Campanoeing the Murray River: Canoe, Kayak & SUP Trips from Echuca

On the Murray River, near Echuca in Victoria, Campanoeing Trip offers self-powered river travel through red gum forests and broad, slow water. Launch points include Picnic Point, Tocumwal, Yarrawonga and the Barmah Lakes — the latter home to the world’s largest stands of river red gum — so you can plan a short day paddle or a multi-day float that feels private and remote.

Trips move at an easy cruising pace: the operator plans roughly 30 kilometres per day, about 5–6 km per hour, giving paddlers time to linger on sandy banks, explore side channels and camp in quiet groves. Canoes are Canadian tourers built with lots of buoyancy for two people plus gear; single kayaks and stand-up paddleboards are also available. Every booking includes buoyancy vests, plastic drums for kit, a dry bag, river charts and delivery to your chosen starting point, with pick-up available for an extra fee.

What makes this section of the Murray distinct is the landscape—long floodplain channels, low sandstone benches and towering river red gum that drip with lichen after rain. In spring you’ll find wattles and waterbirds enlivening the margins; in drier months the quiet, reflective surface creates perfect mirror shots for photographers. The Barmah Lakes system adds sheltered, shallow water ideal for paddlers who want calmer conditions and close wildlife viewing.

Route options are flexible: day trips, long weekend runs or extended itineraries across 2–8 days. Variations are welcome, and the crew can tailor a delivery so you start upstream and float with the river. Expect simple navigation between bends; bring a basic sense of river reading and routine paddling skills. The trip is a low-impact way to experience the Murray—carry out what you carry in, use provided dry storage and respect floodplain vegetation.

You can book or get detailed local advice by calling the dock at 0419 756 225 or 0488 005 566. Whether you’re pairing a couple’s canoe with an overnight bush camp, chasing birdlife from a quiet channel, or ticking a multi-day river run off your list, this is a straight-forward, gear-included way to experience one of Australia’s great inland rivers. Bring steady footwear, layered clothing and a camera; the river reveals itself slowly, in light and wildlife and the rhythm of your paddle strokes.

Much of the river corridor sits on Yorta Yorta country; the floodplain has cultural significance and sites of traditional use, so paddlers are asked to respect country and leave sites undisturbed. Water levels vary seasonally; plan with the operator for current conditions before you launch. For photographers, every bend delivers a new light angle and the sounds at dawn—frogs, waders and the hiss of reeds—make mornings especially memorable. Plan clothing layers for wind and river spray.