Date: 15-16th March 2026
Travelled: 450 kms from Portland via Ararat to Echuca
Visited: Ararat and Echuca ย
Stayed: Echuca Rotary Park, $10 , N36.14690, E144.73461
We filled the Jayco back at Timboon for $1.79 @ litre, since then $2.59 has become the new norm. Although we felt Portland relatively safe from a drone attack, the cost of diesel and Mongo NP remaining closed due to the wet weather we decide to turn the Jayco for home rather than continue on to the SA border.
Since the last blog weโve overnighted at Portland and Ararat in free camps. Portland has a great swim centre and we managed to get our laps in as well as a proper supermarket shop. Pam captured some great photos from the botanic gardens behind the campsite.
From Portland we drove north-east for Ararat, never heard of the place but the free camp at Green Hill Lake looks good. Unfortunately driving the 200 kms of the worst road I can remember bounces the shit out of the Jayco and the Suzuki. As a general comment the roads in Victoria are poor.
Stopping for a coffee in Heywood gives us the opportunity to take in the water tower, pictured below.
I remember reading somewhere that Victoria had some thousands of level crossings. Well we managed to cross what seemed like hundreds today. Each one with a speed limit of 60 kph some even had speed cameras installed.
We arrived in Ararat after lunch on Sunday. After setting up we drove into town and walked the main street and shops. Must have been something good on telly as the place was dead other than a bunch of old men posing as bikies outside the pub having a beer.
Ararat is famous for its lunatic asylum which looks like a castle up on the hill. Green Hill Lake is a picturesque wet-land reserve and makes for a great overnight stay.
From Ararat the road improves slightly as we continue on to Echuca. We are amazed by the numbers of old American cars heading in the opposite direction, later finding out there was some huge car rally was held in Moama over the weekend.
Pamโs well practiced at capturing passing trucks, car are a bit harder she says.
Arriving in Echuca we find a place at the Rotary Park unhook the Suzuki and settle in.
Echuca stands on the Victorian side of the Murray Riverโs confluence with the Campaspe, Moama on the other in NSW. Echuca is the larger of the twin towns and by far more interesting. So thereโs Echuca and the Port of Echuca just to clarify the following photos.
The pictures below from the centre of Echuca.
After a walking the shops we drive on to Port Echuca (less than a km). The port is tourist central and finding a parking spot a challenge. We park near the library just across from the cenotaph.
Port Echuca is all about the Murray River. Starting in 1850 with the first paddle steamer the Murray becomes the highway for transport wool, red gum and general freight to waiting markets.
Having done our laps at the swim centre and seen spent a couple of enjoyable days in Echuca itโs time to move on. We head for Albury on the Murray Valley Hwy in the morning drizzle.
Michael + Pam
2 thoughts on “Echuca, Victoria ๐ฆ๐บ 2026”
Great to hear from you again, yes we found the same Victoria is running out of money that’s what you get when you get lead by a socialist government ๐. No money for the roads
Safe travels Johannes
Mungo National Park is a great place to visit, steeped in indigenous history, itโs a pity you missed it โฆ