Melbourne to Tamworth road trip: Distance, time & best stops
Melbourne to Tamworth 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.
Melbourne to Tamworth road trip: Dubbo to Coolah
Leaving Dubbo along the Golden Highway/B84, the first realistic stop is an hour away in Dunedoo. There’s nothing to get massively excited about here, but there are a few places to eat, plus a swimming pool and golf course. The highlight for visitors is likely to be the silo art – massive murals have been painted on Dunedoo’s grain silos.
The Dubbo to Tamworth leg of the Dubbo to Tamworth drive then continues towards Coolah along Black Stump Way.
From Coolah, you can potentially make a detour into Coolah Tops National Park a potential detour from here. There are several waterfalls, lookouts, walking trails and campgrounds to enjoy.
Click through to the next section: Coolah to Tamworth.