Visitor Information -- The Echuca-Moama Visitor Information Centre, 2 Heygarth St., Echuca, VIC 3564 (tel. 1800/804 446 in Australia, or 03/5480 7555; fax 03/5482 6413; www.echucamoama.com), has plenty of maps and information about accommodations and river cruises. It is open daily from 9am to 5pm (closed Dec 25). The Mildura Visitor Information & Booking Centre, 180-190 Deakin Ave., Mildura, VIC 3502 (tel. 1800/039 043 in Australia or 03/5018 8380; fax 03/5021 1836; www.visitmildura.com.au), offers similar services. It's open Monday through Friday from 9am to 5:30pm and weekends and public holidays from 9am to 5pm (closed Dec 25). If you're passing through Albury-Wodonga, contact the Gateway Visitor Information Centre, Lincoln Causeway, Wodonga, VIC 3690 (tel. 1300/796 222 or 02/6051 3750; www.destinationalburywodonga.com.au). It's open daily from 9am to 5pm (closed Christmas Day and Good Friday).

Getting There

Getting There -- Most visitors cross the river during an overland drive between cities. There are two ways to the Murray from Melbourne: the 2 1/2-hour route down the Midland Highway to Echuca, and the Calder Highway to Mildura, a 6-hour drive. Traveling from Melbourne to Mildura is practical only if you're continuing to Broken Hill, which is 297km (184 miles) north of Mildura. Those in a hurry to get to and from Sydney can travel via the river-straddling twin towns of Albury-Wodonga on the Hume Highway (about a 12-hr. trip with short stops).

Virgin Blue (tel. 13 67 89 in Australia; www.virginblue.com.au) and Qantas (tel. 13 13 13 in Australia; www.qantas.com.au) both operate daily flights to Mildura from Melbourne.

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