Melbourne to Bathurst road trip: Best stops, distance & drive time

Melbourne to Bathurst road trip: Young to Cowra

The Young to Cowra drive is along the Olympic Highway and passes through mostly uneventful agricultural land and countryside.

For much of the journey, the Young to Cowra drive runs parallel to the Dananbilla Nature Reserve, which is mainly left as it is for conservation purposes rather than recreation. However, at the southern end, you can visit the Quamby Park Farmstay and Petting Zoo. There’s a goat stud at the same site.

A similar situation applies to Bendick Murrell National Park to the west of the route. It’s a former national forest that has been converted to national park status, but hasn’t had any tourist facilities installed.

At Koorawatha, those with a 4WD vehicle can make the detour to Koorawatha Falls – created by a man-made weir. The waterfall plunges into a pool at the bottom, and it’s a good spot for a picnic. There’s a good chance of seeing wallabies here, too.

Things to do in Cowra include visiting the WWII Prisoner of War Camp, where more than 1,000 Japanese POWs broke free in 1944, and admiring the Cowra Japanese Garden.

Where to stay in Cowra

The best Cowra accommodation options are:

For four star quality in a central location: Cowra Club Services Motel.
For overall quality: Country Gardens Motor Inn.
For character and something a bit different: The Shearing Shed – Boutique Farm Stay.

Where to stay in Cowra

The best Cowra accommodation options are:

For four star quality in a central location: Cowra Club Services Motel.
For overall quality: Country Gardens Motor Inn.
For character and something a bit different: The Shearing Shed – Boutique Farm Stay.

Melbourne to Bathurst road trip: Cowra to Bathurst

The Cowra to Bathurst leg of the drive covers a 106km distance. The journey is almost entirely along the Mid-Western Highway, also known as the A41.

It’s a very rural drive, passing what seems at times to be endless canola fields. The first settlement of any real size along the route is Lyndhurst. The historic Royal Hotel is the main place of interest here.

Otherwise, continue to Mandurama, where there’s another Royal Hotel to try. They like Royal Hotels in these parts…

Much more interesting, however, is Carcoar. Also on the Mid-Western Highway, Carcoar happily milks its heritage village status. Kangaroos hang out in the surrounding hills, pretty Carcoar Dam is a popular spot for fishing and water sports and the village itself has a host of quirky little museums. These include the 20^th Century Toy Museum and a Hospital Museum.

Carcoar is also at the foot of Mount Macquarie, a 1,220m-high peak that is often snow-capped even when the surrounding area isn’t.

The final worthwhile stop is Blayney, where the Church Hill Lookout offers excellent views over the rolling hills and Athol Gardens is dotted with fountains and sculptures.

Attractions in Bathurst include the Bathurst Rail Museum, Abercrombie House and the Mount Panorama racing circuit. The Rydges Bathurst hotel is right next to the race track, while other Bathurst accommodation includes the apartment-style Littomore Hotels and Suites plus the NRMA Bathurst Panorama Holiday Park.