GOANNA RUN 2026 – MILDURA CALLS AGAIN

The countdown is on for one of Australia’s favourite hot rod weekends, with the 2026 Goanna Run returning to Mildura from October 23–25.

Hosted by the Desert City Rodders, the Goanna Run has been giving rodders a very good excuse to point their cars towards the Murray River for decades. Around 250 entrants regularly make the trek from across Australia, proving that several hundred kilometres of highway is a small price to pay for a weekend of hot rods, good feeds and questionable amounts of bench racing.

Mildura itself makes a pretty handy destination. Sitting on the mighty Murray River and surrounded by vineyards, orchards and some of the country’s most productive farmland, the city has plenty going for it before several hundred hot rods roll into town and improve the scenery considerably.

The weekend kicks into gear on Friday, with registration and the traditional social gathering giving everyone a chance to catch up, check out the new arrivals and begin telling stories that may become slightly faster with each retelling.

Saturday brings the popular Katez Kruze, before attention turns to Mildura’s CBD for the Saturday night Feast Street celebration. Expect live music, rockabilly fashion, markets, plenty of food and a street full of colour as the Goanna Run takes over town.

Sunday belongs to the Show ’n’ Shine at Nowingi Place, where the Murray River provides the backdrop for a huge gathering of rods, customs and classics. There’ll be trade stands, food and entertainment, with free spectator entry making it one of Mildura’s biggest automotive weekends.

And somewhere amongst it all, keep an eye out for Gerald the Goanna, the club’s much-loved mascot. Gerald has been known to hit the dance floor, although exactly how much dancing anyone should attempt while dressed as a giant reptile in Mildura’s spring weather remains open to debate.

The Desert City Rodders have had plenty of practice putting this weekend together, and their combination of cruising, cars, hospitality and laid-back fun keeps entrants coming back year after year.

Goanna Run 2026 is October 23–25. Don’t leave Gerald waiting – get your entry in and point the hot rod towards Mildura.

For details and entries, visit desertcityrodders.com/goanna-run.