Cobram, Victoria – Best Things to Do Along the Murray River

Cobram, Victoria – Best Things to Do Along the Murray River

Cobram is a lovely riverside town set on the banks of the Murray River in northern Victoria. Surrounded by stone fruit orchards and dairy farms, the region is proudly known as the largest stone fruit–producing area in Australia.

Located approximately 261 kilometres north of Melbourne, Cobram is a popular destination for holidays and easy day trips, offering a relaxed pace, beautiful river scenery, and plenty of family-friendly attractions.

During our visit, we wandered around Cobram’s town centre, enjoyed coffee at Ambience Café, and admired the town’s colourful street art. We spent time at Thompsons Beach, experienced the incredible Bullanginya Dreaming light show in nearby Barooga, explored Cactus Country, visited The Big Strawberry, and enjoyed a peaceful walk around Quinns Island.

Cobram Town Centre, Parks & Street Art

Cobram’s town centre has a great selection of cafés, hotels, supermarkets, and specialty shops, along with several well-maintained parks and gardens that make it an enjoyable place to explore.

On the Grand Central Hotel, you’ll find a striking mural featuring a Sulphur-crested Cockatoo and an Eastern Rosella, celebrating the region’s birdlife.

Mivo Park has a lovely playground, and the nearby toilet block has been transformed into a work of art by local artist Jimmy Dvate, with murals showcasing river scenes and native flora and fauna.

Another standout piece is the “Lest We Forget” mural by Caroline Lejeune, painted on the side of a shipping container near Hungie Fangs Bakery.

We stopped in at Ambience Café, located at 1 Murray Street, for coffee and cake. Open daily, it offers a fantastic selection of cakes, pastries, sandwiches, and hot and cold drinks.

Federation Park is another highlight, featuring a large playground, skate park, picnic tables, and open lawn areas. Near the playground stands a beautiful 2.4-metre-high Eastern Rosella sculpture, created by Tank and Tobin Sculpture Works.

Thompsons Beach

Thompsons Beach is located on the eastern edge of Cobram and is known as the largest inland beach in the Southern Hemisphere.This wide sandy beach sits along the Murray River and is framed by towering river red gums. It’s a popular spot for fishing, canoeing, swimming, and relaxing in the warmer months.

Facilities include a playground, grassy picnic areas, picnic tables, electric barbecues, and a café. There’s also a walking track and several interesting sculptures dotted along the riverbank.

Bullaginya Dreaming

In the evening, we crossed the Murray River into New South Wales to visit the Barooga Sporties Club for the Bullanginya Dreaming light show. The experience runs every Friday and Saturday evening, and bookings are essential.

Visitors are transported by bus to the start of the trail, where the guided experience begins. Bullanginya Dreaming is an immersive laser light and sound experience that weaves Bangerang Indigenous insights with the elemental forces of light, water, and fire, creating a powerful and memorable storytelling journey.

The circular trail winds through bushland along the edge of Bullanginya Lagoon and features towering light sculptures, vibrant projections, and an atmospheric soundscape.

The trail is 1.8 kilometres long and takes around one hour to complete, with 12 unique activations along the way. Each activation tells a distinct story, celebrating the history, traditions, community, and culture of the Bangerang People.

Through artful storytelling and multimedia displays, Bullanginya Dreaming offers visitors a deeper appreciation of Indigenous culture and connection to Country.

👉 Click here to get Bullaginya Dreaming Tickets.

Cactus Country

Cactus Country is Australia’s largest cactus garden, located in Strathmerton, approximately 13 kilometres from Cobram. The gardens are open Wednesday to Sunday from 10.00 am to 5.00 pm.

Spanning 12 acres, the gardens feature thousands of cacti and succulents from regions including Mexico, the Sahara, Patagonia, and South Africa.

There are eight colour-coded walking trails, plenty of fun photo opportunities, and unique landscapes to explore.

After wandering the gardens, we enjoyed nachos and frozen margaritas at the Mexican-themed café and relaxed in the colourful outdoor courtyard.

There’s also a great gift shop and an on-site cactus nursery, where you can take home a cactus as a souvenir.

👉 Click here to get Cactus Country Tickets.

The Big Strawberry

The Big Strawberry is a strawberry farm and café located at Koonoomoo, about 7 kilometres from Cobram. Open daily from 9.00 am to 3.00 pm, the café offers a wide range of strawberry-inspired treats.

Inside the store, you’ll find homemade jams, relishes, chutneys, wines, and liqueurs, along with fresh produce. You can also pick your own strawberries when they’re in season.

Victoria has two strawberry seasons: April to July and October to January.

There’s also a quirky man cave filled with vintage memorabilia, making this a fun stop for all ages.

Cobram Heritage Walk

Cobram was officially proclaimed a township in 1912, and there are some interesting late 19th and early 20th century buildings around the town centre.

• The Log Cabin is a preserved settler house built in 1875 near Yarrawonga. It features a bark roof and earthen floors. It was relocated to its current position in Federation Park in 1977.

  
  

• The Cobram Hotel was built in 1892, for 5000 pounds and is still used as a hotel today.

  
  

• The Grand Central Hotel was built on the corner of Punt Road and Terminus Street in 1902 and is still in use today.

  
  

• The Post Office was built in 1904 and was the first government building in Cobram.

  
  

• The Grain Store was built in 1910 and is now a lovely cafe.

  
  

• The Courthouse was constructed in 1912 and continues to be used as the Cobram Magistrates' Court.

Quinns Island

Quinns Island is located within Cobram Regional Park. This 40-hectare island was formed by a bend in the Murray River and can be accessed via a pedestrian bridge along River Road.

The island features defined walking trails, a large bird hide, and several river beaches. We enjoyed wandering along the 2.5-kilometre loop track and spotting koalas resting high in the gum trees.

👉 Click here to watch our Murray River road trip adventure

👉 Click here for more places to Explore in Victoria

Why Cobram Is a Must-Visit Murray River Destination

Cobram is the kind of place that surprises you in the best possible way. From the wide sandy shores of Thompsons Beach and peaceful riverside walks on Quinns Island, to colourful street art, welcoming cafés, and unique attractions like Bullanginya Dreaming, there’s something here for every type of traveller.

Whether you’re exploring the town centre, enjoying a coffee at Ambience Café, discovering the region’s rich Indigenous stories, or heading out to nearby icons like Cactus Country and The Big Strawberry, Cobram offers a relaxed and rewarding Murray River experience.

Perfect for families, couples, and road trippers alike, Cobram makes an ideal stop on a Murray River road trip or a destination in its own right. With its easygoing atmosphere, beautiful natural surrounds, and diverse range of things to see and do, it’s a town that invites you to slow down, explore, and stay a little longer.