river in New South Wales, add in a rustic riverside backdrop, heaps of small-town charm, and winemakers who are just as happy to pull up a chair as they are to pour.

In short

Echuca Distillery has spirits that’ll make you do a double take, Two Lads Brewing are the rising stars and Morrisons Winery is full of cute kookaburras eyeing your drink – but our soft spot goes to Old School Winery , the only place that offers honey wine and hand-thrown pottery under one roof.

1. Cape Horn Vineyard & Riverside Bar, Echuca

wine by the fire at Cape Horn Vineyard & Riverside Bar, Echuca
Cosy up by the fire with a glass of Cabernet Sauvignon. (Image: Cape Horn Vineyard & Riverside Bar)

Right on the Victoria-NSW border and just 20 minutes from Echuca’s town centre, Cape Horn Vineyard & Riverside Bar is as much a part of the area’s history as the paddle steamers that mosey along the river. The first shiraz grapes were planted here in the 1870s, aimed at the workers of the timber boom and to cater to the first flames of tourism. Today, visitors can enjoy a rather magnificent sparkling Durif, as well as wood-fired pizza and grazing platters under a shaded outdoor patio or, in winter, by the outdoor fires. Make sure to get here on a weekend for live, acoustic music.

Address: 489 Stewarts Bridge Rd, Echuca Village VIC 3564

2. Morrisons Winery, Moama

drinks at Morrisons Winery, Moama
Raise a glass while enjoying vineyard views. (Image: Visit Victoria)

Most people know Moama’s Morrisons Winery thanks to Murray River Paddlesteamers : it’s the star of their Wharf to Winery Cruise & Lunch package. The one-hour return cruise delivers guests to the estate for a seasonal two-course lunch, complimentary drink (beer, wine or something booze-free), and a wine tasting of estate-grown reds and whites. Close to town yet utterly secluded, Morrisons is a slice of pure Australiana: go to see the river catching the light, kookaburras in spades, and kangaroos draped like shadows between the vines.

Address: 123 Merool Rd, Moama NSW 2731

3. The Old School Winery & Meadery, Womboota

the cellar door exterior of The Old School Winery & Meadery, Womboota
Step into this Womboota cellar door for delicious meads.

Ever wondered what Australian bush honey might taste like with a dash of booze? The delicious meads at this Womboota cellar door answer that question beautifully. Roughly a 30-minute drive northwest of Echuca, the Old School Winery has charm seeping out of every corrugated slat. You’ll be introduced to the wild world of mead (the drink of medieval heroes, so they’ll tell you), which you can sip under century-old peppercorn trees. And if that wasn’t joyous enough, there’s a working pottery studio next door. Bring your own picnic and really make a day of it.

Address: Moira Road &, School Rd, Womboota NSW

4. St Anne’s Winery, Echuca

a grazing platter with wine at St Anne’s Winery, Echuca
Share a grazing platter to pair with your wine. (Image: St Anne’s Winery)

Don’t expect a vineyard at this one – St Anne’s Winery is right in the middle of Echuca’s historic Port, backing onto the town’s lively high street. As with all the St Anne wineries, this spot is known for its free tastings, delivered by friendly, local experts. The moment you walk in, you’re surrounded by giant old whisky barrels in a handsome, industrious space that has ended up on many a couple’s dream wedding location shortlist. As for wines, there’s everything you could wish for, but the full-bodied shiraz, crisp rosé, and sweet tawny options tend to see the most guests purchasing a bottle on the way out.

Address: 53 Murray Esplanade Echuca VIC 3564

5. Bandicoot Brewing, Echuca

friends toasting beer glasses at Bandicoot Brewing, Echuca
Enjoy great vibes and delicious drinks at Bandicoot Brewing. (Image: Getty/krisanapong detraphiphat)

Tracy Green and her husband, Bruce, were home brewers with a dream. This came true in 2014 when the pair opened Bandicoot Brewing , the town’s first brewery to call its own in more than a hundred years. Award-winning brewer Tracy sees this family-owned favourite delivering all kinds of cult concoctions, from passion-fruit-forward pale ales to malty red ales, smooth blondes and creamy stouts. As for the brewery itself, it’s open to the public on Friday and some Saturdays (it’s best ring ahead to check). Grab the $16 tasting paddle and ask the Green team all the questions you’d like – they’ll love answering.

Address: Factory 2/100 Northern Hwy, Echuca VIC 3564

6. Echuca Distillery, Echuca

inside the Echuca Distillery
Small-batch spirits meet seriously good food at this distillery. (Image: Visit Victoria)

You can’t get a more primetime spot than Echuca Distillery , tucked into the high street behind its glamorous facade: Bar Lee. This distillery is where small-batch spirits meet seriously good food – a spot where you can watch distillers at work through the glass walls while enjoying $25 tasting flights, beef brisket nachos, and neat pours of gin, vodka or whiskey. Drinks nerds will especially enjoy some of the more unusual drops (the Coconut Arrack is a marvel). As for the distillery’s entrepreneurial spirit – pardon the pun – you can see it in action each September at their boozy brainchild: the Spirit on the Murray drinks festival.

Address: 555 High St, Echuca VIC 3564

7. St Anne’s Winery, Moama

clinking wine glasses at St Anne’s Winery, Moama
Sip top-notch cabernet sauvignon at St Anne’s Winery.

Unlike its town-centre sibling in Echuca, this St Anne’s Winery in Moama is an infinitely more al-fresco spot, positioned at the edge of a rather picturesque pond. Free tastings showcase a fabulous selection: sparkling Brut, Shiraz rosé, a whole range of fortifieds and liqueurs, and all guided by knowledgeable staff (shout-out to Kim and Hana). We love their generous cheese platters, the relaxed atmosphere out on the patio, and that furry friends can join the fun. Guests often leave with more bottles than they intended, proof that the St Anne’s Winery dynasty – now more than half a century old – continues to get it right.

Address: 77 Twenty Four Ln, Moama NSW 2731

8. Two Lads Brewing, Moama

a selection of cold beer at Two Lads Brewing, Moama
Choose the brew that matches your mood. (Image: Two Lads Brewing)

Two Lads Brewing started with two mates, a few late-night homebrews, and – eventually – one rule: if it doesn’t ignite a reaction, it doesn’t leave the brewery. Based in Moama, the duo’s bold, flavour-packed beers are already stocked in local pubs and restaurants around both towns, winning them a legion of locked-in fans. And if they weren’t already the ones to keep an eye on, 2026 brings the next chapter for Two Lads Brewing: a full-blown tap house for beer lovers, complete with all the bells, whistles – and frothy pints – you could ask for.

Address: 9 Neil St, Moama NSW 2731

Hannah Ralph
Hannah Ralph is an award-winning travel editor turned freelance writer. She’s currently chasing stories across Australia, until reality (and her inexplicable fondness for chilly British weather) demands a return to the UK, where her globe-trotting career began more than a decade ago. Following a formative start as Features Assistant at The Sunday Times Travel Magazine, Hannah went on to hone her aviation chops for several years on the British Airways editorial team, serving as Editor and Deputy Editor on numerous titles, including the flagship in-flight mag, High Life. She later returned to The Times and Sunday Times as an in-house Travel Writer. Now freelance, Hannah finds herself a roaming reporter with bylines for Mr & Mrs Smith, The Telegraph, Business Traveller UK, National Geographic Traveller, Eurostar’s Metropolitan magazine, and more. Her mission? To track down all of Australia’s greatest, most unforgettable stays – and live what might just be the most glamorous gap year yet.
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Farm fresh produce to a trail of lights: the ultimate guide to Mildura

    Rachel Lay Rachel Lay
    The charm of Mildura is hidden in plain sight along the Sturt Highway. The capital of Tropical North Victoria is in a league of its own.

    From the moment you arrive in Mildura , the warm air and palm trees invite you to slow down. While most Australians might drive right past it, Mildura is full of surprises. Here you’ll spend one day witnessing over 50,000 years of First Nations history in a UNESCO-listed National Park, and the next dining in a hatted restaurant after wandering through 12,500 fireflies as the outback sunset bursts to life above. From roadside fruit stalls and family-run wineries to houseboats and galleries, it’s time to explore Mildura.

    Feast Street, at the heart of Langtree Avenue in Mildura.
    Taste, wander and be surprised in Mildura.

    Taste Mildura’s produce

    It makes sense to start your trip by addressing the most important question: where to eat. In the beating heart of Australia’s food bowl, sample the local produce directly from the source. And then, of course, experience it through the menu of a hatted chef. Or sandwiched between pillowy slices of Nonna’s ciabatta.

    Rows of orchards and olive groves invite you to spend the day traipsing from farm to farm. Taste olives propagated from Calabrian trees brought over in the 40s, oranges picked right from the tree and squeezed into juice and spoons full of honey . Bring the holiday back to your kitchen by stocking your pantry at roadside produce stalls, or calling into the ‘silver shed ’ (Sunraysia’s gourmand Mecca).

    Thanks to the warm, balmy air and fertile soils, the wineries dotted along these hills produce award-winning local wines. Like Chalmers , a family-run, innovative winery dedicated to making their wines as sustainable as possible. And picturesque Trentham Estate offers views of the snaking Murray River as you sample their vintages.

    Venture beyond the gnarled shadows of olive groves and fragrant rows of blossoming fruit trees and you’ll find an otherworldly side to Mildura. With Discover Mildura as your guide, visit Murray River Salt’s Mars-like stacks. The naturally pink salt is formed from an ancient inland sea and evaporated entirely by the sun to create one of the region’s most iconic exports.

    Start your day with just-squeezed sunshine.

    Hatted dining & Italian history

    Mildura is home to a proud community of Calabrians and Sicilians. This, paired with the exceptional local produce, means that you can find paninos on par with those in Italy. The Italian is a Paninoteca serving up made-to-order, hefty, authentic Sicilian paninos. Nonna Rosa’s pork meatballs, slowly cooked in tomato ragu and served in a crusty, fluffy roll topped with gratings of Grana Padano cheese and salsa verde, will call you back to Mildura for the rest of your days.

    To find hatted dining in Mildura, simply follow the staircase down into the basement of the historic Mildura Grand Hotel to find Stefano’s . Following the muscle memory and instinct of his Italian roots, he delivers on the principle of ‘cucina povera’. That is, the Italian cooking ideology that turns simple, local ingredients into magic.

    Things to do in Mildura include dining at the acclaimed Stefano’s, where simple local ingredients are transformed into Italian culinary magic beneath the historic Grand Hotel.
    Bite into Mildura’s Italian heritage.

    Discover a thriving culture scene

    The city is alive with culture. Whether it’s painted on the town’s walls, told in ancient yarns, or waiting for you in a gallery.

    The Mildura Arts Centre was Australia’s first regional art gallery. Behind the walls of Rio Vista Historic House, you’ll find a lineup of ever-changing exhibitions. The gallery’s wall space pays tribute to the art and songlines of local First Nations People, the region’s awe-inspiring landscapes and more. Outside, on the gallery’s lawn, find 12 contemporary sculptures in the Sculpture Park.

    Mildura’s streetscapes are a punch of colour. Swirling strokes of paint blend the winding artery of the Murray River, red dirt and local characters into a story you can see with your own eyes, thanks to the Mildura City Heart’s Mural Art Project . Pick up a copy of the Murals of Mildura guide from the Visitor Information Centre.

    Follow the border of NSW and Victoria on a map and you’ll see it hugs the curves of a tiny island on the Murray. That’s Lock Island, where, as the sun and moon trade places, the island comes alive as darkness falls. The island is dotted with 12,500 firefly lights that lead you on a meandering path through the outback sunset. The installation is known as Trail of Lights and was created by the same visionary who dreamt up Field of Light at Uluu, Bruce Munro.

    Things to do in Mildura include exploring its rich cultural scene. From vibrant street art and ancient stories to exhibitions at the Mildura Arts Centre, Australia’s first regional gallery.
    Find culture around every corner.

    Wonder at ancient landscapes

    The landscapes of Mildura feel almost transcendental. The skyline bursts to life with reds, pinks, and deep, sparkly night skies.

    The nature will leave you in awe. See hues of pink water changing with the weather at Pink Lakes inside Victoria’s largest national park, Murray Sunset National Oark. Cast a line into Ouyen Lake. Watch the sunset against 70-metre tall red cliffs that reflect the setting sun. Or get the heart racing and sandboard down the Perry Sandhills dunes, formed 40,000 years ago at the end of an ice age.

    Just don’t leave without following the twists and turns of the Murray. Stroll or ride along the Shared River Front Path, or jump onboard a boat for a scenic ride.

    Your itinerary will be incomplete without a visit to UNESCO World Heritage-listed Mungo National Park . Head out with an Indigenous ranger to witness ancient campsites and footprints, before standing in awe of ancient civilisation near the discovery site of Mungo Man—Australia’s oldest human skeleton at 42,000 years old.

    Mungo National Park at night is a vast, silent landscape where ancient dunes glow under moonlight and stars blanket the sky in breathtaking clarity.
    Walk in the footsteps of ancient civilisation.

    Meet your home away from home

    On equal par with planning your meals and adventures, is finding the perfect place to relax at the end of each day.

    Sleep inside a Palm Springs postcard at Kar-Rama . A sleek boutique hotel complete with a butterfly shaped, sun-soaked pool. Here you’re staying right in the heart of Mildura but you’ll feel worlds away. Or if you really wish to connect with nature, a night glamping under the stars at Outback Almonds will have you spellbound.

    When in Mildura it’s only right to stay on one of the Murray River’s iconic houseboats . Wake up each day to the calm waters of the Murray lapping outside your window. Enjoy days full of river swims, fishing and exploring. All boats are solar-powered and can be self-skippered or moored along the river.

    A solar-powered houseboat on the Murray River in Mildura.
    Stay and play on the Murray in a solar houseboat.

    Start planning the perfect getaway at mildura.com .