Holiday houses in Corowa

As far south as you can travel in New South Wales, hugging the Victorian border, the town of Corowa may be small in population, but it’s big in history. Set on the northern bank of the mighty Murray — the longest river in the country, snaking from the Snowy Mountains to the Southern Ocean — this hamlet is where federation was born in 1901, with Australia’s six colonies uniting to form a federal parliament to govern the continent. Heritage buffs will delight in century-old stories, architecture, and artefacts across town.

But Corowa offers just as many allures for outdoor enthusiasts, who come here for adventures along the river — water-skiing, canoeing, fishing, houseboating, and swimming — as well as for the Murray’s plethora of national parks and wetlands of soaring redgums, where hiking, cycling, and bird-watching opportunities abound. The plentiful water supply also helps irrigate the region’s championship golf courses and postcard-perfect vineyards, the latter producing wines that have captured attention across Australia.

This part of New South Wales sees temperatures soar over the summer months. If you’re a watersports enthusiast, the heat won’t deter you — you’re here to get wet, after all — but take note that parts of the Murray River can get busy with water-skiers and houseboats at this time of year. Peak seasons for golfers and hikers are autumn and spring, when temperatures are mild enough for outdoor activity, and wildflowers or autumnal colours transform the countryside. These seasons are also when major events occur, such as the Corowa Easter Golf Tournament.

Golfing on More than a Dozen Courses

Golfers, pack your clubs and your stamina — the Murray region has more than 15 courses to choose from. There’s a 27-hole championship course and cinema, a 36-hole option whose on-site restaurant gets rave reviews, an 18-hole country club replete with lawn bowls, and another 18-hole resort with lawn bowls and croquet, among other options.

Soaking Up History at Corowa Federation Museum

If you’re an Australia federation fanatic, you can learn more about Corowa’s pivotal role in the event by following the self-guided Corowa History Trail (maps available online or from the visitor centre) and popping into the Corowa Federation Museum. The history-making activities of 1901 are also celebrated with wine, food, and music at the Corowa Federation Festival every January.

Exploring the Rutherglen Wine Region

Just 15 minutes south from Corowa, over the Murray into Victoria, you’ll find — and fall in love with — the bucolic Rutherglen wine region. Cellar doors, farm-to-table restaurants, weekend markets, and tiny towns dot the countryside and speak of a land as rich in charm and culture as its patron town to the north is in history.