Things to do in Hay, NSW: What are the best attractions?

The best things to do in Hay, NSW, include swimming in the Murrumbidgee River at Sandy Point Beach, learning about wool at Shear Outback and getting a dose of WWII history at the Dunera Museum.

Hay, NSW, is an agricultural hub town in the Riverina. It is surrounded by vast plains, and sits close to the boundary line where arable land drifts into outback.

It’s a crossroads town, with the Mid-Western Highway, Cobb Highway and Sturt Highway all meeting here.

It’s also a surprisingly enjoyable place to visit, with far more attractions than most New South Wales agricultural hub towns.

Things to do in Hay, NSW: Shear Outback

Top of the list of things to do in Hay, NSW, should be Shear Outback – the Australian Shearers’ Hall of Fame. This attraction looks at the hugely lucrative wool industry, and how inland Australia grew on the sheep’s back. It also goes into how the wool is removed from the sheep, and offers live shearing demonstrations.

Hay attractions: Dunera Museum and Bishop’s House Lodge

Other cultural attractions in Hay include the Dunera Museum, which is devoted to the thousands of German, Austrian, Italian and Japanese men who were interned here during World War II.

Bishop’s Lodge House, meanwhile, is a remarkable piece of architecture. Built in 1888 as the Bishop of the Riverina’s official residence, it is constructed from iron and includes several sustainability features that were decades ahead of their time. The rose garden outside is lovely, too.

For art, check out the giant mural-covered water towers on Pine Street.

What to do in Hay, NSW: Sandy Point Beach

If it’s the outdoor life you’re interested in, the Bidgee River Trail runs for 5km along the banks of the Murrumbidgee River. You can also pretend you’re at the seaside on the Sandy Point Beach, which has grassy lawns with free public barbecues behind it.

Meanwhile, the Sunset Viewing Area, 16km north of Hay on the Cobb Highway, offers magical dusk views over the Hay Plains.

Kalyarr National Park

There’s also Kalyarr National Park to the north-west of Hay. During wet years, there’s plenty of birdwatching to be done at the Lake Ita Picnic Area. But the real reason to come is to camp out at the Lachlan River Campground under an unsullied night sky. There’s a good chance the kangaroos, emus and shingleback lizards will be joining you.

Hay accommodation

Good places to stay in Hay include the Bishops Lodge Motor Inn, which has laundry facilities and free parking, plus an outdoor pool and tennis court. There’s also a converted convent and the Big4 holiday park on the banks of the Murrumbidgee River.