Nestled in the heart of New South Wales, Narrabri is a hidden gem waiting to be explored. Whether you’re an adventure seeker, nature lover, or history buff. Narrabri offers a diverse range of activities that will captivate your senses and leave you craving more.
From the rugged beauty of the Nandewar Ranges to the serene waters of Yarrie Lake, and the awe-inspiring CSIRO Australia Telescope. This vibrant town has something for everyone. Join us as we dive into the top things to do in Narrabri, uncovering the must-see sights and experiences that make this outback town a truly unforgettable destination.
Narrabri can be found at the junction of the Newell and Kamilaroi highways. The name means “forked water” in the Kamilaroi Aboriginal language which is appropriate for a place where Narrabri Creek, Horse Arm Creek, and the Namoi River meet. We stayed in Narrabri at the Big Sky Caravan Park which was the perfect base for us to explore the entire region.
The History of Narrabri
The earliest inhabitants of this area were the Kamilaroi Aboriginal people that had lived, hunted, and fished there for millenia. The first European to reach the area was John Oxley. He explored the Nandewar Ranges in 1818 and 1825 Allan Cunningham explored the Boggabri Plains.
An escaped English convict named George Clarke traveled through this territory from 1826 until 1831. By his own account, he was accepted by the Kamilaroi people and he became a famous bushranger. Eventually, he was re-captured, sent to the Norfolk Island penal colony and ultimately hanged in Hobart Town for his crimes. These early stories inspired Sir Thomas Mitchell to conduct four expeditions into the Australian interior starting in 1832.
A squatting run into the district named “Nurrabry” was carried out in 1834 and a town site was proposed at the junction of the south and west “roads” in 1848. In 1858, the earliest hotel was licensed and a formal town proclamation followed in 1860. A police station and post office were added, but a flood in 1864 devastated the early township.
1865 To 1879 – Major Events In District
By 1865 the legal and court services were transferred to the town from Wee Waa which is also the year that the regular coach service began. The first school opened in 1868 and by 1871 the town population had grown to 313 people. The district started to grow wheat in 1873 and a bridge was built over the Narrabri Creek in 1877 followed by a Namoi River bridge two years later.
In 1880, a police residence was built, the railway arrived two years later and in that same year the Old Gaol was ready to receive prisoners. Narrabri became a municipality in 1883 and the Court House was erected in 1888.
By 1891 the town population had reached 1,977 people, but a fire in 1897 destroyed 23 local businesses on Maitland Street. A second fire in 1906 destroyed 17 buildings in the town centre. After World War 2, a soldier resettlement scheme brought some fresh blood into the area.
Narrabri Effected By Flood
In 1955, a major flood destroyed much of the town, but Narrabri West was not affected and after this time it regained most of its earlier influence that had been lost. Ultimately this led to the formal incorporation of Narrabri West into Narrabri in 1981.
Cotton Industry Commenced
In 1952, cotton was introduced into the area after a period of intensive research and a series of irrigation projects. This hard work paid off, and the district began to produce the highest cotton yields in Australia.
In 1986, a tourism centre constructed with cypress pine sourced from the Pilliga Forest was opened. This building currently stands next to the modern Visitor Centre. Cricket sight boards from Sydney Cricket Ground were installed at Collins Park in 1990.
In 2001, Narrabri was judged by the media to be the most sporting district in Australia with more than 110 local people representing the nation in a wide variety of sporting events. The following year, the $8 million Crossing Theater complex was opened, this is a modern multi-purpose location with two cinemas, four event spaces, and The Crossing Cafe!
6 Things to Do in Narrabri NSW
There is a wide variety of naturally occurring phenomena, attractions, and places to eat in Narrabri, here are just six of our favorites in no particular order.
1. The Narrabri Visitor Centre
As the name suggests, this is the natural starting point for a visit to the town. This visitor centre used to be the Australian Cotton Centre that was used to showcase the local cotton industry. In the recent past, there were local cotton gin inspections during the harvest and processing. This was extremely popular, but it’s no longer possible due to occupation health and safety rules.
However, there are still nine interactive exhibits to explore, as well as cotton-related souvenirs and cotton products for sale. The 3D Theatre is a must-see; there’s a single machine and a few smaller exhibits to view.
Learn About The Cotton Industry
In earlier times, the cotton was collected, placed onto trucks, and transported to the gin. This would lead to cotton spray on the local roads that looked like heavy snowfall. Some enterprising locals would collect this cotton debris, clean it, and then sell it on to the local cotton gins. The earned money was used to fund charitable causes in the area. The latest machines are extremely efficient, the cotton is formed into bales covered with plastic and there’s virtually no cotton debris left on the roads.
The cotton is planted in September and harvested in April and May. A drive through the area at this time highlights the importance of the cotton industry. Around 54,169 ha in Narrabri shire are dedicated to cotton production which is essential for the local economy. There are 151 cotton producers, and together the annual value of their crops is around $200 million. At the Narrabri Visitor Centre, there’s a great booklet on this topic called the Pòcket Guide to Cotton.
The Narrabri Visitor Centre is located on the Newell highway on the site of the former Australian Cotton Centre. It’s easy to find, the staff are friendly and knowledgeable and there’s plenty of parking. This is an excellent place to find visitor guides and brochures that can help you plan your trip. The latest Narrabri Region guide is packed with the latest up-to-date useful information for visitors.
2. Mt Kaputar National Park
This is fast becoming a tourism hot spot, but it’s tricky to find and it’s only accessible with a 4WD vehicle. A handy map from the Visitor Information Centre shows this location outside Boggabri on the route to Manilla. This is an impressive serene rock pool located at the base of a semicircular cliff that’s surrounded by verdant melaleuca trees.
The water drips down a 50m high sedimentary rock surface into the rock pool. After rainfall, this is a great place to relax and enjoy a picnic listening to the water, wind, and local bird songs. On a warm day, you can swim in the rock pool to cool off or venture under the dripping water to enjoy a refreshing natural shower.
Mount Kaputar, located near Narrabri, NSW, is a striking volcanic mountain range that rises above the surrounding plains, offering dramatic views and a diverse natural environment. At its summit, visitors are rewarded with panoramic vistas stretching across the Nandewar Range and far-reaching outback.
One of the mountain’s most unique residents is the giant pink slug (Triboniophorus aff. graeffei), a rare and vibrant creature found only in this isolated region. Growing up to 20 cm long, the bright pink slug thrives in the cool, moist conditions of Mount Kaputar’s higher altitudes. This fascinating and unusual species adds to the mountain’s allure, making it a must-visit destination for nature lovers and those seeking to explore the area’s rich biodiversity.
When visiting Mt Kaputar National Park, be aware that some of the tracks are long and difficult. If walking to water fall you will need to allow plenty of time. We didn’t visit while in Narrabri as there had been substantial rain overnight and we were not sure if the dirt roads would be OK.
3. Sawn Rocks
This is a local natural volcanic formation composed of a 40m high basalt cliff with hexagonal-shaped rocks that look like huge organ pipes. A rare volcanic action caused rapid cooling in layers of molten rock around 21 million years ago. This created a series of geometric forms that look like they were chiseled by men rather than nature. It’s easy to reach Sawn Rocks, drive out of Narrabri around 3 km north on the Newell Highway and you will see a sign for the Bingara Road. Sawn Rocks is 36 km down that road, it’s a national park with plenty of parking.
Visitors will find a 750m walking track with informative signs to guide them along the 10 minute journey. The path winds through Moreton Bay figs, tall eucalyptus trees, delicate ferns and wattles. There’s a viewing platform and you can walk down some steps to reach Bobbiwaa Creek to see the clear rock pools at the base. We can only see the surface, geologists estimate that these hexagonal shapes descend 60m below the surface!
At the car park there are covered picnic tables, to enjoy a picnic. There are toilets there as well. The walk to see the Organ Pipes is not difficult, but on warmer days keep an eye out for snakes. We saw a lizard sunning itself on a rock. If possible, it is best to visit after lunch as the sun will be behind you. We were there at about 4pm and found that it was a good time for photos of the rocks.
4. Wee Waa
This town is located a short drive away from Narrabri. It was known as “The Cotton Capital of Australia” and cotton production began there in the 1960s. Today, the crops have expanded to include wheat, barley, sorghum, canola, chickpeas, faba beans, sunflowers and there are some major attractions in and around the town. We had lunch in a nice little cafe on the main street, there are other places in town that were also recommended.
During our drive to Wee Waa, we came across two Brolgas crossing the road. They were very quiet and we were able to get a photo of them. We were traveling in September and there were a lot of nice looking crops. We saw canola, lupins, Faba beans, and wheat.
60kms from Wee Waa is Pilliga a small rural town. But there are Artesian Baths just out of town where you can camp. There were quite a few caravans in the camping area. It looked clean and tidy as we drove through.
5. Yarrie Lake
Yarrie Lake is found 13kms further on from the CSIRO Telescope on the Yarrie Road, from Narrabri. The Lake is 1.6 km in diameter and the lake is believed to have been formed after a meteor strike. Now the lake is home to more than 70 species of water birds including some that have come from Russia! The water has a distinct milky colour caused by the surrounding soil and sand. This is a great spot for swimming, waterskiing, sailing, camping, and picnics.
There are a small amount of powered camping sites and a toilet block. There is also a little shop, it wasn’t open the day that we were there so I am not sure what they stock. Around the lake, there are shelters with picnic tables and fire pits. Free camping is also allowed at different spots around the lake. The Boat ramp is in the same area as the powered sites.
6. CSIRO Australia Telescope Narrabri
This was established in 1967, it’s a radio telescope that was later supplemented with the Australia Telescope. The equipment is linked to the telescopes in Coonabarabran, Tidbinbilla, and Parkes. At this time, this is the most powerful telescope in the entire southern hemisphere.
Radio waves originating from deep space are analyzed with six huge dishes that are positioned on a rail track. They can be moved and adjusted to take better measurements as required. This telescope can be found 22 km to the Southwest of Narrabri and accessed from the Yarrie Lake Road.
There were 5 telescopes at the visitor centre, one directly in front of the centre and two on either side further down the rail track. The 6th telescope was located 3km away and this gives better coverage. In the information centre there are inter-active things to do as well as information around the walls to read. You can watch a video in a separate room that explains how things work and how the information from the galaxy is collected.
Whispering Dishes At CSIRO Telescope
Entry is free and visitors are welcome to explore the interactive displays and “Whispering Dishes”. A unique audio effect is created where a whisper can be sent over 75 m when two telescope dishes are aligned. This is the only radio telescope in the southern hemisphere that can receive signals 1000x higher than an FM radio station. The latest displays are “self-guiding” and they highlight the impressive technology and scientific achievements of this complex.
In the picture, Leo is standing at the first disk and I am taking the photo from the second disc. When Leo faced the disk and spoke into it I could hear him as if he was standing beside me. I think he heard me a lot clearer than when standing beside me. This was truly amazing and the kids would have fun experimenting with this.
The Landscape Around Narrabri
The countryside south of Narrabri, NSW, is a captivating mix of vast farmland and rugged wilderness, with the Pilliga Scrub adding an air of mystery to the landscape. This expansive forest, known for its diverse flora and fauna, stretches across the plains, offering a contrast to the cultivated fields of wheat, cotton, and sunflowers.
As you venture through the dense bushland of the Pilliga, you might hear tales of the elusive Yowie, a legendary creature said to roam the area. The Yowie, part of local folklore, adds a sense of intrigue to this already enchanting region, where wide-open spaces and the untouched beauty of the bush converge.
Interesting Facts About Narrabri
- The River that flows through Narrabri is the Namoi River
- Main farming for area- Cotton, Wheat, Sorghum, Canola, Chickpeas
- Population of Narrabri Shire 12809
- Area of Narrabri Shire 13,015.00 km squared
- Population of Narrabri 5499
- Mount Kaputar: Just outside Narrabri, Mount Kaputar National Park offers stunning landscapes, diverse wildlife, and the rare giant pink slug, unique to the area.
- Astronomical Research: Narrabri is home to the CSIRO Australia Telescope Compact Array, one of the country’s leading astronomical observatories, attracting researchers and astronomy enthusiasts from around the world.
- Pilliga Forest: Narrabri is close to the vast Pilliga Scrub, a sprawling forest known for its biodiversity and folklore, including stories of the elusive Yowie.
Wrapping Up Things To Do In Narrabri
As you can see, there are a lot of things to do in Narrabri and the surrounding area. We stayed at the Narrabri Big Sky Caravan Park which has comfortable AC-equipped cabins, a BBQ, and a vegetable garden. There’s free private parking, WiFi, a flat-screen TV in the camp kitchen, private bathrooms for caravans, showers, and powered sites.
This is a perfect base to explore Narrabri, Wee Waa, and the must-see attractions mentioned earlier in this article. Wherever you choose to stay, Narrabri really has a lot to offer for those seeking a relaxing vacation with plenty of local culture and history to explore.