Brisbane to Adelaide road trip: Drive distance, hours & best stops
Parkes to Hay drive
It’s 33km from Parkes to Forbes, where the highlights include learning about bushranger Ben Hall at the Forbes Historical Museum and strolling the Sculptures Down The Lachlan art trail. You can stay the night in Forbes at the centrally-located Ben Hall Motor Inn or the well-reviewed Town and Country Motor Inn.
It’s a thoroughly forgettable 105km drive from Forbes to West Wyalong, but you do go past New South Wales’ largest inland lake, Lake Cowal. Alas, it’s an ephemeral lake, and doesn’t always have water in it.
West Wyalong is in the Riverina region, and is best known for its statue of painter Russell Drysdale. The West Wyalong Wetlands Boardwalk makes for a decent amble, and the colonial-era Royal Hotel is the best accommodation option.
Where to stay in West Wyalong
The best West Wyalong accommodation picks are
- For a good quality motel at relatively cheap rates: Cameo Inn Motel.
- For a four star in a historic building: Royal Hotel.
- For central location: Mentor Chambers Apartment Bed & Breakfast.
Here, you leave the Newell Highway in favour of the Mid-Western Highway. This heads through agricultural plains, and is pretty darned tedious. Silo art at Weethalle lifts the spirits, while the Cocoparra National Park gives walkers and wildlife enthusiasts a welcome diversion near Rankin Springs.
Otherwise, keep going through Goolgowi to surprisingly likeable Hay. Cultural attractions here include a World War II internment camp and a museum devoted to sheep-shearing. You can also go for a swim in the Murrumbidgee River from Sandy Point Beach.
Suggested Hay attractions: Shear Outback, Dunera Museum.
Hay accommodation picks: For facilities, the Bishops Lodge Motor Inn. For character, the converted convent. For riverside location, the Big4 holiday park.
Click through to the next section: Hay to Tooleybuc.