Drive & Free Camp Along The Great River Road

May 22
5 min read

One of the most scenic places we have recently visited is The Great River Road. We had never even heard of this iconic drive until we were looking at a nearby town.

The drive begins in a small town in Victoria called Bellbridge and runs approx 155 kms framing the Murray River until it ends in Khancoban, NSW.

The road snakes alongside much of the river, through small, picturesque towns.

There are many stops along the way, with beautiful views of the mountains and river below, also with many signposts which tell a story about the nearby towns.

Things to see along the Great River Road:

*Metal sculptures - including the Bogong Moth, the Carp, the Wedgetailed Eagle and many more!

*Lookouts - there are many places to stop along the road, but there are some dedicated lookouts with breathtaking views of the valleys below. Farrans Lookout was our favourite where you can see the tip of the infamous Mount Kosciuszko!

*Nature walks - within some of the stops along the way are some lovely nature-filled walks through the bushland that surrounds you.

*Fishing - if catching a fish or 2 is your thing, there are many places along this trip where you can sit, relax and throw a line in while taking in natures' beauty.

*Free camping - you'll find many lovely spots to stop and set up camp right by the river. We stayed at Gadds Bend for 2 nights where we were treated to frequent visits by the cattle residents.

Although the road is sealed with bitumen, travelling with a caravan in tow on this road is a little slower than on the highways with the winding and sometimes steep climbs.

We started by exiting the Hume Highway and crossing the Bethanga Bridge. This steel truss heritage bridge is over 700 metres long and crosses the man-made Lake Hume.

The beginning of the Great River Road is just a few hundred metres from the end of the bridge.

Well signposted, you will come to a lookout with a sign showing a map of the road, with the stops along the way.

Leave the lookout and head east along the road. Look for the blue signs with the names of the lookouts.

Bridge to the Moon: Our second stop was at the 'Bridge to the Moon' lookout. You'll find a large sculpture here, as well as, of course, gorgeous views.

Wymah: Our next stop was the Wymah cable ferry. There is a 'call' button just to the right of the road leading to the ferry as it only runs on demand or by scheduled services.

A view of the ferry and river from our drone

Granya: Our fourth stop was Granya which had the most spectacular views. A short drive into the heart of this town is a pioneer museum showing the land history, the families who resided in the town and the mining and farming equipment.

Thologolong: Not far from Granya is Thologolong. This small district is known for being the birthplace of the Murray Grey.

The Kurrajongs: For our next stop, we visited The Kurrajongs in Mount Lawson State Park. This is a lovely campground and picnic area with non-flushing toilets and also picnic tables. We spent a little time here, driving around the empty campsites.

Burrowye Bend: After The Kurrajongs, we then stopped at Burrowye Bend. This is a campground where you can also camp right by the river, and it doesn't cost a cent!

Mount Alfred Gap: Our next stop was at the Mount Alfred Gap Lookout. Here we found a picturesque lookout with a picnic table to enjoy some lunch with a stunning view.

Gadds Bend: Once leaving Mount Alfred Gap Lookout, we continued on and stopped in at Gadds Bend. This is a campground that frames the Murray River. It was so beautiful that we came back a few days later and stayed for 2 nights!

Jingellic: Our tenth stop was at the small town Jingellic. Here we found the historic Jingellic Pub, formerly known as the Bridge Hotel. Behind this pub is a camping reserve, with picnic tables and toilets nearby (pay at the pub to use their amenities). Camping is also permitted at the local oval on the main street, with the option for powered or non powered sites. The sign stated $30 per night for a powered site. There are also toilets on the corner of the main street, along with a small local store.

Walwa: Not far from Jingellic is a lovely little town called Walwa. With quaint little shops on either side of the main street, this town has a real country feel to it.

Pine Mountain: Our next stop was at the Pine Mountain information stop, located just on the right hand side of the road. There are a lot of information signs, which also tell the sad story of the 2019-2020 black summer bushfires.

Jim Newman Lookout: For our 13th stop, we visited the Jim Newman Lookout. This is where we found the Bogong Moth sculpture. It's large and made from lots of smaller metal moths, and is quite a lovely artpiece.

Clarke Lagoon Wildlife Reserve: This was our next stop. After a short drive off the main road, you'll come to a lovely, well shaded campground. Not quite as big as the others such as Gadds Bend and The Kurrajongs, this nice little spot is well hidden from traffic noise and is right by the side of the river.

Tintaldra: We really liked this town. The location of the pub with outside seating overlooking the river and the bridge and with the Murray Cod sculpture too.

Farrans Lookout: The story of the former residents at Towing Hill Station is a lovely story to take in while you're enjoying the breathtaking surrounds.

Lighthouse Crossing: Another campground where you can set up right by the river. With lush old trees for shade and grass for a nicer feel on your barefeet, this is another free campground that you'd be excited to visit. Driving down the dirt track, if you're lucky, the cattle will greet you!

Towong: Is the home of the historic Racecourse, having held horse racing events since the 1870's. It's history also includes having played host to some scenes from the movie 'Phar Lap'.

Khancoban: Our last stop on this epic journey was the small town of Khancoban. A large Carp artwork installation is unmissable as it greets you upon entry of the town.

Corryong: This was the last town we drove through. It is also the largest town in the Upper Murray region. Very neat, lovely colour contrast of the trees and had a friendly small town feel about it.

This drive is definitely worth doing. Undoubtedly one of our new favourite places to visit when we want to slow our pace for a while. We highly recommend it, you won't be disappointed!

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