Wagga Wagga to Bathurst road trip: Distance, time & best stops

Wagga Wagga to Bathurst road trip: Distance, time & best stops

The Wagga Wagga to Bathurst drive covers 314km, with a driving time of 3h53m. Top road trip stops to add to an itinerary include Young, Cowra and Carcoar.

The drive from Wagga Wagga to Bathurst connects two of the larger inland towns in New South Wales. But there are a few more interesting spots you can visit on the way.

Wagga Wagga is home to Wagga Beach, one of Australia’s top inland beaches. To pick out the best Wagga Wagga accommodation deals, head here.

Bathurst brings private luxury wine tours and jet fighter flights. For Bathurst accommodation, investigate here.

Use this guide to help you plan your perfect Wagga Wagga to Bathurst road trip itinerary.

Wagga Wagga to Bathurst distance and driving time

By car, the distance from Wagga Wagga to Bathurst is 314km. That makes for a driving time of around three hours and 53 minutes.

The best stops to add to a Wagga Wagga to Bathurst road trip itinerary include Junee, Young, Cowra and Carcoar.

Wagga Wagga accommodation recommendations

Wagga Wagga to Bathurst road trip: Wagga Wagga to Cootamundra

The first logical stop on the route out of Wagga Wagga is Junee. Highlights here include the ghost tours at the Monte Cristo Homestead and chocolate-tasting at the Junee Chocolate Factory.

Junee accommodation options include the fairly central Junee Motor Inn and budget-friendly Junee Tourist Park.

After the Wagga Wagga to Junee leg of the journey, the next stop worth considering is Cootamundra. This Riverina town is best known as legendary cricketer Sir Donald Bradman’s birthplace. The Bradman’s Birthplace Museum is full of cricket memorabilia, while the Captain’s Walk in Jubilee Park is lined by sculptures of Australian cricket captains.

The Cootamundra Heritage Centre, meanwhile, does the local heritage thing.

Where to stay in Cootamundra

The top Cootamundra accommodation options are:

Wagga Wagga to Bathurst drive: Cootamundra to Young

Further along the Olympic Highway come Wallendbeen and Wombat. The latter is surrounded by fruit farms. You can pick your own cherries and peaches at the Wombat Heights Orchard.

From Wombat, it’s a short drive to Young.

Here, the star attractions are the Lambing Flat Chinese Tribute Garden and the Young Historical Museum. Both tell the story of the strong Chinese influence on the town, in their own ways. You can also pick cherries – something Young is famous for – at the Ballinaclash Orchard.

For overnight accommodation in Young, NSW, try the reasonably central Colonial Motel and Apartments, the budget-friendly Young Caravan Park and the four star Young Federation Motor Inn.

The town hall building in Young, NSW
The town hall building is one of the main attractions in Young, NSW. Photo courtesy of Destination NSW.

Click through for the next section: Young to Cowra.