West Wyalong to Dubbo road trip: Distance, time & best stops

The West Wyalong to Dubbo drive covers a distance of 257km in around 2h59m. Top road trip stops to add to the itinerary include West Wyalong, Forbes and Parkes.

The road trip from West Wyalong to Dubbo connects two of the more interesting inland towns in New South Wales.

Dubbo hosts the safari-style Dubbo Zoo, amongst several other surprisingly fascinating attractions. To find good quality Dubbo accommodation that suits your tastes, explore the options here.

Obviously, you may want to make a few road trip stops along the way. This West Wyalong to Dubbo road trip guide should help you plan your itinerary.

West Wyalong to Dubbo distance and driving time

By car, the distance from West Wyalong to Dubbo is 257km. This makes for a driving time of around two hours and 59 minutes.

West Wyalong is in the Riverina region, and is best known for its statue of painter Russell Drysdale. The West Wyalong Wetlands Boardwalk makes for a decent amble, and the colonial-era Royal Hotel is the best accommodation option.

Where to stay in West Wyalong

The best West Wyalong accommodation picks are

For a good quality motel at relatively cheap rates: Cameo Inn Motel.
For a four star in a historic building: Royal Hotel.
For central location: Mentor Chambers Apartment Bed & Breakfast.

After leaving West Wyalong along the Newell Highway. the good stop is Forbes, and the route passes Lake Cowal – the largest inland lake in New South Wales. It is, however, ephemeral, so don’t expect it brimming with water and birdlife.

Things to do in Forbes include learning about bushranger Ben Hall at the Forbes Historical Museum and strolling the Sculptures Down The Lachlan art trail. You can stay the night at the centrally-located Ben Hall Motor Inn or the well-reviewed Town and Country Motor Inn.

West Wyalong to Dubbo drive: Forbes to Parkes

Another 33km along the Newell Highway, and you arrive in Parkes.

Parkes hosts the Henry Parkes Centre, which houses Elvis museum King’s Castle.

Top of the list of things to do in Parkes, however, is paying a visit to the Dish. Also known as Murriyang, this powerful radio telescope at the CSIRO Parkes Observatory transmitted the images of the 1969 moon landing to the world.

The best accommodation in Parkes

The top places to stay in Parkes are:

For overall quality: Bushman’s Motor Inn.
For central location: Court Street Motel.
For parkside location: Hamilton Henry Parkes Motor Inn.

West Wyalong to Dubbo road trip: Parkes to Dubbo

The final leg of the journey is the 120km drive from Parkes to Dubbo, although you can stop at Goobang National Park, which has a couple of fabulous lookouts. The Caloma Lookout is easiest to reach – it’s just a 50m walk from the car park and has great views over the plains.

The 4km return Burrabadine Peak walk from the wildlife-packed Greenbah campground is steeper, but rewarding.

Dubbo has a surprisingly strong hand when it comes to attractions. Top of the list are the Dubbo Observatory and Taronga Western Plains Zoo. Book tickets for the latter online to skip the queue.

Other things to do in Dubbo include spooky ghost tours at the Old Dubbo Gaol.