With its Mediterranean climate, abundant local produce and its natural beauty, Mildura is located on the mighty Murray River in the north-west corner of Victoria. The early riverboat trade as well as good seasons and good wool prices made the early European settlement days of the 1840s and 1850s a boom time. In 1887 the Chaffey brothers came from California to set up an irrigation colony, which would be the foundation of modern-day Mildura, at the site the original station which had failed during droughts. There is a self-drive tour called the Chaffey Trail, where you can visit the historical landmarks and learn about the story of Mildura starting off at the Mildura Visitor Information & Booking Centre with a short film. The trail includes stops at The Old Mildura Homestead, which is a reconstruction of the first Mildura station of 1847; W.B. Chaffey's 1890 home Rio Vista House, with its wide verandahs and ornate decoration; Mildura Grand Hotel; and landmarks that bring the irrigation system to life - Lock 11, the Mildura Weir, and the Psyche Pumps.
The food of Mildura will give you a true sense of the region and its people. The market gardens, orchards, cellar doors, restaurants and markets of Mildura provide a sensory encounter not to be missed. The region produces a huge array of produce including citrus, mushrooms, melons, asparagus, pistachios, olives, salt and Mallee lamb. Every second weekend the Sunraysia Farmers’ Market at the Australian Inland Botanical Gardens lets you sample and buy some of this spectacular produce. Spring, when the orange blossoms are in bloom is the perfect time to visit Orange World where you can taste and tour the citrus orchards. Mildura is also a wine producing area and there are a number of cellar doors in the area where you can taste the wines and meet the winemakers. Every November the Jazz and Wine Festival brings together the wineries, riverboats, restaurants and even the town streets in celebration of all things wine, food and music. Feast Street, officially known as Langtree Avenue is a great place to find dining options all year round.
If you are staying in Mildura for more than a few days then a trip to the amazing Mungo National Park, 110 kilometres north-east is a worthy diversion. The park covers an ancient lake bed and has spectacular sand dunes known as the Great Wall of China that stretch for a 40 kilometres arc that have been eroded into beautiful colours and shapes. With views of the Mallee country, the lake and the Great Wall of China sand dunes, the 70 kilometre looped self-drive track is a must.
Mildura’s calendar is fully booked with festivals and event no matter what time of the year you visit. For 10 days in September/October the Mildura Country Music Festival showcases over 100 independent country musicians. Mildura hosts the Writer’s festival and Golf Week in July, the finish line to the 8-day cycling event the Tour of the Murray in September and the Mildura 100 Ski Race on the Murray River at Easter. Throughout the year you can also take a slightly slower pace with steam train trip on the Red Cliffs Historical Steam Railway, a walking tour of the art deco buildings in town or a cruise on the Murray on a paddleboat.
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