Glen Innes to Tenterfield road trip: Distance, drive time & stops

The Glen Innes to Tenterfield drive covers a 91km distance in a driving time of around 1h5m. The best stops to add to a Glen Innes to Tenterfield road trip itinerary are Deepwater and the Bluff Rock Lookout.

A road trip from Glen Innes to Tenterfield takes in the northern chunk of the New England region in New South Wales. It can also be part of a longer road trip through inland Australia. The Tamworth to Brisbane drive passes through this way, for instance.

To pick out the best Glen Innes accommodation, head here.

Tenterfield is surrounded by national parks, near the Queensland border. For Tenterfield accommodation deals, hunt here.

This guide is designed to help travellers plan their perfect Glen Innes to Tenterfield road trip itinerary.

Glen Innes to Tenterfield distance and driving time

By car, the distance from Glen Innes to Tenterfield is 91km. That makes for a driving time of around one hour and five minutes.

Things to do in Glen Innes include seeing the peculiar Australian Standing Stones Monument and tackling the tough Tommy’s Rock Walking Track in the Mann River Nature Reserve.

Best Tenterfield accommodation

The top places to stay in Tenterfield are:

For a cheap, solid motel: Tenterfield Motor Inn.
For a little style and flair: Commercial Boutique Hotel.
For a great value four star: Golfers Inn.
For heritage charm: Stannum House.

Driving north along the New England Highway from Glen Innes to Tenterfield, you’ll soon pass the Beardy Waters Heritage Park. This is a fairly fancy name for what’s essentially a mundane free camping site.

Glen Innes to Tenterfield drive: Dundee and Deepwater

The route then passes through Dundee towards Deepwater. The Deepwater Riverside Reserve is pleasant enough, but the star attraction here is microbrewer Deepwater Brewing. Try the seasonal beers if popping by.

Further north, the highway runs by the Bolivia Hill Nature Reserve, which has a few walkable fire trails but no tourist-focused facilities.

On the way into Tenterfield, there’s an impressive granite formation. Bluff Rock is one of the most striking landmarks on the New England Highway, and it can be viewed from the Bluff Rock Lookout next to the highway. Unfortunately, this looming mound of granite has a dark past – in 1844, settlers massacred a group of local Aboriginal people here.

There’s an arguably better lookout close to the town centre, however. The Mount Mackenzie Scenic Lookout in the Mount Mackenzie Nature Reserve is just under 1,300 metres above sea level. You can drive up, and enjoy the picnic tables and barbecues while there. The view takes in the town and the Goonoo Goonoo Tableland.

The best things to do in Tenterfield include tastings at the local wineries, and getting a better understanding of Australian history at the Sir Henry Parkes Memorial School of Arts.