A weekend on the Murray

From the finest wines and literature to world-class water sports, it’s all happening in north-west Victoria’s Mildura.

On the banks of the mighty Murray River, the regional city of Mildura has become a Victorian hotspot, with a sophisticated arts-and-culture precinct and awardwinning food and wine. It’s also an area of great natural wonders, with the World Heritage-listed Mungo National Park just a stone’s throw away over the NSW border. With a year-round calendar of festivals and events and a Mediterranean-style climate that brings pleasant summers and mild winters, anytime is a good time to visit. Autumn kicks off with a celebration of high-octane power. Speedway and muscle cars, motocross bikes, dragsters and racing boats are all on display at Easter Power Sports – the highlight of which is the Mildura 100 waterskiing race (10-12 April). Come winter, the action continues as motorbikes line up for the Hattah Desert Race (3-5 July), and vintage cars, bikes and steamboats descend for the Wentworth Junction Rally (4-5 July). Winter doesn’t just lure sports fans to regional Victoria; bibliophiles are also well catered for. The annual Mildura Writers Festival (16-19 July) serves up thought-provoking discussions with local and international authors – along with some of the region’s finest wines – over four fun days. Celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, the festival features Australian novelist Helen Garner and Indian writer and journalist Amitava Kumar among its line-up. Few things are more dinky-di than the Great Australian Vanilla Slice Triumph in August, when amateur cooks and professional bakers battle it out for the coveted title of best custard-filled pastry. There’s plenty to satisfy gourmands yearround, with monthly farmers’ markets offering an abundance of local produce, craft beer, gin and topnotch wine. But true oenophiles won’t want to miss the Australian Alternative Varieties Wine Show in November, a showcase of interesting and emerging new drops.