It’s hard to believe we’re just outside of Echuca. Deep within the river gum forest of the Murray River Reserve we feel a world away from everything. Multiple tracks diverge within the reserve and we eventually find signs to both Betts Beach and Christie’s Beach, two of the main camping areas accessed from Simmie Road. With less than an hour till sunset we finally settle on a secluded and riverside spot at Christie’s.
The Murray River stretches for over 2,500 kms. It starts its journey from the Australian Alps and ends at the mouth of the Southern Ocean in South Australia. Almost 2,000 km of it is navigable. Not surprisingly it has become a favourite camping destination for lots of travellers, including us. Whether it’s camping near Echuca or further afield in Mildura or the sandy riverside beaches around Cobram, there’s plenty of its shores to enjoy.
At around three hours from Melbourne Cobram Regional Park offers loads of free camping available at spots like Bourkes Bend, Scott’s Beach, Old Toms and Horseshoe Bend on the Victorian side. Across the river on the NSW side near Barooga there’s Quicks Beach which has a great sandy beach and easy access even for big rigs.