Morrisons Wharf to Winery Swim

The Morrisons Wharf to Winery Swim is a point-to-point river event held annually in mid-January on the Murray River, Victoria. Swimmers can choose between a 1500m course, starting at the Victoria Park Boat Ramp, or a 3000m distance that begins near the historic Port of Echuca. Organized by the Echuca Moama Tri Club, both routes follow the downstream current, guiding participants toward a finish line located at a floating pontoon at Morrisons Winery & Restaurant.

The river's heritage

As you navigate the stream, you are essentially tracing the commercial arteries of 19th-century Australia. The town’s origins are tied to the Henry Hopwood ferry, established in 1850; his humble punt service near the confluence of the Campaspe River—known by the local Yorta Yorta people as 'Yalooka'—eventually transformed this site into a bustling port. While you swim, you pass the remains of this era's industry, including the iconic Echuca-Moama Road Rail Bridge, completed in 1878 with its distinct riveted iron spans and cast-iron supports. The river banks are frequently lined with the paddle steamer fleet that defines the region, including the 1866-built PS Adelaide. These historic vessels, which famously provided the setting for the 1983 miniseries 'All the Rivers Run', remain a regular sight on these waters. While the river is generally calm, the scale of the waterway is highlighted by the annual Southern 80, a high-speed waterski race that draws massive crowds to these same banks every February, contrasting sharply with the steady rhythm of a long-distance swim.