Melbourne to Hervey Bay road trip: Distance, time & best stops
Melbourne to Hervey Bay road trip: Parkes to Dubbo
The next leg of the journey is the 120km drive from Parkes to Dubbo, although you can stop at Goobang National Park, which has a couple of fabulous lookouts. The Caloma Lookout is easiest to reach – it’s just a 50m walk from the car park and has great views over the plains.
The 4km return Burrabadine Peak walk from the wildlife-packed Greenbah campground is steeper, but rewarding.
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.
Attractions between Melbourne and Hervey Bay: Dubbo to Narrabri
From Dubbo to Coonabarabran, the quickest route passes through the Goonoo State Conservation Area and along Mendooran Road.
It’s worth a brief stop in dairy town Mendooran to take a look at the murals depicting rural life, which are painted on buildings across the town.
If stopping in Coonabarabran, go hiking by day in the Warrumbungle National Park, then stargazing at night at the Milroy Observatory. You can also take a tour of Australia’s largest telescope at the Siding Spring Observatory.
For the stargazing experiences, you’re probably going to want to stay overnight.
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.
Otherwise, the drive continues past Timmallallie National Park and through the Pillaga Forests and towards
Top of the list of things to do in Narrabri is getting a taste of historic prison life at the Narrabri Old Gaol and Museum. And, just west of town, there’s the Australia Telescope Compact Array, where a rather cool-looking series of radio telescopes receive signals from space.
Narrabri accommodation possibilities include the four star Adelong Motel and the well-located Mid Town Inn.
Click through to the next section: Narrabri to Goondiwindi.