Tocumwal, NSW – Best Things to Do Along the Murray River

Tocumwal, NSW – Best Things to Do Along the Murray River

Tocumwal is a charming riverside town set on the banks of the Murray River in southern New South Wales. It is located approximately 681 kilometres south-west of Sydney and 270 kilometres north of Melbourne, making it a popular stop on a Murray River road trip.

Known for its big Murray cod, welcoming cafés, heritage buildings, and fascinating museums, Tocumwal offers a relaxed country atmosphere with plenty to explore.

During our time in Tocumwal, we wandered around the town centre, visited the Big Murray Cod, and enjoyed a lovely morning tea. We explored the Tocumwal Aviation Museum, saw the heritage bridge and railway station, followed the Murray River mural trail to Tocumwal Town Beach, visited Chrysties Museum, and took a short drive to The Big Strawberry.

Tocumwal Town Centre and Foreshore

Tocumwal was officially proclaimed a town in 1862, and the main street still features attractive historic building facades dating back to the 1860s.The town centre has everything you need, including an IGA supermarket, several cafés, restaurants, and hotels, an ice-cream shop, and a variety of specialty stores.

Just behind the main street is the Murray River foreshore, a lovely grassy area with picnic tables and playgrounds, ideal for relaxing by the water. Here you’ll also find the Big Murray Cod, a large fish sculpture built in 1967 to celebrate Tocumwal’s strong connection to the river and its fishing heritage. It’s a popular photo stop for visitors.

We also popped into Tocumwal Antiques and Tea Rooms, a delightful shop filled with new and antique homewares, gifts, and novelties. Open daily from 10.00 am to 5.00 pm, it’s a great place to browse before sitting out on the verandah with a coffee.

Tocumwal Aviation Museum

In 1942, one of the largest RAAF bases in the Southern Hemisphere was built at Tocumwal. This vast wartime aerodrome played a key role in aircraft training and operations during World War II. You can learn more about this fascinating history at the Tocumwal Aviation Museum, located on the outskirts of town and open daily from 10.00 am to 4.00 pm.

Inside the museum is the Drome Café, which serves morning and afternoon tea and light lunches. We wandered through the exhibition gallery, which presents a chronological history of aviation at Tocumwal, before exploring the display hangar. The hangar houses a selection of historic and vintage aircraft connected to Tocumwal’s aviation past and present. There is also a Memorial Hall and the Bob Brown Theatre, a 27-seat cinema screening historic films and newsreels.

After our visit, we drove around 10 kilometres from Tocumwal to The Big Strawberry.

The Big Strawberry

The Big Strawberry is a strawberry farm and café located at Koonoomoo, around 10 kilometres from Tocumwal on the Victorian side of the Murray River. It is open daily from 9.00 am to 3.00 pm and features a spacious café.

Inside, you’ll find a wide range of strawberry and local produce, including homemade jams, relishes, chutneys, wines, and liqueurs. You can also pick your own strawberries when they’re in season. Victoria has two strawberry seasons, running from 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.

Tocumwal Heritage Bridge and Railway

The Tocumwal Heritage Bridge was built in 1895 as a road bridge across the Murray River. It was designed with a liftable central span to allow paddle steamers and other river traffic to pass underneath.

In 1908, the bridge was strengthened and converted to carry both road and rail traffic. After the Edward Hillson Bridge opened in 1987, it was used solely for rail.

The Tocumwal railway line also opened in 1908, and the Railway Station, built in 1909, is now heritage-listed. Today, it houses the Tocumwal Railway Heritage Museum.

Mural Walk and Town Beach

The Mural Walk follows the banks of the Murray River from the foreshore near the town centre through to Tocumwal Town Beach. Along the way, informative signs share insights into the region’s local birds and native flora, and there are beautiful views across the river.

Tocumwal Town Beach is also a popular camping area and a great spot for swimming, fishing, or simply relaxing by the river.

👉 Click Here for our Tocumwal Town Beach Campsite Review

Chrysties Classics & Collectibles Museum

On the outskirts of Tocumwal, we visited Chrysties Classics and Collectibles Museum.

This privately owned museum showcases one man’s lifetime collection of vintage vehicles, classic cars, and memorabilia.

Inside, you’ll see rare classic cars, old logging trucks, caravans, farm machinery, household items, and antiques. It’s a wonderful step back in time and a celebration of Tocumwal’s rural and automotive heritage.

👉 Click Here for our Murray River Road Trip

Why Tocumwal Is a Classic Murray River Stop

Tocumwal is one of those easygoing river towns that rewards you for slowing down. From wandering the historic main street and foreshore to spotting murals along the river, visiting fascinating museums, and relaxing at Tocumwal Town Beach, there’s plenty to see and do without ever feeling rushed.

Whether you’re learning about the town’s aviation history, snapping a photo with the Big Murray Cod, enjoying coffee in town, or taking a short drive to nearby attractions like The Big Strawberry, Tocumwal offers a relaxed mix of heritage, culture, and river life.

Perfect for campers, road trippers, and anyone exploring the Murray River, Tocumwal makes a great overnight stop or a destination in its own right — a town that invites you to linger, explore, and enjoy the simple pleasures of river travel.

👉 Click Here to explore Cobram across the River