Navigating the Mighty Murray: Australia's Longest River

The Murray, Australia's longest river, stretches 2508 km from the Australian Alps to the Southern Ocean. Dave Alley didn't have much experience as a paddler until he decided to break the speed record on Australia's longest river. The Murray River nurtures communities, grows food and sustains an Australia keen to make the most of a dry climate.

Learn more about the river – and not just from your kayak. You'll thank us after your next trivia night. There's a good chance you've spent time near the Murray River without fully appreciating its significance. If you missed Drive TV on the weekend, you can catch up here. In this episode, we take the Nissan X-Trail to Australia's mightiest river to explore its beauty and importance.

More a meander than a mighty waterway, the Murray — Australia's longest river — is home to monumental stories that have shaped a vast landscape. Waterways play a key role in maintaining healthy ecosystem. In Australia, the Caterpillar Foundation is supporting efforts to restore parts of the Murray River and protect its biodiversity.

A sudden heatwave across the western part of New South Wales has left a blanket of dead fish in Australia's second longest river. The terminal lakes of Australia's longest river were fresh for the bulk of their history, even when sea level was higher. The Murray River has faced threats from pollution, over-extraction, and climate change, highlighting the need for conservation efforts to protect this vital waterway.