Mur River - Graz/ Auwiesen to Kalsdorf

Level of difficulty 3 |  Gastronomy 1 |  Length 8 km |  Time 1.5 - 2 hours

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A dreamy river island, abandoned channels and an incredible idyll. You can experience this all year round on the Mur south of Austria's the second-largest city.

General information

• Styria tourist information
• Styria Card
• Kalsdorf Wikipedia
• Graz Wikipedia
• Graz tourist information
• Climate
• Wind, waves, weather

Navigation rules

The usual water traffic rules apply: Avoid other watercraft in good time, do not approach the weirs, but get out of the water early enough or turn back. Also avoid nesting sites!

Dangers and risks

The Mur also has classic moving water hazards on its relatively quiet section in Graz and south of it, so it is always important to monitor the water level and weigh up whether your own abilities allow a tour. Especially after heavier or longer rainfall, the flow rate can increase sharply on these otherwise quite calm river sections.

When boarding under the freeway bridge, there is an extreme risk of slipping on the slipway. It is best to put the board in the water from the shore instead of from the slipway.

At the power plants Gössendorf (the first power plant) and Kalsdorf (the second power plant) you should of course get out of the water well beforehand and not paddle all the way to the weir.

Expect increased eddies and swirls by the island (approx. 1.3 km) after the Gössendorf power plant. The same applies to the old channels to the left and right of it. Only paddle through these if the water level is high enough. In general, the right side arm is better suited for this, as it is wider and deeper.

When landing in Kalsdorf, there is no fixed landing spot and you have to look for a suitable path between the bushes along the bank. It is relatively steep, but not very high. There is a risk of slipping, especially in winter when there is snow and ice.

Directions

You can get to Graz via all conventional transport routes. Once in the city, you will also enjoy a great public transport network.

By car you get from the center of Graz to Puntigamer Straße Street either via the district of Liebenau or Puntigam. Follow Puntigamer Straße Street to the roundabout on the southern belt (Südgürtel) and take the exit towards Murfelder Straße (street signage, directly in front of the greenhouses). This takes you to Murfelder Straße, which you drive down about 2.6 km to the clubhouse of the local rowing club (Ruder Club Graz).

If you arrive by bus from the city, you have to walk about 600 m from the bus stop to the starting point.

Parking

River access in Graz: You can usually park well along the streets Murfelderstraße or Eichbachgasse close to the boathouse of the Graz Rowing Club or the water service of the fire brigade.

Landing in Kalsdorf: On Murgruberstraße at the gravel works next to the power station, in the direction of travel on the right, approx. 3 km after the center of Fernitz.

However, it is best to be picked up here, as prolonged parking in the area of the gravel works could result in parking fines.

Swimming

Even in summer the Mur remains well below 20° C water temperature. Nevertheless, thanks to the barrages and the low current in the Graz area, it is possible to get into the water for a swim in suitable places. However, there is no official recommendation. The Auwiesen recreation area, just behind the highway bridge, is ideal for this. A small artificial lake has also been created here, which is warmer as it is a standing body of water, although it is fed by the River Mur.

South of Auwiesen, depending on the water level, water access is more or less steep, and it leads through bushes near the shore. In the area of the hydroelectric power plants, boarding and swimming is prohibited!

The new port in Liebenau is only mentioned additionally. It also offers excellent bathing opportunities and you can enjoy drinks and the good weather in the sun loungers by the beach bar. Just like the easily accessible bay in Augarten Park, this small harbor is not located along this paddling route.

SUP rental

Die Paddlerei
Eichbachgasse 900, 8041 Graz
Phone +43 (0)676 6559122

Die Flößerei
Marina in Liebenau
Murpromenade Graz-Süd, 8020 Graz
Phone +43 (0)681 10519015

SUP Sports Club Graz
Angergasse 4, 8010 Graz
Phone +43 (0)677 62398706

Tour

From the boathouse of the Graz Rowing Club under the freeway bridge, past the Gössendorf power plant and through the side arms of the river to the Kalsdorf power plant.

Length

8 km

Time

1.5 - 2 hours

Start

At the boathouse of the Graz Rowing Club under the highway bridge in Liebenau.

Landing

On the left bank of the Mur in front of the Kalsdorf power plant.

On gentle waters towards the winter sun

On its 453 km Styria's main river runs not only through Graz, but also on to Slovenia, Croatia and Hungary as well as to the Croatian-Hungarian border in order to flow into the Drava River. The river sections south of Graz are the ideal starting point for a leisurely paddling tour near the Styrian capital and also well suited for SUP beginners.

We start our tour in Liebenau, the southernmost district of the city, and park our car near the highway bridge and the rowing club. From here it is easy to get on the Mur and there is plenty of space to get your equipment ready. Alternatively, you can go under the bridge and to the Auwiesen recreation area about 300 m away in order to go on the water at the artificial lake. There are also sanitary facilities and a SUP rental shop. In summer, you also have the unique opportunity to practice SUP yoga and experience the tranquility on the outskirts of the big city.

However, we can hardly wait to stand on the water and therefore get on our boards at the slipway of the fire brigade under the motorway bridge. But be careful: there is a risk of slipping on the ramp! Therefore, it is better to put the boards in the water from the quay. The water is calm here and the current to the south is extremely weak.

We start off to the left and under the bridge because our first destination awaits us 1.8 km from here, just before the Gössendorf power plant. In recent years three barrages have been built in the south of the state capital, which is why the area is now accessible to everyone.

Immediately after the motorway bridge, on our left there is the popular Auwiesen local recreation area, which opened in 2013 and offers a variety of leisure activities. Here you can swim, go for a walk or train at the calisthenics facility. There are also barbecue areas and decks on the 3,500 m² lawn.

The water quality is satisfactory, which has recently even led to the return of some sensitive fish species (e.g. grayling). The river was also awarded the European River Price in 2014. The following year, the Mur was nominated for the Thiess International River Price and took second place.

Along both banks of the river a well-kept gravel path leads down to the village Mellach. It is ideal for cycling, running and walking. Now we finally find ourselves in the quiet zone and only meet a few rowers who are currently training here on the water.

200 m before the Gössendorf power plant, there is a staircase to the gravel path. We have to land here, only to get the boards back into the water 400 m further down after the power plant. The staircase leading back to the water about 150 m below the power station is long and steep. Particular caution is required when going on the water here as increased turbulence is to be expected at the water's edge (eddies, stronger current).

We take advantage of the pleasant momentum and let the water carry us towards the island and its two water channels on the second third of our tour. The further south we go, the more deserted the promenade becomes to the left and right above us. Nobody else is on the water, and we can already see the lonely island in the middle of the river approaching. We decide to paddle past it on the right, because after the island we plan to continue straight into the right side arm of the Mur.

It is wider and also deeper than its counterpart on the other bank, and we are in the middle of a seemingly untouched floodplain landscape. Here river rookies can practice approaching the eddy in the gentle current because the water is neither deep nor does it wash away the boards quickly if you fall. However, one should keep an eye on the low-hanging tree branches and the bushes by the shore. With increased momentum, the water washes us back onto the main river and we paddle towards the bridge that connects the municipalities Kalsdorf and Fernitz.

Here we have to keep our heads down and bend over briefly, after which the last third of the tour lies ahead of us. It is still 2.9 km to our destination, the Kalsdorf power station, but we will get out of the water 300 m before that. Before that, however, we have to paddle hard again because the current has become zero. We get into a pleasant groove and paddle rhythmically towards the winter sun and the power station. It doesn't take much to feel great and happy. Serotonin flows through us and lets us experience a state of flow in winter temperatures.

Shortly before the power plant we have to sharpen our eyes to find a suitable landing spot between the bushes on the bank. It is steep, but not very high, but surefootedness is required. This tour clearly makes you come back for more and could be extended further south as long as you like. But we'll save that for another time.

Alternative: The short variant of this tour only leads to the Gössendorf power plant, which was built in 2013. The almost 1.9 km long route (please do not paddle directly to the power plant!) is also good for paddling at a fast pace and turning the laps into a sprint or interval training. On the other hand, you can take a leisurely stroll there - back and forth in an hour.