Gunnedah to Dubbo drive: Distance, time & best road trip stops

The best stops on the Gunnedah to Dubbo drive are the Siding Spring Observatory in Coonabarabran and the Mendooran murals. The distance from Gunnedah to Dubbo is 250km, with a driving time of around 2h51m.

The drive from Gunnedah to Dubbo connects one of the biggest towns in New England to one of the most visitor-friendly cities in inland New South Wales.

To find Gunnedah accommodation options, head here.

Dubbo is best known for the Taronga Western Plains Zoo, where you can stay overnight and do safari-style tours. To find good quality Dubbo accommodation that suits your tastes, explore the options here.

This guide is aimed at helping travellers plan their perfect Gunnedah to Dubbo road trip.

Gunnedah to Dubbo distance and driving time

By car along sealed roads, the distance from Gunnedah to Dubbo is 251km. That makes for a Gunnedah to Dubbo driving time of around two hours and 50 minutes.

The quickest driving route from Gunnedah to Dubbo leaves Gunnedah along the Oxley Highway. This runs north of the Wondoba State Conservation Area. The 150^th Meridian Rest Area offers a possible break before reaching the village of Mullaley, but most will continue to the Mullaley Roadhouse. It’s as good a place as any to pick up fuel and snacks for the journey.

Gunnedah to Dubbo drive: Garrawilla National Park

The Gunnedah to Dubbo drive then continues through a rural landscape with a few creeks and not an awful lot more. You eventually come to Garrawilla National Park, which was created in 2005 and set aside for conservation rather than recreation. Don’t expect tourist-friendly facilities here – you may as well continue straight into Coonabarabran.

The best way to tackle Coonabarabran is hiking in Warrumbungle National Park by day, then stargazing at night at the Siding Spring Observatory or Milroy Observatory. It’s also possible to do a tour of Australia’s largest telescope at Siding Spring.

From Coonabarabran, you head south along the Newell Highway towards Dubbo.

Best Coonabarabran accommodation recommendations

The best places to stay in Coonabarabran are:

For overall quality: Acacia Motor Lodge.
For charm and homeliness: Langley Cottage B&B.
For a cheap, decent motel: Matthew Flinders Motor Inn.

Gunnedah to Dubbo drive: Coonabarabran to Mendooran

The best road trip stop on the Coonabarabran to Dubbo section of the route is Mendooran, a dairy town on the Castlereagh River. Unless you’re going for a drink in the Royal Hotel, the main attraction in Mendooran is the series of murals painted on buildings around the town.

The Mendooran murals are the handiwork of Karen Duce, and they depict rural life. The scene with the bullocks on the side of the Royal Hotel is arguably the most impressive.

Gunnedah to Dubbo road trip: Mendooran to Dubbo

After crossing the Castlereagh Highway in Mendooran, the Coonabarabran to Dubbo drive passes mainly through the Goonoo State Conservation Area. This may conjure up images of delightful forest walks, but alas this green space isn’t really set up for tourists.

The drive rejoins the Newell Highway in Brocklehurst, then continues alongside the Macquarie River into Dubbo.

Dubbo has a surprisingly strong hand when it comes to attractions. Top of the list are the Dubbo Observatory and Taronga Western Plains Zoo. Book tickets for the latter online to skip the queue.

Other things to do in Dubbo include spooky ghost tours at the Old Dubbo Gaol.

Dubbo accommodation picks

Australia specialist booking site Wotif offers Dubbo accommodation for from $80 a night. To search through the options, visit the top deals page.

However, the following well-reviewed Dubbo accommodation options are particularly worth considering.

For families: Discovery Parks Dubbo holiday park.
For business travellers and anyone who wants a bit more space: The Quest apartments.
For good value in a central location: Surestay Hotel.
For a high quality motel with indoor AND outdoor pools: Cattlemans Country Motor Inn.