Parkes to Goondiwindi road trip: Distance, time & best stops

The Parkes to Goondiwindi drive covers a distance of 607km in a driving time of around 6h50m. Top road trip stops to add to the itinerary include Dubbo, Coonabarabran and Moree.

Planning a Parkes to Goondiwindi road trip itinerary

A road trip from Parkes to Goondiwindi can be an enjoyable romp up the Newell Highway into Queensland. For many, this will be part of a longer road trip – the quickest route from Melbourne to Hervey Bay passes this way, for example.

To get the best deals on Parkes accommodation, step this way.

If you’re planning to stay in Goondiwindi, track down accommodation deals here.

This guide should help you plan your perfect Parkes to Goondiwindi road trip itinerary.

Click through on the individual places and attractions for more detailed, specific information.

If you need to hire a car, find the best rental deals. And don’t forget to do all your pre-road trip shopping.

Parkes to Goondiwindi distance and driving time

By car, the distance from Parkes to Goondiwindi is 607km. This makes for a driving time of around six hours and 50 minutes. Obviously, you may want to make a few road trip stops along the way.

Parkes hosts the Henry Parkes Centre, which houses Elvis museum King’s Castle.

Top of the list of things to do in Parkes, however, is paying a visit to the Dish. Also known as Murriyang, this powerful radio telescope at the CSIRO Parkes Observatory transmitted the images of the 1969 moon landing to the world.

The best accommodation in Parkes

The top places to stay in Parkes are:

For overall quality: Bushman’s Motor Inn.
For central location: Court Street Motel.
For parkside location: Hamilton Henry Parkes Motor Inn.

Parkes to Goondiwindi drive: 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.

Giraffes at Taronga Western Plains Zoo, Dubbo. Photo copyright Destination NSW.

Attractions between Parkes and Goondiwindi: 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.

Parkes to Goondiwindi road trip: Narrabri to Goondiwindi

It’s another 100km from Narrabri to Moree, although you may wish to detour to Mount Kaputar National Park for the views and walking trails.

Things to do in Moree include birdwatching at the Waterbird Lagoon bird hide in the Gwydir Wetlands State Conservation Area, visiting the Bank Art Museum and swimming at the Moree Artesian Aquatic Centre.

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.

From Moree, the Newell Highway heads towards border town Boggabilla, then over into Queensland. The first town you’ll reach is Goondiwindi. There’s a nice mix of history and culture here, with attractions including the Customs House Museum and Goondiwindi Art and Sculpture Trail.