The Murray River Grass Trail

Victoria keeps more natural grass tennis courts than almost anywhere else, and much of it is not in Melbourne but in the irrigated country along the Murray River and its tributaries. This trail starts at the two great Melbourne clubs, Kooyong and Royal South Yarra, then follows the river towns where country clubs run twenty, thirty or fifty grass courts on one site and fill them for a week at a time.

The character of the region's grass tennis is communal rather than exclusive. The country clubs are volunteer run, built around pennant competitions, twilight tennis and long-running Easter tournaments: Yarrawonga's dates from 1899, Shepparton's from 1928, and Echuca held its 98th in 2026. Each February, Tennis Victoria Country Week moves between these towns, laying temporary grass courts beside the permanent ones; Swan Hill had 96 in play in 2025 and Wodonga hosts in February 2027. Mildura stages a professional grass event in March, and Wodonga holds the Victorian Grasscourt Championships in January.

The trail suits two kinds of traveller. Players who want to enter a country tournament, or simply book a hit on grass, will find the regional clubs approachable, although most do not publish a visitor policy and should be contacted before you travel; Mildura is the one stop that states openly that non-members book and pay online. Spectators can plan around the tournament calendar, where entry to watch club events is generally informal. The two Melbourne clubs are private members' clubs, worth seeing for their history but not places to expect a game without a member's invitation.

Use the stops in order as a one-way journey from Melbourne to Mildura, or pick a section: the Hume end (Wodonga, Yarrawonga, Shepparton) works as a long weekend, and the river towns from Echuca to Mildura as another. Grass is weather and maintenance dependent, so confirm courts are in play before you drive.