A weekend in Mildura delivered houseboats on the Murray, 12,500 firefly lights, pink salt mines and a Lenny Kravitz concert that even the rain couldn't dampen.
Stepping off a plane to be greeted with a blue sky and 30-degree weather was the ultimate start to what would go down as a once-in-a-lifetime weekend away in Mildura, starring Lenny Kravitz of course.
I certainly won’t forget that first evening, and how it felt to live like a local. We strolled through the friendly town and over to The Spanish Grill, where we enjoyed mouth-watering steaks and a glass of Pizzini Shiraz. Satiated and a little buzzed, we practically skipped to our next stop, the Trail of Lights.
Hidden among the gum trees on Lock Island were 12,500 solar-powered firefly lights that pulsed bright into the night. This scenic installation by Bruce Munro, in collaboration with the Town of Mildura, left us in awe and made us all feel more connected to the natural environment. We meandered along the river back to our houseboat with our cups filled to the brim.
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There is something unique and magical about waking up to a sunrise on the Murray, with the sight and sounds of cormorants and Pelicans on the river and the rhythm of gentle waves hitting the houseboat. The day was guaranteed to be a good one. And it only got better after a delicious breakfast sandwich and Oat Chai from Bobby + Me, the charming dog-friendly container cafe across the road from our accommodation.
Not long after, we took to the road for an exclusive tour of a Salt Interception Site, to get a glimpse behind the scenes at the origin of the famous Murray River Pink Salt. We found ourselves among giant mounds of salt crystals, in what I can only describe as otherworldly.
Next stop on our tour of the quirky and wonderful sights of Mildura was Orange World, famous for its sweet oranges and orange juice, made even sweeter by the jovial and cheeky Mario, who runs the joint. Re-fuelled, we hopped back on the Discover Mildura Tour Van to visit Trentham Estate, where we sampled some fine wine (my favourite being The Family Frizzante Maestr, 2025 and dined like royalty.
But the main dish was still yet to come … the legendary Lenny Kravitz in concert at the newly renovated Mildura Sporting Precinct, supported by Australian Rock Band, Jet. We were aware of the storm that was inbound and anxiously checked the weather every hour for the past 2 days, but we all knew we were destined to boogie the night away in ponchos.
Despite the constant pouring of rain, Mildura showed up and showed out. Spirits were anything but dampened, and the legendary staff and volunteers ensured that, despite the rain, the evening ran without a hitch.
Giddy, we walked back to our houseboat for the final time when it happened…all of us stopped in our tracks, gobsmacked at the sight of a 22-seater Hummer limo cruising past us. To have been Kravitz in that moment would have been to look out his tinted window and see five tipsy media crew in ponchos – but drenched nonetheless – starstruck and waving goodnight.
Yes… that seemed like the correct way to wrap up what was a dreamy weekend in Mildura. Thank you Lenny Kravitz. Thank you, Mildura.
For more on Mildura, head here.
