Start: | Adelaide |
Finish: | Sydney |
Trip Length: | 14 days, 13 nights |
Best time to visit: |
|
Start: | Adelaide |
Finish: | Sydney |
Trip Length: | 14 days, 13 nights |
Best time to visit: |
|
From Adelaide explore the heritage wine regions of South Australia moving onto Mildura and its extraordinary National Park, Munro. Indulge in a Murray River cruise. Then its inland through Narrandera and Wagga Wagga making sure not to miss the National Glass Art Gallery. Take heritage trails in Cootamundra and Stockinbingal. Boorowa and Cowra with their luicious scenery and the Yarrangobilly caves are a mysterious highlight. Bathurst heads to the Blue Mountains and your destination Sydney.
@brisbanelocalmarketing
An early start is recommended as it is a busy day with several must do stops for heritage lovers, garden fans and visitors fascinated by the story of the Murray River. The rolling hills and valleys of the Barossa Valley is fertile ground for a world class wine region. The Barossa Valley signature wine is Shiraz. Barossa is organised for visitors, consequently it breathes visitor hospitality. The visitor is always discovering a new cafe to try out or perhaps a repeat visit to a family favourite such as Visit Maggie’s Farm Shop to stock up with Deli goodies for the road trip. An extra bar of chocolate or perhaps one of their signature dips for the road.
Barossa Valley
Gawler
Barossa Bushgardens
Lyrup
Renmark
Photo stop
Mildura
Dinner at Stefano’s
Italian restaurant
Grand Hotel, Mildura @choicehotels
Comfortable standard
Quality Grand Hotel Mildura is a superb location with a 3-minute drive from Mildura Railway Station and a 10-minute drive from Orange World. It offers an outdoor pool, 4 restaurants and free WiFi access. The modern guest rooms offer air conditioning, tea/coffee making facilities, a fridge and a flat-screen TV. The en suite bathroom comes with shower and a hairdryer. The hotel provides same-day laundry and dry cleaning services. Free off-site parking is available.
Located in the old cellars of the hotel, Stefano’s Restaurant serves Northern Italian dishes from Tuesday to Saturday. Drinks and light snacks can be enjoyed at Mildura Brewery Pub.
A free period to explore the heritage town of Mildura to wander through the shops, spend time in the local markets, soak in the atmosphere of an outback town with the Murray River as its backyard. Enjoy oranges, explore all things orange at Orange World. There are three orchard train tours a day through the oranges and a gift shop specialising in orange based foodie treats.
Orange World, Mildura @racv
Billabong
Kayaking
Walking trails
Your road trip passes Red Cliffs settlement, home to Big Lizzie and a heritage steam train run by volunteers on a monthly basis. Balranald is your destination for today. You will be joining a guided tour to Mungo National Park. This gives you the opportunity to relax and absorb the landscape. Mungo is unique, a landscape that we imagine Mars to be, an extraordinary part of Australia. The lunar landscape of Mungo is relatively easy to access for an outback destination, and more importantly Mungo National Park is special natural heritage for Australia. Highlights include the multi-cratered Walls of China and the shimmer of an endlessly fascinating ancient waterways. Mungo is a World Heritage listed site where the must see spots are located on the outskirts of the waterless and ancient Mungo Lake that sits within the national park and is part of the greater Willandra Lakes Region World Heritage Area.
Sunrise Mungo National Park
Route map
409 km 4 ½ hours
The Hay Plains, One of the Flattest Places in the World @Sleep Live Travel
Hay whistle stop exploration
Narrandera
Wagga Wagga
Vintage Machinery Collection
Greens Gunyah Museum
Cadell Place murals
@Charles Sturt Suites and Apartments
Holiday Park
BIG4 Wagga Wagga Holiday Park | Book Direct & Save With BIG4
BIG4 Wagga Wagga is a great location on the banks of the Murrumbidgee River. With easy access to all the great local attractions and services, this family-friendly park is a fantastic place to enjoy a relaxing break in one of NSW’s most diverse regions. Take your pick from a wide range of cabins and sites. The usual BIG4 standards are excelled with a family friendly approach to your holiday to ensure all ages enjoy their time in Wagga Wagga.
New South Wales Tablelands town of Cootamundra, the birthplace of a sporting icon is a must see destination. Sir Donald Bradman was born in an area steeped in Australian history. A snapshot of heritage, the narrative of settlers, of ancient peoples and how people and landscapes have changed were Sir Don’s life during his time in Cootamundra. The railway provided the transport links to ship the wheat and the area has developed on the back of sheep and wheat.
Cootamundra Post Office @Wikimedia Commons
Sir Donald Bradman
Birthplace Museum
Cootamundra-Stockinbingal Heritage Trail
Milestones Sculptures
@kimoestate
You are offered a choice between Cootamundra or Gundagi for the next two nights. The distance between the two towns is 60 km, 40 minutes.
The itinerary includes two days in the area to absorb the sights and sounds of New South Wales tablelands.
Today is an in-depth exploration of Gundagai and the district. Gundagai is located next to the Murrumbidgee River. Heritage is evident in the Old Gundagai Jail. A must-see destination, remember to collect an audio tour. For Aussie history buffs the Gundagai Museum and Heritage Railway Museum offers a chance to immerse yourself in outback stories. Check another bushranger’s burial place, Captain Moonlite’s resting place. The flood heroes Yarri and Jacky have a memorial stone and sculpture honouring Wiradjuri flood heroes. You are not to miss viewing the Aussie Dog on the Tuckerbox, a concrete plinth to the 1860’s bush ballad. While in the visitor centre have a gander at the Rusconi’s Marble table centrepiece and its extraordinary detail.
Heritage Railway Museum @Wikipedia
Prince Alfred Bridge Viaduct
Gundagai Jail
New South Wales Tablelands towns of Boorowa and Cowra are backdrops to the pastoral wealth of the region. The Yarrangobilly area caves are another highlight of your road trip. Become an explorer and adventure through one of Australia’s most beautiful limestone caves, with 6 caves open to the public. There is the temptation of a soak in the geothermal pools to consider. The pools are monitored with a year round constant temperature of 27˚C. Combine your underground adventure with a self-guided stroll relaxing into the quiet peace of the Yarrangobilly Caves river walk, You can also join guided tours of some of Yarrangobilly Caves’ more intimate and delicately decorated show caves. You have all day to explore the Caves.
Yarrangobilly Caves thermal pool walk @NSW National Parks Blog
Yarrangobilly Caves
Thermal pool walk
Yarrangobilly Caves House @Vanderveer DPIE
Another special place to rest and enjoy the atmosphere of a heritage house. Yarrangobilly Caves House. It’s an award winning heritage house (circa 1917) set in an exquisite section of Kosciuszko National Park. Overnight in Yarrangobilly. A highlight will be a night in the luxurious guest rooms at Yarrangobilly Caves House. This charming self catered accommodation is perfect for couples or families who wish to escape the crowds. There are three accommodation options within Kosciuszko National Park. For those who budget is a consideration there are other park stay choices available. Check here for details.
You have reluctantly departed from Yarrangobilly with a promise to yourself to return. A scenic drive is compensation for an early start to arrive in Boorowa mid morning. You will arrive in time for the Devonshire teas and homemade scones, smothered in fresh cream and local berry jam, a Boorowa signature welcome.
@Cowra Garden
Boorowa whistle stop tour
Cowra Japanese Garden
@vineyardmotel
Premium
Award winning motel with only six motel style accommodation apartments nestled in an acre of trees, flowers and lawn. The rooms are quiet due to its location and the treat is the views of farmland and vineyards. To check accommodation details and book click The Vineyard Motel. Forward bookings are essential for this popular location.
Mid range / comfortable
Imperial Hotel, a historic pub located in the centre of Cowra with eight traditional rooms and a restaurant that is a local favourite for its bistro food.
A mid morning arrival gets you in time to get a taste of what Bathurst has to offer and Things to Do. Perhaps a wine tour along the Bathurst wine triangle, The region is home to three distinct wineries forming a triangle when you plot them out on a map. Heritage Bathurst reflects its origins as a town of considerable wealth and substance. There are both guided and self-guided tours available. After all, this city, Australia’s oldest inland European settlement, began its life in 1815 and grew in the 1850s when the gold rush began. Bathurst is a town valuing its origins with restored workers cottages, majestic mansions, rustic slab huts and exquisite turn-of-the-century buildings.
Flickr Old Alloway Farm, Bathurst @Richard Sollorz
@bathurstmotorinn
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A historic Victorian house situated in an acre of gardens with attention to detail makes for a standout stay choice for your holiday. For elaborate decorated Victorian style and to check accommodation details and book click here, Bishops Court welcome.
Mid range / comfortable
Bathurst Motor Inn is a family owned and operated motel in an excellent location. There are 52 rooms with budget options available to spacious comfortable suites. There are 2 room townhouses for larger parties.
Bathurst Racing Track gives you a taste of the circuit conditions in the morning with the afternoon free to indulge in some retail therapy. Bathurst and racing are synonymous. You are an experienced driver now here is your chance to see if you are cut out to be a racing car driver. You have a chance to assess the iconic racing track for yourself. During non-race times the Mount Panorama circuit is just another public road providing access to homes and accommodation within the circuit boundary.
Race at Mount Panorama, Bathurst @Daniel Kalisz, Getty Images
Bathurst National
Motor Racing Museum
SHOPPING IN BATHURST
Perhaps you decided to explore Bathurst further with the handy Bathhurst weekend guide at your fingertips. What’s a few days extra when you are having fun. However let’s get on the final leg of the holiday travelling into the iconic Blue Mountains heritage region. As you pass through Lithgow you have the opportunity to explore the highlights of the town known for its iron and steel foundry. From Lithgow it is a short one hour to your destination, Blue Mountains heritage town of Blackheath.
@Mayfield Garden Reservations Rezdy
Lithgow history walk
Eat
Pearsons Lookout
@bowercottageaccommodation
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Bower Cottage with its basket of preserves, muffins, cereal, artisan breads, tea & coffe welcome pack for your first morning is a great place to feel like a local. Relax in the luxury double spa with the knowledge that all water on the property is treated by an Envirocycle system and is reused to water the gardens which means we use only non toxic cleaning products. We are also proud to be powered from the energy of the sun with our 3kw grid connected solar system. There is a spacious ironbark deck, digital television, DVD, selection of dvd’s, CD player and Ipod dock. For a special treat you can book spa, massage or facial treatments. To book click here for details
Blue Mountains town of Blackheath is home to the Blue Mountains Heritage Centre. The area is known for its majestic sweeping views. Blackheath is a heritage town with the first buildings in 1831, an inn whose claim to fame is a visit by Charles Darwin in 1836. The site for “The Scotch Thistle Inn” was located slightly south of the present Gardners Inn Hotel. The original staircase from “The Scotch Thistle” has been preserved and can be found in Gardners Hotel. The village is relaxed and does not suffer the crowded feel of other Blue Mountain towns. The main street is marked with its Victorian and Edwardian shop facades. Of note is the Victory Theatre, now a well known antique store and a large mural of the surroundings by artist Jenny Kee.
Blackheath @Visit NSW
Visitor Centre
Govetts Leap walk
Rhododendron Gardens are glorious in spring with the massive soft blooms contrasting with the native flora is striking. You will be spending half a day wandering around the gardens. The afternoon is time to take another walk, spend the final moments of your holiday indulging in another afternoon tea. Why no, you are on holiday after all.
The walks in the area are through Blue Mountains inspiringl scenery.
Blue mountines @Wildlife Tours
Campbell Rhododendron Gardens
the village of Blackheath
Sydney, Australia’s largest city and after the two weeks in inland Australia experiencing life in small towns, the outback, cruising the Iconic Murray River, the Tablelands the fertile foodbowl of Australia and finishing your holiday in the splendour of the Blue Mountains you will be forgiven for not wanting to stop in the bustle of one of the world’s magnificent harbour cities. Let Sydney weave its magic on you and spend a few days in town enjoying all that Sydney has to offer. Check out our travel guide to Sydney as well as articles about what to see and do.
Darling Harbour and Sydney skyline at dusk
Circular Quay at dusk, Sydney
Lithgow History walk
Sculptures along History Avenue with the year marked and the event featured: