Positioned on the banks of the beautiful Murray River, the waters feed the fertile land of Swan Hill whose fresh fruit and veg crops have been dubbed the ‘food bowl’ of Victoria. Renowned for its fantastic food and wine, there’s also much more to Swan Hill than just wining and dining by the river, although that certainly is a popular attractions.
Steeped in pioneer history, one of the most popular Swan Hill attractions in The Pioneer Settlement. The first open-air museum in Australia, The Pioneer Settlement offers an insight into life as an early settler. Named by European explorer Major Thomas Mitchell in 1836, Swan Hill has made many a fortune on the banks of its river from the early settler days and later as farmers raised thriving crops on the irrigation of the river, an industry that is still flourishing today. With entry into The Pioneer Settlement valid for two days, you’ll have plenty of time to discover stories from the past, rade the PS Pyap paddle steamer, enjoy a fascinating sound and light show and dress up for a pioneer-style photo.
It should come as no surprise that many of the popular Swan Hill attractions revolve around the river, including fishing, boating and even houseboating. However, there are plenty of other natural attractions to enjoy besides the river. A 10km stretch of state park land offers some of the most rugged and unspoilt sections of the Murray River while Pental Island is perfect for a relaxing stroll and the Nyah Vinifera State Forest offers some excellent bushwalking. However if you’re after greenery of a different kind, the Murray Downs Golf & Country Club also offers one of the best courses in Victoria. Best of all, there’s a nice place to relax for those who prefer the bar over the bunker.
