Muswellbrook to Tamworth road trip: Distance, drive time & stops

The Muswellbrook to Tamworth drive in New South Wales covers a 157km distance in a driving time of around 1h52m. Top road trip stops to add to the itinerary include Lake Glenbawn, the Washpools Waterhole and Mount Wingen.

The drive from Muswellbrook to Tamworth takes you out of the Hunter region of New South Wales into New England. Tamworth is regarded as the country music capital of Australia.

Most visitors will drive this route on the way from Newcastle to Tamworth.

There are a few decent road trip stops on the route that are worth considering, however.

Muswellbrook to Tamworth distance and driving time

By car, the distance from Muswellbrook to Tamworth is 157km. This makes for a driving time of around one hour and 52 minutes.

The first town along the route is Aberdeen, where Jefferson Park makes for a decent hangout next to the Hunter River.

From here, the Muswellbrook to Tamworth drive continues towards Scone – although you may wish to make a short detour to Lake Glenbawn. The lake is used for picnics, water sports, bushwalking and fishing, while the Lake Glenbawn camping area makes for a cheap overnight stay.

In Scone, the 4km Figtree Creek Track through Scone Mountain National Park is the top attraction.

The best places to stay in Scone

The top Scone accommodation options are:

For a cheap, but surprisingly good quality motel: Isis Motel.
For a bed and breakfast with an indoor pool: Strathearn Park Lodge.
For town centre location: Portman House.

Muswellbrook to Tamworth road trip: Washpools Waterhole and Mount Wingen

Towarri National Park a little west of the New England Highway near Wingen is perhaps more tempting. Here, the Washpools Waterhole by the Washpools Picnic Area is a much-loved swimming spot.

Nearer the highway, between Wingen and Murulla, is Mount Wingen. Also known as Burning Mountain, this is a smouldering coal seam, where rock colours change with the extreme temperatures beneath the earth’s surface. There’s a 4km walk through the Burning Mountain Nature Reserve to see the vents breaking through the earth’s surface.

The next decent stop is Murrurundi, which has a few cafés, hotels and art galleries.

The Murrurundi Museum covers local history, while the Murrurundi Pass National Park just out of town isn’t really set up for visitors. It’s a scenic drive past it, however.

Muswellbrook to Tamworth drive: Willow Tree, Wallabadah and Nundle

At Willow Tree, the Willow Tree Recreation Ground offers free camping. It is also at Willow Tree that the Kamilaroi Highway begins, heading north-west towards Quirindi, Gunnedah, Narrabri, Walgett and – eventually – Bourke.

For Tamworth, however, you keep going along the New England Highway.

On the way into Tamworth, you can stop at the First Fleet Memorial Garden in Wallabadah or take a tour of the Nundle Woollen Mill in Nundle.

Things to do in Tamworth include the Australian Country Music Hall of Fame and the Tamworth Powerstation Museum, which looks at electricity and electronics.