The bustling twin cities of Albury-Wodonga offer a delicious food scene, endless outdoor adventure and a thriving arts culture, as well as heritage buildings.
With the Snowy Mountains and Rutherglen wine region nearby, this area taking in two Australian states makes a great stopover on the Sydney-Melbourne drive at any time of the year or warrants a visit in its own right.
The twin cities of Albury-Wodonga are situated on the border between New South Wales and Victoria, with Albury being on the NSW or northern side.
The mighty Murray River, Australia's longest river at more than 2,500 kilometres, forms a natural border between the two cities.
Now, prominent travel booking site Wotif has named Albury the 2023 Aussie Town of the Year. According to Wotif the awards are judged using an index that examines trending traveller interest through searches on Wotif.com in 2022 compared to 2021, affordability and traveller reviews. The award comes as no surprise to those who have already visited the attractive border city.
A must-see in Albury is Murray Art Museum Albury (MAMA), the heart of art and culture on the Murray. Claimed to be one of the most visited art venues outside of Sydney, the museum has earned a reputation for its innovative, original exhibitions, featuring some of the best contemporary artists in Australia and from around the world.
Regional art galleries are extremely popular in Australia and some are hugely successful, attracting exhibitions and collections from overseas. One in six professional Australian artists live in regional cities or towns, and around one in 10 live in rural, remote or very remote areas. Craft practitioners, visual artists and community arts and cultural development (CACD) artists are the most likely to live outside capital cities.
Nestled between the bustling retail and restaurant precinct of Dean Street and the open greenspace of QEII Square, the recently redeveloped MAMA museum combines heritage features with light-filled contemporary spaces.
The impressive building is home to the city's extensive art collection, and some of the most exciting new art in Australia. With up to six exhibitions at any time, MAMA is focused on living artists, stories and ideas that are relevant today.
The museum offers guided tours, art classes and workshops, artist talks, kids art activities and school holiday programs. Visitors should check the calendar of events for the dates they are visiting as they might be lucky enough to experience the buzz of an opening night or live event.
Open daily, the museum is a good place to be inspired, meet an artist, get creative and learn something new. Entry is free.
Those who prefer outdoor activities may want to explore the Murray River pathway, a 15-kilometre return trail that links the Wonga Wetlands with the South Albury Trail, through attractive riverside parks among soaring red gum trees. There are plenty of places to stop for a picnic or enjoy the view.
Above all, visitors should make a beeline for the five-kilometre Yindyamarra Sculpture Walk between Kremur Street and the Wonga Wetlands. Here, 15 sculptures crafted by Aboriginal artists tell age-old First Nations stories through contemporary art – each comes with an interpretative sign revealing its significance. You can also unlock additional videos via your smartphone.
The Albury Botanic Gardens are not only a serene place to visit – they take you back in time by revealing pockets of the city's heritage.
Opened in 1877 by Mayor William Jones with the planting of a single elm tree, the grounds were once fashioned to resemble the Union Jack with straight rows of elms and pines. Quite the landscaping achievement, complemented by heritage buildings like the 1890 band rotunda and the 1909 curator's residence.
History buffs can take a self-guided heritage walk around the gardens, discovering 19 sites of such significance.
Be sure to wander through the rainforest collection, extremely rare in gardens this far south in Australia. Along your route you'll also spot a 46-metre Queensland kauri tree and a lone pine from Gallipoli, planted on Anzac Day 1936.
For typical local dining visit Yardbird, a new eatery dishing up Mediterranean-inspired plates cooked over fire, or Bistro Selle, a European-style restaurant showcasing local produce. Or enjoy breakfast or lunch by the water at the River Deck. The best of fresh local produce can be found at the Albury Wodonga Farmers Market, held every Saturday.
You'll find plenty of accommodation options including hotels, apartments, B&Bs and holiday parks. For a step back into history the old miner's house, Rose Cottage, offers a quaint heritage building with a gorgeous garden terrace. The boutique CIRCA 1928, housed in the former Commonwealth Bank building in the heart of the CBD, is perfect for couples. Or the Atura, centrally located on Dean Street, makes for a handy base.
Albury is a five-and-a-half-hour drive south-west of Sydney and three-and-a-half hours north-east of Melbourne. It is also a three-and-a-half-hour drive from Canberra, the nation's capital. Alternatively, you can fly into the Albury Airport and hire a car to explore the region. A further option and a memorable experience is arriving by train at the grand, heritage-listed Albury Railway Station – the trip from Sydney takes around seven-and-a-half hours.