Bourke to Moree road trip: Distance, driving time & attractions

The drive from Bourke to Moree covers a 445km distance in around 4h4m. Highlights of a road trip itinerary include the Brewarrina fish traps and Walgett’s riverside cultural walk.

A road trip from Bourke to Moree, New South Wales, skims the edge of the outback. It’s a thirsty, lonely drive along the Kamilaroi Highway that forms a key leg on much longer road trips. Coming from Perth to Brisbane, for example, this is part of the quickest route.

For Bourke accommodation, book here. For Moree accommodation, book here.

Bourke to Moree distance and driving time

The distance from Bourke to Moree when travelling by car is 445km. Traffic is not usually an issue, so you can expect a Bourke to Moree driving time of four hours and 4 minutes. However, you may wish to build in a road trip stop or two.

Top Bourke accommodation options

There’s not a great array of accommodation in Bourke, but these are the best bets in order of preference:

For great riverside location, gardens and a pool: Bourke Riverside Motel.
For central location: Darling River Motel.
As a last resort: Sunshine Gardens.

Leaving Bourke, the drive broadly follows the path of the Little Bogan River, then the Barwon River.

Bourke to Moree fuel stops

Keep an eye on your fuel tank and top up where you can. The only fuel stops between Bourke and Moree are in Brewarrina, Walgett and Collarnebri.

Bourke to Moree road trip: Brewarrina fish traps

The first stop of any interest is 98km into the Bourke to Moree drive. Brewarrina is a small town with a massive Aboriginal cultural heritage.

The Brewarrina fish traps, an arrangement of stone walls stretching along the Barwon River, are thought to be amongst the oldest human constructions anywhere in the world.

They’re best visited as part of a tour arranged by the Brewarrina Aboriginal Cultural Museum. The museum itself goes some way to explaining the back story.

Bourke to Moree road trip: Walgett attractions

It’s another 133km from Brewarrina to Walgett, another town with strong Aboriginal heritage. You can find out more about Aboriginal life around Walgett at the Dharriwaa Elders Group Cultural Exhibition Centre.

Other Walgett attractions include the giant mural of Aboriginal country singer Jimmy Little on the water tower, and the Norman Tracker Walford Walkway. Stretching 1.5km along the Namoi River, this walk has interpretive signs explaining the role of Aboriginal trackers.

For many, however, the main reason to stop in Walgett is going for a dip in the Artesian Bore Baths.

Walgett accommodation is patchy, with the Pink House the best option.

Bourke to Moree drive: Collymongle Carved Trees

From Walgett, the Castlereagh Highway heads north to opal mining town Lightning Ridge. But you stay on the Kamilaroi for Moree.

The best stop on this 214km leg of the Bourke to Moree drive is the Collymongle Carved Trees near Collarenebri. Hand-carved by local Indigenous people, these trees have ended up in museums around the world and there are only a few of them left.

Things to do in Moree include birdwatching at the Waterbird Lagoon bird hide in the Gwydir Wetlands State Conservation Area, visiting the Bank Art Museum and swimming at the Moree Artesian Aquatic Centre.