Which towns are on the Barrier Highway, Australia?
The main towns on the Barrier Highway, Australia, are Nyngan, Cobar, Wilcannia, Broken Hill and Burra. The highway’s length is 1,014, stretching mainly through the outback.
The Barrier Highway is one of Australia’s major outback driving routes. It connects New South Wales and South Australia and plays a part in drives connecting Australia’s biggest cities. Well, it does should you choose to go the dry and dusty route with big open spaces.
Where does the Barrier Highway start and finish?
The Barrier Highway starts at the junction of the Mitchell Highway in Nyngan, New South Wales. It finishes at the junction with the Main North Road in Giles Corner, South Australia.
This interstate highway carries the A32 badge for its duration, and meets with several other important highways en route.
How long is the Barrier Highway?
The Barrier Highway is 1,014km long. Only the truly hardcore are going to attempt to drive that distance in one day.
But you’ll need to pick any road trip stops carefully – for most of the journey, the Barrier Highway passes through unrelenting outback nothingness.
Barrier Highway towns in New South Wales
The first major stint on the Barrier Highway is from Nyngan to Cobar. At Cobar, the route meets the Kidman Way, which heads to Bourke and Condobolin. Next up is Wilcannia, where the Barrier Highway meets the Cobb Highway – that goes towards Hay and Ivanhoe. It also crosses the Darling River at Wilcannia.
The main stop on the Barrier Highway, however, is Broken Hill. After the Cobar to Broken Hill drive, you’ll probably need a rest. The combination of outback views and cultural attractions makes Broken Hill the best place to break the Barrier Highway drive.
4 Broken Hill experiences to book in advance
- Tour to quirky outback town, Silverton – Mad Max country.
- Sunset tour of the Outback Sculpture Park – take photos in the best light.
- Day trip to the opal mines of White Cliffs.
- Head into the outback to see ancient Aboriginal rock art.
Broken Hill accommodation options include the jazzy Ibis Styles, the art deco Royal Exchange Hotel and dull-but-central Comfort Inn.
The Silver City Highway, which heads to Mildura in Victoria, also joins here.
Barrier Highway towns in South Australia
There’s a whole lot of nothing once you cross the border into South Australia. The first place of any note is Ucolta, where you’ll branch off if you’re driving from Broken Hill to Port Augusta.
You’ll then meet the Wilkins Highway at Hallett and the Goyder Highway at Burra. If you fancy a detour, then Burra is the gateway to the spectacular Red Banks Conservation Reserve.
From Burra, you’re effectively out of the outback and into the Clare Valley, where the Barrier Highway ends in Giles Corner.
More Australian highways
Augusta Highway | Barkly Highway | Calder Highway | Capricorn Highway | Eyre Highway | Glenelg Highway | Great Eastern Highway | Great Western Highway | Gwydir Highway | Maroondah Highway | Mitchell Highway | Newell Highway | Olympic Highway | Lasseter Highway | Sturt Highway | Warrego Highway | Western Highway