| Dubbo - Tocumwal | Western Adventure 2
 Linking the Queensland and Victorian borders, the Newell Highway stretches for over 1000 km, through one of the state’s most important agricultural regions and a series of attractive pastoral towns.
Drive south from Dubbo on the Newell Highway until you reach the important wheat-growing centre of Parkes, named after politician Sir Henry Parkes. This is the home of the famous giant (64-metre) CSIRO Radio Telescope, an astronomical observatory that is open to the public. Other attractions include a motor museum and the pleasant Bushmans Hill Reserve.
Located beside the Lachlan River, nearby Forbes is another major agricultural town, with a couple of wineries, a wildlife refuge and a lake, and the Lachlan Vintage Village - a goldrush camp that re-creates the area’s mining past through its historical buildings. Further down the highway; stop off in West Wyalong to visit the Historical Museum and Cooinda Bushland Reserve. This is also a good place to buy authentic boomerangs, paintings and other Aboriginal arts and crafts.
Heading south, you’ll reach the fertile Riverina Region, where the pleasant town of Narrandera is located on the Murrumbidgee River. From here it is possible to link up with our Riverina Explorer drive by heading south-west to Wagga Wagga, or you can travel in the opposite direction to Leeton and the prosperous, Italian-influenced food and wine city of Griffith, planned by the architect of Canberra, Walter Burley Griffin.
As you travel closer to the Victorian border, you’ll journey through the flat, irrigated sheep and crop growing regions around Jerilderie and Finley, where interesting farm tours are on offer. The Newell Highway finally ends near Tocumwal, a major gliding centre on the northern banks of the Murray where river cruises are a popular attraction.
Where to Stay
Time required: 2-3 days | | |
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