Half a day in Gunnedah
So you only have half a day to spend here – there is still plenty you can pack into a short time.
Breakfast – Where to choose? Gunnedah’s Conadilly Street features a number of boutique-style cafés where you can sit and watch the world go by. Whatever the season, pull up a chair and get to know the locals.
Giant art – Gunnedah Shire loves its art – on a giant scale! You can go for a short drive that will take you from a 29m high stunning sepia mural of the famous poet Dorothea Mackellar and her poem “My Country” at the Gunnedah Maize Mill in Barber Street, to a poignant depiction of scenes from the Vietnam War along the circular walls of the Water Tower Museum.
Discover your country – Close by the Water Tower Museum is the Mackellar Centre dedicated to poet Dorothea Mackellar. If you are visiting mid-week, you can see memorabilia of Dorothea and take a look at the beautiful Jean Isherwood Water Colour Collection depicting “My Country”.
Travel back in time – Along the Mullaley Road/ Oxley Highway is one of Australia’s largest collections of early household, agriculture and transport memorabilia. The Gunnedah Rural Museum has plenty for the whole family, with more than 23,000 exhibits from times gone by, from steam engines to firearms, and a working model railway.
A day out in Gunnedah
You can make a day out in Gunnedah one to remember.
Watch the sunrise – Early risers, why not get up early and head to Pensioners Hill? It is less than a five-minute drive along the Oxley Highway to Lloyd Road. Leave your car at the gate and wander up the hill along a walk with rock sculptures depicting people and characters with special meaning for Gunnedah and its Indigenous history. At the top is a lookout where you can soak in wonderful views and watch daybreak over Gunnedah.
Café culture – whether it’s eggs benedict you fancy or a traditional sausage roll, you will find it in Conadilly Street. Grab a newspaper and spend an hour with brekky and a great coffee or wander along the town’s main street.
Retail therapy – Gunnedah has a thriving and vibrant main street and offers a unique shopping experience. Beautiful clothing boutiques, local gifts, artwork and jams at Plains of Plenty, country clothing and gifts galore – there is so much to see.
Get your art on –The Gunnedah Bicentennial Creative Arts Gallery in Chandos Street is not only the home of the Visitor Information Centre with a great selection of giftware and souvenirs, but also houses the cinema and two galleries. The main gallery hosts visiting and local exhibitions. There is always something new to view. The front gallery is the home of Arts Gunnedah and showcases the work of Gunnedah Shire artists of all kinds.
Plates and palettes – To continue the art theme, the Work of Art Community Gallery houses beautiful exhibitions in one of Gunnedah’s historic homes in Barber Street. You can even stay for lunch at the Palette Café, and enjoy a dining experience surrounded by art and colour.
A quiet drive – You don’t even have to get out of the car to view Gunnedah’s giant attractions. Cruise alongside the Dorothea Mackellar mural by well-known artist Heesco at the Gunnedah Maize Mill in Barber Street and then continue on to South Street to take in scenes from the Vietnam War on the sides of the Water Tower Museum. Close by is Anzac Park featuring a statue of poet Dorothea Mackellar.
Natural high – One of Gunnedah’s favourite places is Porcupine Lookout, off Apex Road. You can drive to the peak, or you can truly experience Gunnedah’s wildlife by walking one of the meandering tracks that lead to the top. The Bindea Walking Track from the lookout includes two walks of varying difficulty and length. On any of the walks, you might spot a koala up above you. Porcupine not only gives you a bird’s eye view of the town, but far beyond to the Nandewar Ranges, over 100 kilometres away.
Evening out – Enjoy Gunnedah’s culinary variety through the versatile food offerings at our pubs and restaurants.
Day 2 in Gunnedah
Yes, we definitely recommend a two-day stay in and around Gunnedah! We have introduced you to some of what Gunnedah has to offer on a one-day itinerary, but you have only just begun. Hare are two different ways you might spend your second day…
Discovery trails – If you would like to explore the famous farming country surrounding Gunnedah, there are a number of roads you can take. Enjoy a leisurely breakfast and a bit of a browse in Gunnedah before heading along the Kamilaroi Highway and further into koala country towards Curlewis. It’s a true country village and it is worth going for a wander to enjoy the country air and see if you can spot a koala.
Curlewis has the warm and welcoming Commercial Hotel offering great meals and a chance to yarn with the locals.
Head further out towards Breeza and you will see the magnificent farmland of the Liverpool Plains, known as Australia’s food bowl. At different times of year, you will see different crops – you might even find some beautiful sunflowers!
Another beautiful drive is along the Oxley Highway to Mullaley. Why not take a turn to the left and visit Tambar Springs, a small rural village on the Black Stump Way. Located against the backdrop of Tambar Mountain, part of the ancient Warrumbungle Range, Tambar Springs is where the skeleton of a Diprotodon Optatum, the largest known marsupial from the Cenozoic era, was found in 1979. You can see the skeleton at the Coonabarabran Visitor Information Centre.
Enjoy lunch at the Royal Hotel in Tambar Springs, or on the way back, the Mullaley Post Office Hotel is a great family pub with counter meals and plenty of atmosphere – perfect for a lunch stop.
Spreading your wings – Not too far from Gunnedah’s town centre is Lake Keepit. It’s about half an hour upstream and is the home to both water and air sports in the region. Keepit is the perfect place for bike riding, kayaking, fishing, boating, swimming, water skiing, camping and picnicking. It is home to Reflections Holiday Park, and the mini-water park, BMX track, tennis and volleyball courts and skate park are open to day visitors. If you want to stay longer, check out the range of accommodation options.
The Lake Keepit Soaring Club is the ideal venue to learn to fly gliders, or you could learn to sail at the Lake Keepit Sailing Club.
Lake Keepit is a great day out, and hosts a number of colourful events throughout the year, including sailing regattas, gliding regattas and holiday events.
Pick yourself up some tasty treats from one of Gunnedah’s many cafes and enjoy a beautiful day out with a picnic or barbecue.
Self-Guided Drives
Street Art Drive – Dotted across Gunnedah there are many creative murals and scultpures, creating a delightful sense of imagination and cultural abundance. Enjoy a self-guided tour beginning at the Gunnedah Bicentennial Creative Arts Gallery and ending with a picnic at one of Gunnedah's culturally rich lookouts, Pensioner's Hill.
Drop into the Gunnedah Visitor Information Centre to pick up a printed brochure.
