Fun family holiday accommodation in Echuca and Moama

Set within 82 acres of native Australian bushland and boasting an impressive two and a half kilometres of river frontage, Moama on Murray has 116 self-contained villas ideal for a family getaway. Imagine sitting out on your own private veranda each morning to listen to the call of kookaburras while you make plans for the day.

Young kids will be kept busy in Squiggles Playhouse with a giant jumping pillow and dinosaur-themed water park. Teens can practice shooting hoops with new friends at the basketball courts or practice their penalty taking with the soccer nets. The whole family can have a go at mini-golf (the longest course in the Southern Hemisphere!) before soaking up some sunshine beside one of the shaded outdoor pools. Come dinner, there are eight communal barbecues to fire up before squeezing in one more walk along the river.

Mix things up by booking a night or two on board a luxury houseboat, which sleeps up to 10 people, with a leather lounge suite, quality bedding and GPS with river charts to help you navigate your trip. Smaller boats are also available to explore the Barmah Lakes, great for spotting wildlife in the wetlands or basking on the front deck to fish for the evening’s main course.

With on-site facilities like a putt-putt course, games room and a BMX track, the whole family will be kept busy at Discovery Parks Echuca. The kids can make a splash in two solar-heated pools while you perfect your serve on the outdoor tennis court – and when you all come back together at the end of the day, you can catch up around one of the six barbecue areas while preparing dinner.

Deluxe riverview cabins sleep up to six people, enough space for a bigger family to get comfortable in the open-plan lounge area or play cards on the private deck. Or you can pitch a tent among the red gums, just a short walk from the water, before cooking up a feast in the camp kitchen.

Create a memory for your photo albums and hire a pontoon boat (up to 12 people) and explore the Murray River. You can order a packed lunch or stop for a bite to eat in front of one of the local pubs or restaurants. Alternatively, jump in the car and head down to the Echuca Farmers’ Market to stock up on local olives, cheeses and specialty conserves. For some education with your holiday, visit the Port of Echuca Discovery Centre to see the PS Adelaide – the oldest wooden hulled paddle boat still operating.

A short stroll from the historic port of Echuca, CockNBull Boutique Hotel is a luxury riverside boutique hotel set in a building from 1876. Once home to a pub, you can now choose from one or two-bedroom self-contained apartments with fully equipped kitchens and spacious living areas. Treat yourself to the Henry Charles Executive Suite’s spa bath and private balcony, where you can gaze over the Campaspe River.

You can celebrate special occasions with friends and family in the grand dining room, where the team will serve up dishes showcasing the best produce from the Murray River region. Think Goulburn River hot smoked trout with remoulade on dark rye and broad-bean bruschetta with Meredith feta, lemon and mint.

To get in some family exercise, you can explore the area by horseback, canoe or simply follow one of the nearby walking or cycle paths. Then come back and freshen up with a swim in the solar-heated pool surrounded by bamboo trees. As the day ends, relax with a beer in the open-air courtyard while you sizzle up some sausages at the communal barbecue, or chat to the reception team to organise a babysitter so you can head down to St. Anne’s Winery for wine tasting.

Just 15 minutes’ walk from the centre of Moama and a seven-minute drive from Echuca, Tindarra Resort is set on 13 hectares of land overlooking the Murray River. With 300 metres of natural river frontage, it’s a great spot to try your hand at catching the elusive Murray Cod, or you can head over to the country-style dam to catch a few yabbies.

The outdoor pool with a cascading waterfall is ideal for the whole family, and you can chill out in one of the two heated spa caves and make plans for the rest of your stay. Maybe a hit of tennis or a family game of bocce is on the cards, or older kids might want to check out the beach volleyball court on their own while their parents practise their swing on the putting green.

King studios are available with their own kitchenettes and balconies, or larger groups can go for the two or three-bedroom villas with pool or river views. Make yourself at home in the villas’ spacious living room with a 42” HD TV and Platinum Foxtel, then cook up a storm in the fully equipped kitchen with European appliances.

If you’re after a more relaxing getaway, Riverspa Apartments is a luxury oasis within native gardens and bushland and just a five-minute drive from downtown Moama. The seven architecturally-inventive apartments are dotted around manicured lawns, many with river views from their private decks.

In your private apartment, you’ll find a luxurious spa bath and complimentary toiletries – our choice spot for enjoying some quiet time at the end of the day. Lay out a gourmet barbecue dinner spread on your granite-topped dining setting as you watch the sunset, or head into town for a meal at one of Moama’s top dining spots. You’ll have your pick from Thai and Chinese restaurants to the classic RSL and bowling club.

During the day, set out on a kayak from the complex’s private boat ramp to explore the river, then enjoy a picnic at one of the waterfront tables. Or you can visit the central outdoor pool to soak up some sunshine and splash about with the kids. End the day telling ghost stories around the fire pit, or just listen to the flames crackle as you count the stars in the clear night sky.

Billed as the most awarded and re-visited holiday village in the region, Perricoota Vines has 23 self-contained villas with lake and vineyard views. Made from reclaimed timber, nearly all the villas feature a deep spa bath – some with views onto the enclosed fernery. Take the relaxation up a notch by ordering a spa salts kit filled with orange and lavender essential oils, pure Epsom salts and fresh lavender salts. You can also book a massage to your villa or at one of the new treatment rooms to take the royal treatment even further.

There’s an option to order a breakfast basket before you arrive so that in the morning, you’ll wake to a hamper filled with fresh eggs, bacon, fruit, muesli and country-baked bread. And in a lakeside villa, you can enjoy your feast from the deck surrounded by weeping willows. If wildlife is your pleasure, wind down by feeding the resident ducks or hire some fishing equipment from reception to cast off directly from your deck.

If you’re feeling more active, stroll up to the tennis court for a leisurely game or challenge the kids to table tennis in the rec room. At night, toast marshmallows at the communal fire pit, taking time to name constellations and watch for shooting stars before bed.

With 12 motel units and a two-bedroom self-contained apartment, Campaspe Lodge is the ideal spot to explore the historic centre of Echuca. You can opt for a new riverview room with plasma TV and an iPod dock, or switch off all technology and sit out on your balcony to appreciate the area’s bird life.

There’s no need for your alarm clock here, as you’ll be treated to a morning wake-up call from a chorus of geese and corellas. Kids will love skipping down to the river to meet the ducks and guinea fowl before exploring around town.

At the on-site bistro, you’ll find tasty dishes like classic chicken parmigiana or roasted pork belly braised in a Chinese barbecue plum sauce. Friendly locals can be found in the beer garden, and if an ice-cold Melbourne Bitter isn’t your bevvie of choice, you can sample local wines. Catch some live music before wandering back to your room – one of the quickest and easiest trips home from the local pub that you could ask for.

Located on Echuca’s High Street, Mercure Port of Echuca is walking distance to the historic centre. Reach the paddle steamers in 10 minutes by foot, or check out the collection of vintage cars at the nearby National Holden Motor Museum.

With 59 bright rooms fitted with modern bathrooms, you can book a single, twin, triple or quadruple set-up (adjoining rooms are available for bigger groups). The outdoor pool is surrounded by sun loungers and market umbrellas, as well as a Jacuzzi hot tub for serious steam sessions.

For dinner, head to the light-filled on-site restaurant, Port Bar and Grill, for brasserie favourites (think salt-and-pepper calamari with beer-battered chips and aioli, or herb-marinated grilled lamb cutlets with gratin potato and red wine jus). Or just take advantage of happy hour with the cocktail of the month. After dinner, you’ll want a cosy seat beside the double-sided fireplace in the nearby lounge bar for a nightcap.