Tamworth to Stanthorpe road trip: Distance, drive time & stops
The Tamworth to Stanthorpe drive covers a 355km distance in a driving time of around four hours and one minutes. The best stops to add to a Tamworth to Stanthorpe road trip itinerary are Uralla, Armidale and Glen Innes.
A road trip from Tamworth to Stanthorpe takes in some of the best of the New England region before heading into Queensland’s Granite Belt. The journey through northern New South Wales pulls together rural charm, gorgeous scenery and plenty of history, before hitting Queensland’s top wine region.
Tamworth is Australia’s country music capital. You can look at the Tamworth accommodation options here.
Stanthorpe is Queensland’s premier wine hub. For Stanthorpe accommodation deals, hunt here.
This guide is designed to help travellers plan their perfect Tamworth to Stanthorpe road trip itinerary. Remember to stock up on your road trip essentials before setting off, however.
Tamworth to Stanthorpe distance and driving time
By car, the distance from Tamworth to Stanthorpe is 355km. That makes for a driving time of around four hours and one minutes.
The best places to stay in Tamworth
There are several Tamworth accommodation options. These, however, are the best picks…
- For excellent value and a pool: Roydons Motor Inn.
- For design flair: CH Boutique Hotel.
- For central location: City Sider Motor Inn.
- For spacious apartments: Cadman Motor Inn and Apartments.
- For heritage and charm: Quality Inn Ashby House.
The first leg of the Tamworth to Stanthorpe drive is from Tamworth to Bendemeer. You pass close to the Botanical Gardens and Oxley Scenic Lookout before joining the New England Highway in Tintinhull.
The Moonbi Lookout, a big granite outcrop, offers fabulous views of the New England countryside further north.
Bendemeer is where the Oxley Highway joins the New England Highway, and it feels rather frozen in time. The Bendemeer Hotel is a nice spot for a beer, mind.
Tamworth to Stanthorpe road trip: Bendemeer to Armidale
There are more granite outcrops just south of Uralla. Captain Thunderbolt’s Rock, where a notorious bushranger was shot by police in 1863, is one of them. It’s now a photo stop and picnic site.
There’s more Captain Thunderbolt in Uralla, where he is buried in the Old Uralla Cemetery. The story is told at the McCrossin’s Mill Museum – a converted flour mill.
Road trip essentials that many travellers forget
Search on the web, and you’ll find ludicrously long lists of equipment to take on a road trip. Australia Travel Questions isn’t going to do that to you. But it is worth buying the following road trip items before setting off. Click through for a good range of options.
- Charging cables – yes, you’ll probably need a spare at some point.
- Car charger adaptor – in case your rental car has the old-fashioned cigarette lighter rather than a USB.
- Multi USB charger – for those hotel rooms that don’t have enough power sockets.
- Fold-up chairs – to make anywhere a picnic spot.
- A really good water bottle – go for a bigger one than usual to last the longer drives.
- Packing cubes – save space but, more importantly, avoid unpacking everything every night.
Elsewhere in this former gold rush town, you cantry your luck panning for gold at the Wooldridge Recreation and Fossicking Area.
Armidale, the biggest town on the Tamworth to Toowoomba road trip, is next. Things to do in Armidale include helicopter flights over the Oxley Wild Rivers National Park.
Where to stay in Armidale
For the best Armidale accommodation, book one of these:
- For charm and character: Petersons Armidale Winery & Guesthouse.
- For a great value motel: Alluna Motel.
- For central location: Tattersalls Hotel.
Click through for the next section: Armidale to Guyra.