Murray River Cycling Tour 2027 — Source to Sea

The Murray River Cycling Tour is a 24-night fully supported guided road cycling tour from Thredbo in the Snowy Mountains to Glenelg on the Adelaide beachfront, following Australia's longest river from its alpine source to the sea. Running 26 February – 22 March 2027 across NSW, Victoria and South Australia, the tour covers 1,694km and is available as a full 24-night experience or as three separately bookable stages. It suits experienced cyclists comfortable with 85km daily averages across mostly flat terrain, with the exception of the spectacular alpine opening stages.

From Source to Sea

Deep in the Snowy Mountains, the mighty Murray River begins. Meandering far off to the west, on this tour we follow one of the world’s slowest flowing rivers, and Australia’s longest, on a journey along a magnificent waterway that breathes life into arid environments and local communities, sustaining a green corridor in a region that is otherwise exceptionally dry.

Stage 1: The Alpine Adventure - Thredbo to Albury

This stage packs a lot into a just few days. Beginning in Thredbo with great accommodation at the Alpine Hotel, we offer the opportunity to walk to the top of Mt Kosciuszko – Australia’s highest peak. From the top of the continent there is only one way to go…down. Enjoy some long downhills, along with a few climbs as you exit the alpine region and enter the Upper Murray Valley, following the river along undulating and scenic terrain to Albury.

Stage 2: The Holiday Towns Tour - Albury to Mildura

Nine days of zigzagging back and forth between VIC and NSW, taking in both sides of the Murray and staying at some great accommodation in all the most well-loved and often-visited riverside holiday towns. Experience a bygone colonial era with paddle steamers and horse & carriage rides alongside modern cafes, restaurants and great food and wine, set to a backdrop of watersports, fishing and other activity on the river. The final stop on this stage is Mildura - the ‘Oasis in the Desert’. Mildura’s big blue skies, sun-soaked days and welcoming locals will cast a long and lasting impression.

Stage 3: The Riverland Ride - Mildura to Adelaide

Leaving Mildura you’ll think you will be in the desert forever, but it’s just a day and a half in the outback of remote north-western Victoria before you cross into South Australia and stumble upon the beautiful Riverland region. The Murray breathes life and colour into the landscape here and the settlements along this section of the Murray are bright and active with such a great water source for crops and aquatic sports. Some of the most pristine sections of the river lie along this section as you near the sandy beach at Coorong National Park where the ‘Murray Mouth’ meets the Southern Ocean. We finish in Glenelg – the stunning beachside suburb of Adelaide.

Why We Love It (and We Think You Will Too)

Who Is This Tour For

Cyclists looking for a quintessential Australian journey — one that tells the story of the Murray River, its history, its importance and the communities it sustains. The full tour is one of Australia's great cycling experiences; the individual stages suit those with limited time or who want to experience a specific section of the river. Stage 1 is for alpine lovers, Stage 2 for those who love river towns and colonial history, Stage 3 for those drawn to the remote Riverland and a beach finish in Adelaide.

Quick FAQs

Where does the Murray River tour start and finish? The full tour starts at Thredbo Village in the Snowy Mountains and finishes in Glenelg, the beachside suburb of Adelaide. There is a pickup from Canberra for Stage 1, Stage 2 starts in Albury, and Stage 3 starts in Mildura, making it easy to join for individual stages.

Do I have to do all three stages? No. You can join for one, two or all three stages. Stage 1 runs Thredbo (Canberra) to Albury (4 nights), Stage 2 runs Albury to Mildura (10 nights), and Stage 3 runs Mildura to Adelaide (11 nights). Each stage works as a standalone experience

What type of cycling is involved? The tour features sealed road cycling throughout. The first two days descend from the Alps with some climbs mixed in, then the route follows the river on mostly flat terrain all the way to the final day into Adelaide. A road bike is recommended.

What level of fitness is required? A moderate to strong level of fitness is recommended. Daily distances average 85km across the full tour with a difficulty rating of 6.5/10, and some days exceed 100km. The mostly flat terrain along the river makes the distances manageable, and a support vehicle is available throughout if you need a rest.

How much does the Murray River cycling tour cost? Single stage prices start from $2,450 AUD per person (twin share). The full 3-stage tour starts from $11,890 AUD per person (twin share). A deposit of $400 per person is required to secure your place. Full pricing details for all stage combinations are available in the Tour Brochure PDF on the tour page.

What do previous cyclists say about this tour? Past riders highlight the scale and variety of the experience and the quality of the AllTrails crew. See what they say below, or visit our Testimonials page for more.

What Our Cyclists Say

“Hi All and once again thanks for the great ride...a fantastic job. You all seem to find a great balance between working and being a part of the group. I would probably never undertake something like this on my own, so its great that you take the pain out of it all.” Sandra (VIC)

“Excellent planning, excellent execution, excellent mechanical support, excellent company, excellent accommodation, excellent food and the resolution of my serious mechanical problem (broken axle) was done efficiently and effectively. Topped off by my memorable birthday celebration.” David (SA)

“Pass on my thanks to Richard for all that he did for us on the Murray River tour, and especially for going the extra mile to get Lynn and myself to the airport in Adelaide - I hope to join you again soon on another tour and will let my riding buddies know how much fun I had.” Carolyn (NZ)

“A fantastic trip, superb weather planning (you must have a direct line to the weather gods) and the best meals ever. Looking forward to the next one.” Alan (VIC)

Murray River Cycling Tour Gallery

If you have any further questions regarding this tour, please feel free to contact us.