Dog-Friendly Echuca: Visiting Echuca with a Dog

Echuca is a wonderfully dog-friendly destination to visit in the state of Victoria. With plenty of attractions in this historic town on the Murray River welcoming dogs, there’s no shortage of things to do with your pup. Find out more about what visiting Echuca with a dog…

Dog-Friendly Sightseeing in Echuca

There’s a wide range of dog-friendly sightseeing options on offer in Echuca-Moama, from the usual options to some unexpected delights. The local visitor guide has also previously listed dog-friendly attractions and accommodation, so keep an eye out for any new dog-friendly options.

#1 Explore the Historic Port of Echuca

Echuca is best known for its historic port and the role it played in the riverboat trade. During the late 18th-century, the town was the largest inland port in Australia. 

With many of the old buildings and the wharf wonderfully preserved, it’s a must to take a wander through the Historic Port district. And of course your dog is welcome to join you, as long as they stay on a leash. 

Additionally, there’s at least one building that’s also dog-friendly inside: the Port of Echuca Discovery Centre. This free museum situated at the old wharf explores the history of the town, and includes displays of steam engines and trains. And welcomingly, dogs on a leash are welcome both inside and out. Just make sure your dog is well-behaved, so this privilege remains. 

Dogs are also welcome on the Port of Echuca guided tours, including the Port After Dark Lantern Tours – let your dog keep you safe from any ghosts lurking around!

#2 Board a Paddlesteamer Cruise

Echuca is also famous for its paddlesteamer cruises. The region is home to the world’s largest operating paddlesteamer fleet and there’s the chance to take a cruise on some of the original steamers, many built right on site. Luckily, some of the paddlesteamers are also dog-friendly, with your pup welcome to join you for the trip.

We took the 1-hour cruise on the PS Alexander Arbuthnot. Multiple cruises operate each day – check the latest timetable in advance, with tickets able to be purchase online from Echuca Paddlesteamers. Dogs cruise for free (as long as they’re with a responsible adult) and receive a cute ‘K9 Cargo Ticket’. 

Dogs are allowed on most of the paddlesteamer cruises operating in Echuca, except for the lunch and dinner cruises.

Find out about more dog-friendly boat cruises in Australia

#3 Visit the Great Aussie Beer Shed

For more Australian history, head to the Great Aussie Beer Shed and Heritage Farm Museum on the outskirts of Echuca. Four museums in one, it includes a horse-drawn carriage museum, a car and heritage farm museum, and an Australiana museum, as well as the Great Aussie Beer Shed.

Unfortunately, we weren’t able to visit as the museum is only open on weekends, public holidays and school holidays, but I’ve heard great things from other visitors.

Note that the popular Holden Motor Museum in Echuca closed in April 2024.

#4 Taste the Local Wine

The NSW side of the Murray River is home to the Perricoota Wine Region, plus there’s also a few extra wineries on the Echuca side of the river. A number of the wineries are dog-friendly.

One of the best wineries to visit is Morrisons Winery, which can also be visited on the Wharf to Winery Cruise, which is also a dog-friendly expereience. There’s also a brewery onsite.

Other dog-friendly wineries in the region include Cape Horn Vineyard in Echuca, Old School Winery in Womboota and St Anne’s Winery in Moama.

#5 View Stunning Silo Art

The Echuca area is home to some beautiful examples of painted silos, and a tour of them makes for a great dog-friendly road trip.

We visited the silos in Rochester, 20 minutes south of Echuca. The pair of silos were painted in 2018 by Jimmy Dvate, with magnificent portraits of a Squirrel Glider and Azure Kingfisher. 

There’s also some more great silo art in Colbinabbin, and another mural was added in 2021 at Kyabram. 

#6 Head to Cactus Country

For a taste of the American Mid-West, head an hour east of Echuca to Strathmerton and Cactus Country. This stunning farm of cacti plants has a number of walking trails, plus a cafe on-site where you can enjoy freshly made margaritas or Mexican beer, as well as sample some cactus ice cream or cake!

Dogs are allowed, but naturally must remain on a leash – some of those spikes are unforgiving! Note that they are usually only open Wednesday to Sunday.  

#7 Camp on the Banks of the Murray

While there’s multiple in-town dog-friendly accommodation options, there’s also the chance to bush camp with your pup by the banks of the Murray River. Three of the dog-friendly campsites are Wills Bend, Betts Beach and Christies Beach.

We spent the night at Wills Bend, located in the Murray River Reserve, about 17km west of Echuca. It was a wonderful peaceful spot with beautiful sunsets and sunrises, although the final 5km unsealed stretch of the access road (via O’Dwyer Road) was a bit rough. Betts Beach and Christies Beach are located about 8km east of Echuca, both accessed by Simmie Road.  

#8 Get Out on the Water

Taking a cruise on a paddlesteamer isn’t the only way to get out on the Murray River around Echuca with your dog. Both Echuca Boat & Canoe Hire and Echuca Moama Stand Up Paddleboarding offer dog-friendly hire options. 

Dog-Friendly Walks in Echuca

There’s a range of walking trails around Echuca and Moama that are dog-friendly. 

For starters, the Banyule State Forest is right on the doorstep of Echuca. There’s trails both around the outside and into the interior of the forest. The road into the forest is rather rough, so I recommend parking outside. 

Other options include many of the trails at Moama Recreation Reserve leading down to Moama Beach and the 6.5km Scenic Drive Loop in Echuca. 

Dog-Friendly Parks in Echuca

For an excellent off-leash dog park, head west along Perricoota Road from Moama, where an off-leash dog park was set up in 2020. Search for “Moama Off Leash Dog Park” on Google. Fully fenced, the huge park is wonderfully landscaped – a great natural environment for dogs to play or just sniff and explore.

Dogs are also allowed off-leash but under control in a number of parks in Echuca, including Aquatic Wildlife Reserve, Rotary Park, Paddlewheel Park (just north of the port area) and the dog park space at the Echuca East Recreational Reserve. Check the council website and the latest signage. 

Dog-Friendly Cafes & Pubs in Echuca

Plenty of the cafes and pubs in and around Echuca offer up outdoor dining, with dogs generally permitted to join you on the footpath. 

We choose to have lunch at Henry’s Bridge Hotel, partially because of the big beer garden on the northern side, that has plenty of sunshine for wintery days (plus umbrellas for summer). The burgers are well-priced and tasty, and there’s a great menu of beers and wines. 

If you’re looking for somewhere to enjoy an all-day breakfast, lunch or just a cup of coffee with your pup by your side, head to Johnny & Lyle’s on High Street. Dogs are welcome to join you in the outdoor dining area at this relaxed cafe, that’s popular with both locals and visitors.

Dog-Friendly Accommodation in Echuca

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If you’ve got your own tent, caravan or campervan, there’s multiple dog-friendly camping options available right in Echuca and Moama.

One of the most pet-friendly options is the Rich River Tourist Park, on the eastern side of Echuca. Pets are welcome at this park year round, both on sites and in selected cabins, for an additional fee. The park also has its own off-leash dog exercise area and a dog wash.

During our most recent visit, we stayed at the Murray River Holiday Park in Moama. While the park is small, we had a lovely grassy site for our campervan. There’s an excellent camp kitchen and swimming pool (although of course pups aren’t allowed in either). There’s also a dog wash on site and a variety of walks are available in the adjacent Moama Recreation Reserve.

Up to two pets are also allowed to stay in selected pet-friendly cabins, for an additional fee of $20 per pet per night. I also noticed recently that during the peak Christmas and Easter periods there is also a nightly fee of $20 for pets on powered sites.

Another camping option available near Echuca, if you’re fine with pit toilets and not much else in the way of facilities, is one of the bush camping sites along the Murray. Head about 8km east of Echuca to Betts Beach and Christies Beach or 17km west to Wills Bend. Note that the final access roads are unsealed. 

If you’d prefer something with more facilities, check out River Country Inn in Moama, which has a number of pet-friendly rooms. Make sure you select a room designated as Pet-Friendly when booking, plus contact the inn directly for the full regulations. Note that pets are not allowed on the bed or furniture, so bring your own dog bed.

Alternatively, get in touch with Echuca Holiday Homes. They manage around 25 holiday homes in both Echuca and Moama, with some of them permitting pets. Double check whether that includes pets being allowed inside.

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