Boo's Place Cafe & Provedore

Cafe

This cafe and producer stocks the best produce from the Mallee region. The dine-in menu showcases all of those beautiful ingredients, but you can also grab them to-go from the takeaway fridges.

Niko Niko

Restaurant

At Swan Hill’s best Japanese and Korean spot, you’ll find sashimi plates, bibimbap, and tiny bottles of saké. A huge mural of a traditional Japanese scene completes the picture.

Java Spice

Restaurant

Southeast Asian flavours star at this Swan Hill standout. The restaurant’s hardwood bones were built in Java, shipped to town and assembled by locals. The result: a stunning Balinese oasis with tropical plants and thatched gazebos.

Quo-Vadis Pizza Parlour

Restaurant

This pizza parlour is a Swan Hill institution. And for good reason: the well-loved bar and diner has been serving up gourmet slices to the town for over three decades now.

Peachy’s Bar

Bar

Life is peachy at this little Swan Hill boozer. It’s open during the day too, serving Murray Cod burgers and snacks to the lunchtime crowd.

Spoons Riverside

Cafe

This picturesque spot by the river is perfect for daytime dining. Produce from all around the Mallee region highlights a seasonal menu and local makers get a look in at the pretty little gift shop. And once you see the flowing timber deck overlooking the river, you’ll know why wedding receptions are a big thing here.

Federal Hotel

Bar

The Good Old Fed may be on New South Wales soil, but it has no trouble drawing in Victorians from across the border for a solid pub feed. Plus there’s live music, DJs and the footy on the big screen. Extra points for the quintessential pub carpet.

Café 202

Cafe

This Swan Hill go-to serves up brunch classics with a touch of city-style flair, plus plenty of farm-fresh ingredients from Bahram and beyond.

The Pioneer Settlement and Heartbeat of the Murray

Experience life in a bygone era at this remarkable open-air museum. It’s an original frontier township brought to life by actors in old-world garb and faithful building restorations. Hear the clang of the blacksmith’s hammer as you wander among original cottages and homesteads. Saunter past the stables to hop on a complimentary horse-and-cart ride. There’s also a Saunderson model-A tractor or the 1920s Dodge sedan, lovingly refurbished to its former glory. Nightfall brings an attraction from the modern era: lasers. At 7.30pm each night, the settlement’s Riverside Theatre puts on a spectacular show of lights, fire, lasers, sound and music in a multimedia experience that tells the story of the Murray River, from its prehistoric origins up to the present day. Doors open 30 minutes before showtime. Bookings are essential.

Catalina Flying Boat Museum

The lake was a safe haven for the Catalina “flying boat” patrol bombers used by the Royal Australian Air Force, thanks to its circular shape, allowing for take-offs and landings in any direction, and inland bearing. Today, a memorial for the servicemen and women of the depot has become one of the Murray Mallee’s biggest attractions. Step back in time through the hangar doors to see an original Catalina PBY5 aircraft polished to perfection.

Swan Hill Farmers Market

The bounty of the region’s food bowl floods Riverside Park on the first Sunday of every month. Wander the market stalls and sample the Mallee region’s freshest produce direct from the growers themselves. Plus, certified-organic cuts of local meat, handmade pastas, baked goodies and booze. This moveable feast also sees local makers spruik handicrafts, skincare products and plants – not to mention a small army of food vendors fuelling your visit. Find the entrance at gate eight on Monash Drive.

Pontoon party boat and cruise hire

There’s no party quite like a pontoon party. Guests staying at the Big4 Riverside holiday park can cruise the Murray in style aboard the park’s very own party boat, complete with everything required for a safe and fun-filled voyage. Tables and chairs, plus a fridge, esky, Weber barbeque and toilet facilities cater for a maximum of 16 people. And if you’re angling for a cod lunch, the boat has rod holders to complement your tackle. Drivers must be over the age of 21 and hold a full driver’s license. The hire period is between 9am and 4pm. And a tip: on this stretch of river, the PS Pyap paddle steamer has right of way, always.

Glamping Tent at Big4 Riverside

Accommodation

An affordable, fancy camping experience by the banks of the Murray River. Careful, though: spend a night in one of these, and you may never want to sleep in a regular tent again.

Pental Island River Retreat

Accommodation

Experience a one-of-kind farm stay on the banks of the little Murray river. Wraparound verandahs, immaculate details and reams of white timber are reminiscent of the southern charms of a Mississippi country home.