Gunnedah

AgQuip

Australia's largest agricultural field days (exposition), it attracts about 3,000 companies and 100,000 visitors per year. AgQuip showcases all kinds of agricultural equipment, especially new things to the market. It's also a great family day out, with food stalls, fashion shows, reptile shows, billy boiling competition, AgQuip Rodeo, and an art and craft exhibition.

Held in Aug·Free admission

Bicentennial Creative Arts Gallery

Arts Gunnedah

This art gallery showcases the works of the local artists community, with the highlight of the year being the Annual Arts Exhibition held during AgQuip. Also home to the Civic Cinema which shows contemporary popular movies.

Daily 10AM-5PM

Bitter Suite Cafe + Wine Bar

Good coffee and fresh food in a garden setting. Best place for a weekend brunch on a warm day.

Mon-Fri 6:30AM-2:30PM Sat Sun 8AM-1PM

Boonalla Aboriginal Area

Boonalla Community Conservation Area Zone 2 - Aboriginal Culture

Located on traditional Kamilaroi/Gamilaraay land. Walking trails, cycling trails, Boonalla Cave. Picnic ground on Eastern Forest Road (within the park) with car park, picnic tables, toilets, barbecue facilities. Car park and walking trail (1 hour return, moderate fitness, steep incline not recommended when wet) in the park near Boonalla Cave. No pets. No fires in the park. All water must be treated or bring your own.

Free

Breeza Park and Ben Hall's Wall

Memorial mural depicting the life of bushranger Ben Hall, who was born in the district. Picnic tables, public toilets, children's playground on-site. A good driver rest area between Gunnedah and Quirindi.

Chip Inn

Fish and chips, hamburgers and wraps, snitty burgers and wraps, stuffed potatoes, wedges, hot snacks, hot beverages, cold drinks.

Mon-Sat 9AM-8PM, Sun 10AM-8PM

Cumbo Gunnerah Keeping Place

Cumbo Gunnerah Gallery

This Keeping Place holds local Aboriginal artefacts and has audio-visual presentations of Aboriginal stories. There are also Aboriginal arts and crafts to see.

Dorothea Mackellar Memorial Statue

Poets Precinct

Dorothea Mackellar was born in Point Piper in Sydney, and is buried in Waverley Cemetery overlooking the ocean. But the sunburnt country she wrote about so passionately is out here. And a memorial statue with her on a horse is next to the watertower museum. Well worth a visit - even if just to reread the poem.

Dorothea Mackellar Silo Art

Dorothea Mackellar and part of her famous poem "My Country" are displayed on this 29-m-high, privately-owned maize mill. Best viewed from the walkway around the corner on the bridge that links the Oxley Highway and Warrabungle Street. It is on private property, and closer access is not permitted. Be mindful of vehicles entering and leaving the maize mill and do not block the driveway.

Gunnedah Memorial Swimming Pool

50 m 8-lane outdoor pool, 25 m indoor heated pool, kids water playground, kids dry playground, new pavilion and amenities, kiosk/cafe, seating and shaded areas. Alternative entrance: corner of South Street and Anzac Parade.

See website for hours·See website for fees

Gunnedah Rural Museum

If you're looking for an authentic history of Gunnedah, neatly laid out with information boards and item descriptions then you'll need to go somewhere else. If you are looking for large sheds just full of every bit of discarded equipment over the past 150 years of Gunnedah's history, then you could wander around this place for hours. It's large, it's disorganised, and in places looks more like a junkyard than a museum. There are collections of Coke cans and ANZAC cookies. Old cars, harvesters, tractors, diesel engines. Model railways, old switchboards, Teacups, furniture, photographs.

Daily 9AM-3PM, closed Good Fri and Christmas Day·$8 adults, $5 concession, $2 children

Gunnedah Water Tower Museum

Decorated with paintings of ANZAC - adjacent to the ANZAC memorial. Roof-top views offering panoramic views of Gunnedah and the surrounding district. Presents local history as well as military history. Museum may be closed due to Covid-19 restrictions - phone or email to confirm.

Sat 10AM-2PM, other days and times by appointment only·$5 adults, $4 concession, $1 children (ages 5-15)

Horse racing

The Gunnedah Jockey Club holds the Gold Cup in May and the Christmas Hams Race Meeting in early December.

John Oxley Monument

This monument commemorates the European explorer John Oxley, who crossed Bowen's Rivulet (now Cox's Creek) 3 km south-west of the monument in 1818. The plaque on the monument may be missing.

Keepit Dam

Camping, children's playground, picnic areas, toilets, fishing, kiosk, showers, boat ramps, water sports, bushwalking, BMX track

Pensioners Hill Lookout

Wide open views of Gunnedah and the surrounding district. Sculptures (see here), a rotunda, picnic tables, and barbecues at the top. Unknown if the path from the entrance to the top is wheelchair accessible.

Free

Plains of Plenty

A cooperative enterprise with members from Northern and North-West New South Wales, you will find a wide range of wares for sale, including high quality produce and beautiful hand-crafted goods, a wide selection of greeting cards, patchwork, jewellery, pottery and art works.

Mon-Fri 9:30AM-4:30PM, Sat 9:30AM-1:30PM, closed Good Fri, Christmas Day, Boxing Day

Porcupine Lookout

This lookout offers views towards the Nandewar Ranges, Kelvin, 'Nobbys Rock', Breeza, and the Pullaman Plains. Impressive views in times of flood.

Free

Red Chief Memorial

This memorial commemorates Cumbo Gunnerah, a great warrior and revered leader of the Kamilaroi people.

Royal Hotel - Tambar Springs

Historic hotel built early 1900s. Pub fare. Accommodation available - phone for rates and availability. Tambar Springs General Store nearby (convenience store, fuel).

Mon Tue 4-8PM, Wed Thu 11AM-9PM, Fri 11AM-midnight, Sat 11AM-10PM, Sun 11AM-8PM

The Verdict Coffee

Cafe fare. No reservations on Sa. Modern, faux-hipster coffee shop.

Mon-Thu 7:30AM-5PM, Fri 7:30AM-6PM, Sat 7:30AM -2PM

Work of Art Community Gallery

This gallery showcases the work of up and coming artists, especially local artists. Workshops held throughout the year. Cafe on-site.

Mon-Fri 8AM-5PM

150th East Meridian Rest Area

Light vehicle access. Picnic tables. Shelter. Litter bins. No toilets.

Bindea Walking Track

This track and the associated Tower Walk and Porcupine Walk should take 1-2 hours to complete each. Along the way you will discover excellent views of the town and the valleys of the Namoi River and the Mooki River. Bring binoculars and cameras. Download a map here.

Civic Cinema

You can go to the movies in Gunnedah. Films screen daily, with the latest pictures.

Country Markets

About 40 stalls selling local produce and hand-made goods, home-made food, arts and crafts, and second-hand wares.

3rd Sun of the month, 6AM-early/mid afternoon

Fishing

See here for recommended fishing spots and how to get a fishing licence.

Koala spotting

The town markets itself as the Koala capital of Australia. But that doesn't mean the critters are going to be easy to find. Ask at the tourist information if there have been any recent sightings. Otherwise Pensioners Hill Lookout is a favourite spot to look for them.

Vita Restaurant

Gunnedah Hotel

Bistro fare. 14 tap beers, wine list, cocktails. Happy Hour M-F 4-6PM. You'll get a craft beer on tap here, a few nicer wines, and the mains now come with the option of a Quinoa salad. Hipster culture is making its small inroad into Gunnedah.

Lunch Mon-Sun noon-2:30PM, Dinner Mon-Sat 6-9PM Sun 6-8:30PM

Walk along the Namoi

The Namoi is the river immediately to the north of the town. The town turns its back on the river, because of its temperamental flows, but it's certainly worth a short visit. Wildlife and birds are attracted the river. And when not in flood it's possible to walk across. But you'll have to pick your photos carefully to avoid a few discarded car tyres and empty shopping trolleys that ruin the aspect. You can camp by the river too.