Wagga Wagga to Orange road trip: Distance, time & best stops
The Wagga Wagga to Orange drive covers 297km, with a driving time of 3h38m along sealed roads. Top road trip stops to add to an itinerary include Young, Cowra and Canowindra.
The drive from Wagga Wagga to Orange 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 to Orange’s wineries.
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.
Orange activities include gourmet picnic lunches in the vineyards and wine-tasting by trike. For the top Orange accommodation options, book here.
Use this guide to help you plan your perfect Wagga Wagga to Orange road trip itinerary.
Wagga Wagga to Orange distance and driving time
By car along sealed roads, the distance from Wagga Wagga to Orange is 297km. That makes for a driving time of around three hours and 38 minutes.
The best stops to add to a Wagga Wagga to Orange road trip itinerary include Junee, Young, Cowra and Canowindra.
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 Orange 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:
- For the highest guest ratings: Cootamundra Heritage Motel and Apartments.
- For cheap cabins: Cootamundra Caravan Park.
- For an outdoor pool: Bradman Motor Inn.
Wagga Wagga to Orange 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.
Click through for the next section: Young to Cowra.