Sydney to Dubbo road trip: Distance, driving time and best stops

Sydney to Dubbo drive: Lithgow to Mudgee

It’s 127km from Lithgow to Mudgee, but there are several detours worth taking along the route. Before joining the Castlereagh Highway, try the walk to the summit of Mount Walker in Marrangaroo National Park.

Later on, the Wolgan Valley offers Blackfellows Hand Cave and the Ben Bullen Mountain Top lookout, plus a world class resort – the Emirates One&Only Wolgan Valley.

Those with a 4WD vehicle can enjoy the sandstone cliffs and wildflowers of the Ben Bullen Trail in the Gardens of Stone National Park.

For others, Turon National Park has riverside walks and campgrounds, plus a photo stop at Pearsons Lookout.

Neighbouring Capertee Valley is supposedly the second largest canyon on earth. The vertiginous escarpments are best enjoyed on the highly scenic drive to Glen Davis.

In Capertee National Park to the north, you can see kangaroos and wallabies in the campgrounds and enjoy majestic panoramas from the Valley Lookout.

Then, after Lake Windamere, you entter the Mudgee wine region. Skimstone in Apple Tree Flat and First Ridge Wines in Burrundulla are good tasting stops.

Next section: Mudgee and Dubbo.