Leave Canberra after an early coffee from a local favourite like Ona Coffee in NewActon, then head west along the Barton and Sturt Highways, rolling through open farmland. Pause for a photo stop and a short walk at the historic Federal Highway lookout near Collector, and refuel with brunch at the charming Bakehouse Café in Gundagai — don’t miss the dogs on the Dog on the Tuckerbox lookout just nearby for a classic Riverina snapshot.
Continue west toward Wagga Wagga, arriving in time for a riverside lunch at the Kooringal Hotel or a picnic along the Murrumbidgee River at Wagga Beach Reserve. Spend the afternoon exploring the Wagga Wagga Botanic Gardens and the Art Gallery of Wagga Wagga, or stretch your legs with a riverside walk to the scenic Gregadoo wetlands, sampling local produce from the Farmers Market if it’s on.
Check into your chosen accommodation in Wagga Wagga and freshen up before dinner at one of the town’s farm-to-table restaurants such as Muse Kitchen & Bar or the popular Finleys. After dinner, take a gentle evening stroll along the riverbank to watch the sunset over the Murrumbidgee and relax with a nightcap at a cosy local pub, preparing for the next day’s drive toward Hay.
Start the day with breakfast at the popular La Maison Café near the riverside, then wander through the Wagga Wagga Botanic Gardens to see the Japanese Garden, rose beds and resident birdlife before checking out of your accommodation. Pop into the Art Gallery of Wagga Wagga to view local and regional works, or visit the Museum of the Riverina for a snapshot of Riverina history, then top up snacks and fuel for the outback stretch ahead.
Depart mid-afternoon and follow the Sturt Highway west toward Hay, stopping at cool roadside highlights like the small town of Barnawartha for a coffee break and to stretch your legs; if timed right, visit the Hay Plains lookout for wide-open views and great photo opportunities. Arrive in Hay late afternoon and explore the historic main street, including the Hay Gaol Museum for a quick history lesson on the town’s convict past before settling into your Hay accommodation.
As evening falls, dine at a local pub or café such as the Hay Club Hotel to enjoy hearty country fare and local wines, then take a peaceful post-dinner walk along the Murrumbidgee (or if staying closer to the Lachlan, watch the wide plains glow at sunset). Rest up for the final leg to Mildura tomorrow, with clear skies often offering excellent stargazing over the flat Riverina landscape.
Rise early in Hay to catch a rosy Riverina sunrise — grab a takeaway coffee and a bacon-and-egg roll from a local café (try the Hay Deli) and stroll past the historic Hay Gaol precinct one last time before you set off. Head west on the Sturt Highway, crossing the wide Hay Plains and stopping at the small service town of Booligal or Ivanhoe for fuel and a stretch; keep an eye out for emus and kangaroos in the paddocks as the landscape opens toward the Murray.
Continue to the Murray River region and cross into Victoria, arriving in Mildura by early afternoon for a riverside lunch at the iconic Pitt & Pendulum at the Mildura Wharf or at the rustic Homestead Restaurant at Rio Vista Winery, sampling local red wines. After lunch, wander the Mildura Riverfront, visit the Mildura Arts Centre for regional exhibitions, or take a relaxing paddle-steamer cruise on the Murray River to learn about the river’s history and see riverbanks only accessible by boat.
As evening falls, check into your Mildura accommodation and freshen up before a sunset walk along the scenic Langtree Avenue and the man-made lookout at the Kings Billabong Wetlands to watch birdlife come alive. Dine at one of Mildura’s farm-to-table restaurants such as 2 Rivers or The Old Flour Mill, then finish the night with a quiet drink on a river-view terrace, reflecting on the long drive and watching lights shimmer across the Murray.
| Place / Activity | Cost |
|---|---|
| Ona Coffee (NewActon) | $6-15 |
| Federal Highway lookout (near Collector) | Free |
| Bakehouse Café (Gundagai) | $12-25 |
| Dog on the Tuckerbox (Gundagai) | Free (donation/parking $0-5 possible) |
| Kooringal Hotel / Picnic at Wagga Beach Reserve (Wagga Wagga) | $15-35 (picnic $0-20 depending on supplies) |
| Wagga Wagga Botanic Gardens | Free (donation $0-5) |
| Art Gallery of Wagga Wagga | Free-$10 (special exhibitions may charge) |
| Evening dinner (Muse Kitchen & Bar or Finleys) | $30-60 per person |
| La Maison Café (breakfast) | $10-20 |
| Museum of the Riverina | Free-$10 |
| Fuel & snacks top-up | $30-80 (depends on vehicle and distance) |
| Roadside stop Barnawartha (coffee/stretch) | $5-10 |
| Hay Plains lookout / Hay township walk | Free |
| Hay Gaol Museum | $5-15 |
| Dinner at Hay Club Hotel | $20-40 per person |
| Hay Deli (takeaway breakfast) | $8-15 |
| Fuel & stops at Booligal/Ivanhoe | $30-80 (combined, depending on refuel) |
| Pitt & Pendulum (Mildura Wharf) / Rio Vista Winery lunch | $25-60 per person (wine tasting extra $5-15) |
| Mildura Riverfront stroll / Langtree Avenue | Free |
| Mildura Arts Centre | Free-$10 (special exhibits may charge) |
| Paddle-steamer cruise on the Murray River | $30-80 per person |
| Kings Billabong Wetlands / birdwatching | Free |
| Dinner in Mildura (2 Rivers or The Old Flour Mill) | $30-70 per person |
| Accommodation (Wagga Wagga, Hay, Mildura) - mid-range | $120-180 per night (Wagga), $100-150 per night (Hay), $120-200 per night (Mildura) |
| Vehicle running costs (fuel for Canberra → Mildura ~900-1,100 km round trip leg depending on route) | $200-350 (fuel estimate) + $30-80 tolls/parking/roadside incidentals possible |
| Estimated Total (per person) | $900-1,900 |