Wagga Wagga to Newcastle road trip: Best stops, distance & drive time
The best stops on a Wagga Wagga to Newcastle road trip include Yass, Bowral and Sydney. By car along sealed roads, the distance from Wagga Wagga to Newcastle is 610km, with a driving time of around 6h32m.
A Wagga Wagga to Newcastle road trip will take you from the Murrumbidgee River to the second largest city in New South Wales.
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.
Newcastle offers plenty of activities, including adventure boat cruises along the coastline, architecture and street art walking tours and whale watching cruises. For a big menu of Newcastle tours and experiences, explore here. To fix up one of Newcastle’s best accommodation options, book here.
This guide should help you plan your perfect Wagga Wagga to Newcastle road trip itinerary.
Wagga Wagga to Newcastle distance and driving time
By car, the distance from Wagga Wagga to Newcastle is 610km. That makes for a driving time of around six hours and 32 minutes.
Good stops to add to a Wagga Wagga to Newcastle road trip itinerary include Yass, Bowral and Sydney.
Highlights in Wagga Wagga include Wagga Beach, the Wagga Wagga Art Gallery and the Botanic Gardens.
Wagga Wagga accommodation recommendations
- For business: International Hotel Wagga Wagga.
- For a pool and city centre location: Townhouse Hotel.
- For character: Charles Boutique Hotel.
- For riverside location: Prince of Wales Motor Inn.
- For family cabins: Ingenia Holidays Wagga Wagga.
Wagga Wagga to Newcastle road trip stops: Gundagai to Yass.
Just beyond Wagga Wagga, the quickest route joins the Hume Highway at Tarcutta.
Next up, Gundagai offers the Australian Road Transport Heritage Centre and high quality, distinctive accommodation nearby at the Nimbo Fork Lodge or Kimo Estate.
Where to stay in Gundagai
The best Gundagai accommodation options are:
- For a decent, cheap motel: Poets Recall Motel.
- For family cabins and a playground: Gundagai Cabins and Tourist Park.
- For central location: Garden Motor Inn.
Jugiong on the Murrumbidgee River is the perfect lunch stop, with several good places to eat – most notably the Long Track Pantry.
Yass, however, is arguably the better overnight stop as it is near several Canberra region wineries. Canberra Winery Tours offers pick-ups in Yass.
For Yass accommodation, try the handily downtown Yass Central Bed and Breakfast and the well-reviewed Colonial Lodge Motor Inn.
Yass to Sutton Forest
It’s another 86km to Goulburn. The Pye Cottage Museum in Gunning on the way takes you back in time to the 1860s.
Goulburn doesn’t have any truly gripping attractions, but the Goulburn Rail Heritage Centre and Goulburn Historic Waterworks are moderately interesting.
Best places to stay in Goulburn
The top Goulburn accommodation choices are:
- For good quality, business traveller-friendly apartments: Quest Goulburn.
- For a cheap, decent motel for a no-fuss one night stay: Black Sheep Motel.
- For road-tripper convenience next to the Hume Highway: Mercure Goulburn.
- For free parking in the city centre: Heritage Motor Inn.
The best place to stop on the Wagga Wagga to Sydney leg of the road trip, however, is the Southern Highlands. Almost everyone stops at the Sutton Forest East Service Centre on the way, although Sutton Forest Estate Wines is a more amiable spot for a journey break.
Click through to the next section: Sutton Forest to Sydney.