The Merbein Loop will take you from Mildura to the neighbouring town of Merbein, approximately 10km west.

Along the way you can take in majestic views of the Murray River, stop at sites visited by pioneers and travel through one of the original horticultural areas developed by soldiers returning from World War I.

Trail Overview Terrain: Easy, on road Distance: Approximately 28km Highlights: River views and historical sites

There’s free, unrestricted parking at the Mildura Visitor Information Centre (marker 1 on the map). As you leave the Centre, turn right onto Deakin Avenue and then left at the next intersection onto Eleventh Street.

Ride west along Eleventh Street past the St Joseph’s College Stadium, Mercy Theatre and the Old Aerodrome Sporting Complex (marker 2 on the map). The Sporting Complex hosts many sports including soccer, baseball, cricket and BMX. It is also home to the Park for Play playground and public toilets. Continue onto the roundabout at Flora Avenue and turn left.

Insider Tips

• Toilets are located at the Park for Play playground (464 Eleventh Street, Mildura) and at the Merbein Library (11 Main Avenue North, Merbein).
• To dive deeper into the region’s history, visit The Chaffey Trail website.

The bike lane continues along the side of the road until you reach Pump Hill, a steep slope just before you get to the township of Merbein. Stop off at the top of the hill in Chaffey Park and take a look at the pump and sign commemorating the history of Merbein (marker 3 on the map).

Turn right at River Road, ride about 300 metres past the oval and follow the ‘lookout’ signs to the Pioneer Plantation and Merbein Lookout (marker 4 on the map). The lookout includes an original Chaffey pump and a cairn dedicated to Charles Sturt who passed this way in 1830. Take a minute or two to enjoy the scenic views of the Murray River.

Secure your bike here and take the Blandowski Walkway down the stairs to the Chaffey Landing, approximately 1km return (marker 5 on the map). Named after William Blandowski, the first curator of the National Museum of Victoria, a cairn at the bottom of the hill marks the spot where he camped in 1857. The Chaffey Landing was once a busy loading area for paddlesteamers and is now a popular camping spot

Return to River Road via the gravel path that leads along the river to a carpark which is around 500 metres away. Ride straight ahead and you’ll see a dirt track that will take you back to River Road (in front of the oval) and you’ve now circled the Merbein Lookout (marker 4 on the map).

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Turn right into Commercial Street (marker 6 on the map) and you can take a short detour into Merbein where you can pick up a coffee, snack or meal at one of the cafes.

Jump back on the bike and continue along River Road, taking the dog-leg across the irrigation channel until you come to a five-way intersection about 3.6 km away (marker 7 on the map). You will travel through an area of small horticultural properties, called fruit blocks, which were developed as part of the Soldier Settlement Scheme after World War I. Grapes, citrus, vegetables, pistachios, almonds and avocados are grown in this area. Although there is no bike lane, the road is wide and fairly quiet.

At the five-way intersection turn left onto Seventeenth Street, returning to the bike lane. You’ll pass through the small township of Lake Hawthorn (marker 8 on the map) with its school and store. This area is known as Cabarita. Turn left just past Lake Hawthorn onto Riverside Avenue. From here, you’ll ride alongside Lake Hawthorn and Lake Ranfurly, the saline lakes that provide drainage for the surrounding horticultural properties.

Ride past Lake Ranfurly to Fifteenth Street and turn right onto the bike lane. Next turn left onto Walnut Avenue onto the bike lane and continue until you reach Twelfth Street. Turn right onto Twelfth Street and, in around 600 metres, you’ll be back at the Mildura Visitor Information Centre (marker 1 on the map).

More information: Mildura Visitor Information Centre, 180-190 Deakin Avenue, Mildura. T: 03 5018 8380.

Cover image courtesy of Jacinta Lee Photography.