Things to do in Narrandera, NSW: The 5 best attractions

The best things to do in Narrandera, NSW, include the Big Playable Guitar, the Narrandera Water Tower Art and the Koala Reserve.

5 best things to do in Narrandera, NSW

The best things to do in Narrandera, NSW, are:

Enjoy the gimmick of the Big Guitar – the largest playable guitar in the country.
Get wool industry history at the Narrandera Parkside Cottage Museum.
See the enormous koala mural on the Narrandera Water Tower.
See real life koalas at the Narrandera Nature Reserve.
Observe birds and kangaroos at Lake Talbot.

Where is Narrandera, NSW?

Narrandera, NSW, is a mid-sized country town, half way between Wagga Wagga and Griffith. It’s in the Riverina region of New South Wales.

Get the best rates by booking your Narrandera accommodation in advance.

You might have cause to pass through Narrandera, as it’s where the Sturt Highway and Newell Highway meet. If you’re driving from Sydney to Adelaide, or Perth to Sydney, you’re probably going through here. It’s also on the inland route from Brisbane to Melbourne.

There are a few things to do in Narrandera, but none of them are essential. Think in terms of journey-breakers rather than tent pegs to plan a trip around.

Things to do in Narrandera: Big Guitar and Narrandera Parkside Cottage Museum

The best gimmick is the Big Guitar, one of Australia’s infamous Big Things. This has the honour of being the largest playable guitar in the country. It’s outside the Narrandera Visitor Information Centre, where you can pick up a leaflet outlining the Two-Foot Heritage Walk. This self-guided walking trail takes in the town’s smattering of heritage buildings.

The Narrandera Parkside Cottage Museum is the obligatory local history museum. The star attraction here is a scarlet-coloured merino cloak made from the first bale of wool sent from Australia to England. Yes, the Narrandera Parkside Cottage Museum really is that exciting.

At the northern end of town, you’ll find the water tower, which is a giant art project. The Narrandera Water Tower is now covered in an impressively enormous koala mural.

The giant koala mural on Narrandera Water Tower. Photo courtesy of Narrandera Tourism.

Things to do in Narrandera: Koala Reserve and Lake Talbot

But the best things to do in Narrandera are all outside. The town is on the Murrumbidgee River, and there are walking and cycling trails that weave through the river red gum trees.

The Narrandera Wetlands between the town centre and the river are a great spot for birdwatching, but the real highlight is the Narrandera Nature Reserve. Known locally as the Koala Reserve, the Narrandera Nature Reserve is a brilliant place to see koalas in the wild. It’s even more remarkable given that, before koalas were reintroduced here in 1972, they hadn’t been seen around Narrandera for more than 70 years. The reserve is part of Murrumbidgee River National Park.

The Koala Reserve is to the south-east of Narrandera, but another good nature spot is just east of the town. Lake Talbot has three enjoyable walking trails. The local birdlife and kangaroos are more lively in the morning.

The top accommodation in Narrandera, NSW

The best places to stay in Narrandera are:

For overall quality: Narrandera Club Motor Inn.
For an outdoor pool and BBQs: Bishops Lodge.
For a solid motel with low prices: Camellia Motel.

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