17 brilliant things to do in Mildura with kids

Visit Mildura to explore citrus groves and vineyards, enjoy endless sunshine and swim at sandy river beaches.

Mildura has all the ingredients for a perfect family holiday. And once you fall in love with the Murray River, you’ll never want to leave.

The town is affectionately known as the Mediterranean of the outback. The mighty Murray Darling provides the ultimate backdrop for the region’s incredible food, bucolic farmland and family-friendly activities.   

Mildura’s central location makes it perfect for meeting up with friends and family from interstate. The town is 542 kilometres northwest of Melbourne. It is easily accessible by road or air. It’s right on the border between Victoria and New South Wales. And the South Australian border is also only a short distance away.

Here’s our ultimate list of things to do with the kids in Mildura region.

SWIM

Water Parks

The Mildura Waves Aquatic and Leisure Centre is an oasis right in the centre of town. Have a ball in the wave pool with beach entry and water jets. There’s also an eight-lane, 25 metre lap pool as well as a spa and sauna. The pool centre is open from Monday – Thursday from 6am – 9pm, Friday from 6am – 7pm and 8am – 8pm on the weekends.  

If you’re after even more splash-tastic fun, head to Mildura’s Water Play Park. It’s open from 10am – 5pm daily and is completely free. Kids will love the splash pad and playground. Parents can supervise from the shady picnic area. Showers and toilet facilities are available to use.

Murray River

Visitors to Mildura don’t even need to leave the city to find a beach. There are several stretches of sandy perfection, lined with trees and grassed picnic areas. 

Apex Riverbeach is especially family-friendly and just three three-kilometres from the CBD. Fish and play along the many secret sandbars. Canoe, stand-up paddleboard or hire a run-about to cruise upstream. There’s a boat ramp and public amenities. 

Johnsons Bend is a scenic swimming spot with plenty of shady trees to picnic under. Keep an eye out for galahs, rosellas and cockatoos. Access is via a dirt road. There is also a free campground here.

Karadoc Sandbar is a 30 minute drive from Mildura. There is a boat ramp, non-flushing toilets, fire pits, skip bin and picnic area shaded by River Red Gums.

James King Park and the Gol Gol Boat Ramp – here you can spend your day playing on the playground at King James Park and swimming in the sandbar near Gol Gol Boat Ramp.

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Benetook Farm

Benetook Farm is the go-to place for families in Mildura. You’ll find bikes of all sizes to explore the farm. Pick up a tour map and get lost in the maze. Marvel at the farm machinery display and explore the veggie patch. The kids will love picking strawberries (in season) and feeding the free-range chickens. Don’t forget to stock up on fresh eggs before you leave.

No bookings required, just turn up and start exploring. Entry is just a gold coin donation per person. Check the SRS Benetook Farm Facebook page for any updates to opening hours.

Paddle Steamer Rides

Explore the famous river in style on a Mildura Paddle Steamer Cruise for an extra special treat. Choose between two-hour cruise that runs twice daily from 10.50am – 1pm and 1.50pm – 4pm. If you’re keen to catch the sunset, the evening dinner cruise runs on Thursday from 7pm to 10pm.

EAT

Stefano’s Cafe

Pick up some delicious sweet treats and loaves of bread at this Mildura institution. Or book a table and enjoy breakfast, lunch or dinner under the grape vines on the veranda. You can also stock up on some of the region’s famous salt flakes, olive oils and jams. 

Sunraysia Cellar Door

Mum and dad might prefer to hit the innovative Sunraysia Cellar Door. Taste 250 of the region’s best wines right in the CBD. Or enjoy the build-your-own tasting plates.

Sunraysia Farmers Market

Foodie families will love wandering around this farmers market. Discover the region’s farm-fresh produce. Take a picnic blanket and enjoy your goodies under the giant river gums beside the Murray River. Catch the market every first and third Saturday of the month from 8am – 12pm.

Discover Mildura’s food & wine tours

Discover Mildura tour company is run by local husband and wife team Phill and Alison Stone.

The Farmgate Foods tour takes you to a variety of Mildura Farms. Start with a tour and tastings at Orange World then view seasonal produce fields of tablegrapes, dried vine grapes, asparagus, date palms, almonds and melons. Lunch and more tastings is at an olive oil farm.

EXPLORE

Mungo National park

Mildura provides a brilliant base to explore the mysterious Mungo National Park and Willandra Lakes system. The otherworldly moonscape is home to some of the oldest remains of modern humans found outside Africa: Mungo Woman and Mungo Man. Hike, bike or drive around this World Heritage Site. Standout’s include the spectacular Walls of China and Red Top lookout. Take a tour guided by the traditional owners of the land. Or cycle along the 10-kilometre Zanci Pastoral Loop. Read up on the history at the Mungo Visitors Centre.

Where to stay

Book your stay at the Mungo Shearers’ Quarters . The heritage accommodation provides cosy facilities close to key park attractions. Visitors will appreciate the hot showers and toilets, electricity, picnic tables and BBQ’s. You’ll need to bring bedding and food.

The Main campground offers 33 sites for caravans, trailers and tents. It’s the ideal place to base yourself in the park. Booking and park entry fees are required.

How to get there

From Mildura, cross the bridge to Buronga. Follow the Silver City Highway towards Broken Hill. As you leave Buronga, you’ll see Arumpo Road with a sign indicating Mungo National Park. Follow this road to its end.

The Pink Lakes

The Murray-Sunset National Park is famous for its four milk-shake-pink lakes.  The red algae that grows in the water gives the lakes their magical hue. Along Pioneer Drive you’ll learn about the area’s salt mining history. Visit at sunset for eye-popping views and spectacular sightings of native bird life, goanna’s and emus.

Where to stay

Murray-Sunset National Park has 11 campgrounds within the park, all free with no bookings required. However, campers must be well-prepared and self sufficient. Toilets are provided at some sites. There is no drinking water or bins.

How to get there

For the Pink Lakes, it’s over a 2 hour drive southwest of Mildura. Access by 2WD vehicles via the gravel road from Linga. The unsealed roads from the Mallee or Sturt Highways are also suitable 2WD vehicles. However, 4WD vehicles are recommended for most tracks in the parks interior.

Hattah-Kulkyne National Park

The Hattah-Kulkyne National Park is the perfect spot for nature-loving families. The park has 50,000 hectares of magnificent floodplain country. The Hattah lakes fill seasonally. There is plenty of wildlife to see at this national park. Families can explore the hiking trails and enjoy mountain biking. Try the 1.2 kilometre Hattah Nature Walk and learn about the Mallee ecosystem. Or the longer 9.2-kilometre Mournpall Lake Loop, that leads hikers through River Red Gum flood plains and the Mallee dunes. Fish for yellow belly and redfin. Bring your kayak or canoe and meander down the mighty Murray.

Where to stay

Lake Mournpall and Lake Hattah are the two designated campgrounds in the Park. Advance bookings and payments are required. Facilities include non-flushing toilets, fireplaces and picnic tables. Other river camping areas without facilities are available at Ki Bend, Firemans Bend and Jinkers Bend. 

How to get there

The Park is 74 kilometres south of Mildura. 

Chaffey Trail 

Trace the story of how Mildura became an irrigated oasis on the Chaffey Trail. Follow the walking trail and discover interactive heritage sites. Start at the Mildura Station Homestead. Then wander into the centre of town for lunch. 

Perry Sandhills

The Perry Sandhills was used as a bombing range during WWII. Now, the area is used as the backdrop for many films, TV shows and advertisements. Kids will love sandboarding down the ancient dunes. Intersport Mildura rents out sandboards for $20 per board per day. You can also learn about the area’s Aboriginal history and the days of mega-fauna at the sandhills. 

How to get there

The Perry Sandhills a 30-minute drive northwest of Mildura via Wentworth on the Calder Hwy. 

This article was produced with content supplied by Visit Mildura and is a Holidays with Kids digital exclusive. Be the first to see more exclusive online content by subscribing to the enewsletter here.

Featured image © Robert Blackburn

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