Riverina

Stretching across the fertile plains of southern New South Wales, the Riverina is a sunburnt landscape of sprawling farms, historic river towns, and a surprisingly vibrant food-and-wine scene. Named after the Murrumbidgee and Murray rivers that irrigate its orchards and vineyards, this region rewards travellers who slow down and follow the back roads. Here you can pick stone fruit in season, taste bold shiraz in cellar doors housed in 19th-century pubs, and paddle a canoe past river red gums that have stood for centuries. The Riverina feels like the real Australia—unpretentious, generous, and deeply connected to the land.

Highlights & What to See

• Wagga Wagga – The region’s largest city, with the excellent Wagga Wagga Art Gallery, the historic Botanic Gardens, and riverside walking trails along the Murrumbidgee.
• Griffith – A surprising Italian-Australian enclave where you can taste award-winning wines (especially shiraz and vermentino) at cellar doors like De Bortoli and McWilliam’s Hanwood Estate, then feast on wood-fired pizza and house-made gelato.
• Narrandera – A charming river town with a restored 1880s gaol (now a museum), a colony of kangaroos on the golf course, and the tranquil Narrandera Wetlands.
• Mungo National Park – A UNESCO World Heritage–listed landscape of lunar-like dunes and the famous Walls of China, where 40,000-year-old human remains were found. Visit the visitor centre for Aboriginal cultural stories.
• Deniliquin – The “Ute Capital of the World” hosts the Deni Ute Muster, but year-round you can explore the Edward River on a paddle steamer or cycle the Deniliquin Rail Trail.
• Leeton – A planned town with Art Deco architecture, surrounded by rice and citrus farms. Don’t miss the Hydro Hotel and the Fivebough Wetlands bird hide.

Suggested Time to Spend

To experience the Riverina properly, plan for at least three to four days. This gives you time to base yourself in Wagga Wagga or Griffith, explore a national park, and do a self-drive wine tour without rushing. If you’re combining it with a longer New South Wales road trip, a week allows you to visit Mungo National Park, paddle the Murrumbidgee, and linger in the small towns. The region is best visited in autumn (March–May) when the weather is mild and the harvest season brings food festivals.

Nearby Areas Worth Combining

• Murray River Trail – Follow the mighty Murray downstream through towns like Echuca (Victoria) and Moama for paddle steamers and river cruises.
• Snowy Mountains – A two-hour drive east from Wagga Wagga takes you into Kosciuszko National Park for hiking, skiing, and alpine scenery.
• Canberra – The national capital is a three-hour drive from Wagga Wagga, offering museums, galleries, and the Australian War Memorial.
• Mildura – A cross-border town in Victoria with its own citrus and wine region, about two hours from Griffith.
• Hay – A historic river port with a superb shearing shed museum and the Hay Gaol, ideal for a quick stop on the way west.

Please check official sources for current details.