 Visit Mildura and the Murray Outback Victoria
The Australian red desert scene with its parched spinifex and salt bush is a vast contrast from the flood plains of the Murray River. Yet thats what best describes Mildura and the Murray Outback region of Victoria, a region of strong contrasts.
From Wentworth to Mildura, the Murray river with its sandy beaches is ideal for houseboats, water skiing, canoeing, swimming or fishing. Bird watching, hot air ballooning and 4 wheel driving are also available in this region.
 Mildura, located on the banks of the Murray River bordering Victoria and New South Wales, is the region's largest city. It is renowned for its multicultural population, fresh local produce and wineries.
A variety of fish can be caught within the area, including the Murray Cod (Australia's largest freshwater fish), Murray Crayfish, yabbies, golden perch and catfish.
Boat ramps can be found at most towns on the Murray River. The quality of the ramps are usually consistent with the size of the towns. Freshwater Fishing Licences are required and can be purchased from a variety of places including tackle shops, service stations, general stores, and post offices.
Wentworth is a town steeped in history and an area of great diversity. Among its highlights are locks and weirs, paddle-steamers and houseboats, watersports, historic buildings, the old Wentworth Gaol, pioneer museum, Aboriginal galleries, wineries, Perry Sandhills, Australian Inland Botanical Gardens, Mungo National Park and the Willandra Lakes World Heritage Area.
 National Parks
Murray Outback National Parks are as diverse as they are striking. The wildlife of the region is also unique and plentiful. Exploration is sure to richly reward the nature enthusiast in Mildura Murray Outback.
These National Parks include...
 The Mallee
Murray Sunset National Park
Wyperfield National Park
Hattah-Kulkyne National Park
Mungo National Park (located in NSW)
 Perry Sandhills
Murray-Sunset National Park
Located in Victoria's far north-west corner, the Murray-Sunset National Park is the State's second largest. It is in one of the few remaining semi-arid regions in the world where the environment is relatively untouched. With its wide open landscapes, breathtaking sunsets and starry nights, its vastness and isolation, the park is not the place for a day trip – longer stays are recommended.
A few million years ago the area was a sea inlet and when this retreated, the large sand ridges and dunes were left. Several Aboriginal tribes lived there for thousands of years, as evidenced by the burial grounds and middens on Lindsay Island.
Murray-Sunset National Park is one of the few regions in Victoria where the red kangaroos can be seen in their numbers. The park is home to a number of threatened species - they include the Paucident Planigale, a small carnivorous marsupial, the slender yellow and green Regent Parrot, and the Millewa Skink.
Other notable birdlife include Mallee Fowl, Pink Cockatoos and White-browed Tree creepers. On a warm afternoon Bearded and Mallee Dragons may also be seen.
There are more than seventy significant plant species including Victoria's largest flower, the Murray Lily, the restricted Silvery Emu-bush and the Blue-leafed Mallee. Grasslands, saltbush, buloke, porcupine grass and mallee eucalypts dominate the flat, expansive landscape with pockets of native cypress-pine and Belah woodlands scattered throughout.On Lindsay Island, River Red Gums line the creeks, and Black Box woodlands surround the floodplain. Salt tolerant plants favour the low lying dry lake bed areas. 
All of the tracks within the park are best suited for four-wheel drive, although conventional vehicles can use the Pink Lakes track from Linga, Settlement Track (the northern boundary) and Wallewa or Berribee tracks to Lindsay Island and the Murray River. All tracks are subject to seasonal conditions and up-to-date information should be sought from the ranger.
There are excellent walking tracks in the Pink Lakes area. However, it is recommended that walkers seek ranger advice before starting longer walks. The Pink Lakes are so named because of their colour during late summer. A red pigment, carotene, is secreted from the alga - best seen early or late in the day or when it is cloudy. The lakes evaporate over summer leaving concentrated salt crusts over black mud.
The camping site at Pink Lakes on the southern shore of Lake Crosbie, the largest of the four lakes, has toilets, gas barbecues, picnic tables, fireplaces and water. Other structured camping grounds are at Mount Crozier, Lake Becking, Rocket Lake and Mopoke Hut. There are also a number of remote campsites with facilities.
This Murray Outback region is a land in which you can truly clear the day-to-day clutter. You can breathe in crisp and fragrant country air, slow the city tempo down and rediscover a gentler life cycle.
For more information regarding your next visit to Victoria, go to Visit Victoria.
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