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

Wagga Wagga to Cowra drive: Young to Cowra

The Young to Cowra drive is along the Olympic Highway and passes through mostly uneventful agricultural land and countryside.

For much of the journey, the Young to Cowra drive runs parallel to the Dananbilla Nature Reserve, which is mainly left as it is for conservation purposes rather than recreation. However, at the southern end, you can visit the Quamby Park Farmstay and Petting Zoo. There’s a goat stud at the same site.

A similar situation applies to Bendick Murrell National Park to the west of the route. It’s a former national forest that has been converted to national park status, but hasn’t had any tourist facilities installed.

Wagga Wagga to Cowra road trip: Koorawatha Falls

At Koorawatha, those with a 4WD vehicle can make the detour to Koorawatha Falls – created by a man-made weir. The waterfall plunges into a pool at the bottom, and it’s a good spot for a picnic. There’s a good chance of seeing wallabies here, too.

Things to do in Cowra include visiting the WWII Prisoner of War Camp, where more than 1,000 Japanese POWs broke free in 1944, and admiring the Cowra Japanese Garden.