Regional Development Victoria

Wodonga trail offers gateway to traditional culture

10/07/2026

We’ve helped create a unique cultural experience along the banks of the Murray River, with the upgraded Gateway Island Trail in Wodonga now ready to welcome visitors.

Supported by $98,000 from our Council Support Package, the trail will help create a deeper connection to Country and local history for visitors, while establishing the precinct as a must-see destination.

The 4.3-kilometre trail travels along the river, looping in Wodonga Creek, and joining existing trails.

It celebrates Wodonga’s First Peoples through a series of culturally significant artworks designed by local First Peoples artists.

Set among the sweeping bends and shaded riverbanks with their towering river red gums, the trail features:

  • interpretative signage
  • new seating
  • improved accessibility.

The journey along the trail invites visitors of all ages and abilities to enjoy the area’s rich natural assets, while also celebrating and connecting with the widely recognised Eddie Kneebone Walking trail and the Burraja Cultural Centre at Gateway Village.

Through sculpture and storytelling, the Gateway Island Trail offers a unique experience of First Peoples cultural art and expression, enriching the region’s appeal to visitors and promising to support the local economy.

First Peoples artists played a central role in guiding the project, which was delivered by Wodonga Council with support from the Wodonga Men’s Shed.

In the first quarter of 2026, domestic visitor travel to the Hume region generated more than $1.6 billion in local spend, with domestic travellers taking almost 2 million trips to the region and recording more than 2.5 million overnight stays.

Our Council Support Package has assisted regional councils to invest in projects that create long-lasting value for their communities, by:

  • driving visitation
  • creating better public spaces
  • empowering volunteers
  • promoting the culture of First Peoples.

It’s part of our ongoing work to make regional Victoria an even better place to live, work, stay, experience, invest and study.