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Grand NSW Loop: Coast, Tablelands and Outback

A comprehensive 14-day circuit from Sydney through the lush North Coast, the high New England plateau, the vast Central West plains, and the Riverina, returning via the historic Hay Plain and Snowy Valleys.

14days
28stops
3168km

The route

Tap a day or a town

You sleep in Pokolbin · Port Macquarie · Armidale · Glen Innes · Tamworth · Dubbo · Parkes · West Wyalong · Balranald · Wagga Wagga · Goulburn — start and end in Sydney.

DAY01

Sydney → Pokolbin

175 km · 2h 11m driving · Overnight in Pokolbin Village
  1. 09:00
    Sydney City Center· start
  2. 172 km · 2h 6m
  3. 12:00
    ⭐ Hunter Valley Gardens
  4. 3.5 km · 5m
  5. 15:00
    Pokolbin Village· overnight
DAY02

Pokolbin → Port Macquarie

291 km · 3h 17m driving · Overnight in Port Macquarie Town Centre
  1. 09:00
    Pokolbin Village· start
  2. 284 km · 3h 6m
  3. 12:00
    ⭐ Tacking Point Lighthouse
  4. 7.3 km · 11m
  5. 15:00
    Port Macquarie Town Centre· overnight
DAY03

Port Macquarie → Armidale

299 km · 3h 33m driving · Overnight in Armidale Visitor
  1. 09:00
    Port Macquarie Town Centre· start
  2. 170 km · 2h
  3. 12:00
    ⭐ Dorrigo National Park Skywalk
  4. 128 km · 1h 33m
  5. 15:00
    Armidale Visitor· overnight
DAY04

Armidale → Glen Innes

101 km · 1h 14m driving · Overnight in Glen Innes Town Centre
  1. 09:00
    Armidale Visitor· start
  2. 99 km · 1h 11m
  3. 12:00
    ⭐ Australian Standing Stones
  4. 1.9 km · 3m
  5. 15:00
    Glen Innes Town Centre· overnight
DAY05

Glen Innes → Tamworth

217 km · 2h 37m driving · Overnight in Tamworth City Center
  1. 09:00
    Glen Innes Town Centre· start
  2. 212 km · 2h 30m
  3. 12:00
    ⭐ The Big Golden Guitar
  4. 5.1 km · 7m
  5. 15:00
    Tamworth City Center· overnight
DAY06

Tamworth → Dubbo

360 km · 5h 6m driving · long drive · Overnight in Dubbo Visitor
  1. 09:00
    Tamworth City Center· start
  2. 177 km · 2h 40m
  3. 12:00
    Coolah Tops National Park
  4. 183 km · 2h 26m
  5. 15:00
    ⭐ Dubbo Visitor· overnight
DAY07

Taronga Western Plains Zoo → Dubbo

9.5 km · 16m driving · Overnight in Dubbo Visitor
  1. 09:00
    ⭐ Taronga Western Plains Zoo· start
  2. 4.7 km · 8m
  3. 12:00
    Old Dubbo Gaol
  4. 4.8 km · 8m
  5. 15:00
    Dubbo Visitor· overnight
DAY08

Dubbo → Parkes

132 km · 1h 33m driving · Overnight in Parkes Town Centre
  1. 09:00
    Dubbo Visitor· start
  2. 107 km · 1h 13m
  3. 12:00
    ⭐ CSIRO Parkes Radio Telescope
  4. 25 km · 20m
  5. 15:00
    Parkes Town Centre· overnight
DAY09

Parkes → West Wyalong

138 km · 1h 34m driving · Overnight in West Wyalong
  1. 09:00
    Parkes Town Centre· start
  2. 33 km · 25m
  3. 12:00
    Forbes Historic Town Walk
  4. 105 km · 1h 9m
  5. 15:00
    ⭐ West Wyalong· overnight
DAY10

West Wyalong → Balranald

387 km · 4h 5m driving · Overnight in Balranald Discovery Centre
  1. 09:00
    West Wyalong· start
  2. 254 km · 2h 40m
  3. 12:00
    Hay Gaol Museum
  4. 133 km · 1h 25m
  5. 15:00
    ⭐ Balranald Discovery Centre· overnight
DAY11

Balranald → Mungo

314 km · 3h 46m driving · Overnight in Balranald Discovery Centre
  1. 09:00
    Balranald Discovery Centre· start
  2. 157 km · 1h 52m
  3. 12:00
    ⭐ Mungo National Park Walls of China
  4. 157 km · 1h 54m
  5. 15:00
    Balranald Discovery Centre· overnight
DAY12

Balranald → Wagga Wagga

401 km · 4h 13m driving · Overnight in Wagga Wagga Civic Centre
  1. 09:00
    Balranald Discovery Centre· start
  2. 303 km · 3h 8m
  3. 12:00
    Narrandera Murrumbidgee River
  4. 98 km · 1h 5m
  5. 15:00
    ⭐ Wagga Wagga Civic Centre· overnight
DAY13

Wagga Wagga → Goulburn

263 km · 2h 51m driving · Overnight in Goulburn Visitor
  1. 09:00
    Wagga Wagga Civic Centre· start
  2. 90 km · 1h 3m
  3. 12:00
    ⭐ Dog on the Tuckerbox
  4. 173 km · 1h 48m
  5. 15:00
    Goulburn Visitor· overnight
DAY14

The Big Merino → Sydney

80 km · 52m driving
  1. 09:00
    ⭐ The Big Merino· start
  2. 4 km · 5m
  3. 12:00
    Berrima Historic Village
  4. 76 km · 47m
  5. 15:00
    Sydney City Center
Booking timeline
Book these before you go
  1. Day 1Stay in Pokolbin · Night 1
  2. Day 2Stay in Port Macquarie · Night 2
  3. Day 3Stay in Armidale · Night 3
  4. Day 4Stay in Glen Innes · Night 4
  5. Day 5Stay in Tamworth · Night 5
  6. Days 6–7Stay in Dubbo · Nights 6-7
  7. Day 8Stay in Parkes · Night 8
  8. Day 9Stay in West Wyalong · Night 9
Heads Up
  • Day 6: 5h 6m driving — plan rest stops
  • July is winter; expect sub-zero temperatures and frost in Armidale and the New England region.
  • The drive to Mungo National Park from Balranald involves unsealed roads; check local conditions after rain.
  • Wildlife is highly active at dawn and dusk on inland highways; avoid driving during these times if possible.
  • Book your Dubbo zoo tickets and Mungo guided tours in advance as July school holidays can be busy.