Moree to Lightning Ridge road trip: Distance, drive time & stops
The Moree to Lightning drive in outback New South Wales is 258km long, with an approximate driving time of 2h43m. Walgett offers the best road trip attractions on the way.
The drive from Moree to Lightning Ridge connects the Newell Highway in country New South Wales to the outback opal fields.
It’s a drive you might want to entertain if travelling by road from Brisbane to Adelaide or Perth to Brisbane. For most visitors to Australia, however, Lightning Ridge is a little too far out of the way.
The Moree to Lightning Ridge drive is one of those where the shortest route isn’t the quickest. Go the shortest route, branching off the Gwydir Highway towards Collarenebri, and it’s a 235km drive. However, the tiny backwater roads on this route means the journey takes about two hours and 58 minutes.
Moree to Lightning Ridge distance and driving time
It’s quicker to continue along the Gwydir Highway to Gowrie, just north of Walgett. Here, you join the Castlereagh Highway. Going the Castlereagh Highway route, the Moree to Lightning Ridge drive is 258km in distance, but with a driving time of two hours and 43 minutes.
What’s the best Moree accommodation?
Moree makes a logical overnight stop on many road trips. These are the best accommodation choices.
- For exclusive artesian spa pools: Artesian Spa Motel.
- For great reviews & a restaurant: Albert Motel.
- For solid, well-priced apartments with a pool: Jackaroo Apartments.
If you choose the Collarenebri route, there’s a minor road trip attraction just after branching off the Gwydir Highway. The Collymongle Carved Trees were carved by Indigenous Australians, and there are only a few left – others have ended up in museums around the world.
Click through for the next section: Walgett.