Narrandera Attractions

Attractions / Calendar of Events

Welcome to our Narrandera Attractions page. Here we have tried to provide you with a comprehensive listing of events and places to see, things to do. For specific enquiries you can contact Narrandera Visitor Information Centre Newell Highway Narrandera, NSW 2700

Toll Free: 1800 672 392 Telephone: 02 - 6959 1766 Fax: 02 - 6959 2788
Located on the Newell Hwy & Cadell St - open 9am - 5pm daily (closed Christmas day).
Email: tourist.centre@narrandera.nsw.gov.au Mobile: 0427 591 766 Website: www.narrandera.nsw.gov.au

Approaching Narrandera then switch on the car radio & Tune to 87.5FM

Some interesting facts about our town:

The Wandering in Narrandera leaflet is a great start to your visit - free from the Visitors Centre.
The town has been declared an Urban Conservation Area by the National Trust.
Bushranger Mad Dog Morgan is said to have hidden in caves in the area.
the approximate population is 4,650.
Settlement of the area began soon after Captain Charles Sturt glowingly described the landscape after his epic journey alongside the Murrumbidgee in 1829.

Attractions

Beyond the immediate area from the All Transit Motel you can find: Boat ramp 1km, Hospital 2km, Post Office 2km, Bowling club 2km, Railway Station 3km, Golf Course 4km, Domestic Airport 6km.

Tiger Moth Memorial - The Tiger Moth Memorial is of the No. 8 Elementary Flying School. In August 1940, an air school was established at Narrandera on the site of the present airport by the Royal Australian Air Force. The school was the No. 8 Elementary Flying Training School, where over the next five years during the World War II, 3818 student pilots commenced their elementary flying training on DH82 Tiger Moth Aircraft. The memorial features a DH82 Tiger Moth Aircraft as used at the training school.

The Tiger Moth Memorial is located at Narrandera Park where not only this but you will find Northern Territory bottle trees, sports areas, a miniature zoo featuring kangaroos, emus, birds and ducks as well. There is an "Active Australia" walking trail around the park. The park includes a picnic area with facilities and amenities including electric barbecues, toilets and the Narrandera Tourist Information Centre.

Temora Flight Museum - Located south east Via Wagga Wagga. The hangar facility was completed in February 2000 and David Lowy donated the initial aircraft for the collection. The museum was opened for public viewing in June 2000. In late 2000 construction commenced on the exhibition buildings, containing display space, theatrette, admission entrance, gift shop, a children's playground and picnic area. These were completed and opened to the public August 2001. Stage Three of the Museum Complex was completed in November 2002 with the opening of a 1980 sq m. display hangar. All aircraft are housed in this new hangar with the original hangar becoming a customised restoration and maintenance facility.

Australian Old Vine Wines - proudly produce Premium Quality Wines from a selection of Australia’s oldest vines. Our aim is to manage the quality standard necessary to deliver one of Australia finest wine sensations, rich in flavour, with the unique character that old low yielding vines produce. We maintain the traditional farming practices of hand pruning, hand picking and no manufactured fertilizers or pesticides being used. Located in Griffith, this winery is one of our favourites - a great drop of red wine!

Koala Watching - Koalas may be seen in their natural habitat close to town (weather permitting) Guided tours are available with volunteer Koala spotters for couples to coach Loads. Bookings can be made at the Visitors Centre. Donations to the Koala Regeneration Centre are appreciated.

Lavande Aromatiques - “Clydebank” Bell’s Road Narrandera Telephone (02)69593920 Web Narrandera’s award winning Boutique and Café just a stone’s throw from the town centre. Admire the picturesque gardens and sample the luscious skin creams & balms made from the farms own distilled Lavender Oil Open 7 days a week9.30am till 4.30pm Bus and group by appointment

My Dolls - Danger Drive Narrandera, Telephone (02)69591728. Over 2,000 Dolls ranging over many types and periods have been collected through the years by dedicated doll fancier Irene Patterson.
Open 7 Days10 is to 1pm and 2pm to 5pm

The Big Guitar is located in Narrandera and is on display at the Narrandera Visitor Information Centre. Made by a member of the Narrandera Country Music Association Mr Robert Palmer; as a tribute to their interest in country music and as a focus for their association. The Big Guitar measures 5.820 metres by 2.019 metres and has its place in the 1991 edition of the Guinness Book of Records as the 'Worlds Largest Playable Guitar'.

The Bundidgerry Walking Track - The Bundidgerry Walking track starts in Narrandera at Broad street. It extends about the Lake and riverside Maps are available from the Narrandera visitor information Centre. The reserve along the river has been declared regeneration area to promote colony of Koalas. The best time for the walk is in the early morning when there is plenty of wild life about ,parrots, currawongs, magpies, galahs, Willie wag tails, kingfishers and kangaroos.

Royal Dolton Fountain - Hankinson Fountain (Royal Doulton) - The ceramic fountain which is situated in the memorial gardens was made by Royal Doulton was presented to the people of Narrandera by Ald R H and Mrs Hankinson in 1922 “in honour of all those in Narrandera and District who served in the Great War 1914-1918”. There are only two fountains of this kind known to be in existence, the second one being in Pakistan. Mr Hankinson was a very community minded citizen who commenced business in Grong Grong and later in Narrandera and Leeton. In 1915 he became the prime mover in the Patriotic Committee to present a fighter plane to the War Office. When the present council Chambers were erected in 1930 Mr Hankinson donated the town clock and tried to make the donation anonymous. The Hankinson Fountain was smashed by an act of vandalism in 1971 and the painstaking efforts of the Late Charles Pearce restored the fountain to its former glory.

Lake Talbot & Swimming Pool - Three chlorinated pools, terraced lawn & shady trees together with an electric B B Q make an ideal water playground. It is enhanced by a ride on the Rampage slide an exhilarating ride of speed or join the excitement on the 100m Water slide! Open each day November to Easter except Christmas Day.

The Boat ramp is adjacent to the pools and part of the lake is a focal point for water skiers.

Bundidgerry Walking Track - follows a scenic route around lake Talbot and the majestic Murrumbidgee River. A map of the track is available from the visitors centre.

Oakbank Brewery - characterised by the large red brick tower standing 90 feet (30 metres) tall it is a distinctive landmark of Narrandera. Now abandoned it symbolises the period of the late 1800's to the 1920's when the heyday of growth and development of the area took off - a pub on every corner (over 50 Hotels were in the region)! The Oakbank brewery was one of the most modern in NSW at the time. It had the latest equipment from England, employed up to 100 and during 1921 it had a capacity to make 20,000 gallons of stout, 10,000 bottles of beer and 15,000 bottles of cordial daily.

The site was sold in 1924 to Tooths Brewing of Sydney but it quickly changed into just a cordial factory and operated this way till 1986 under various owners. Unfortunately today, the buildings are empty & neglected however, the National Trust has classified the old tower as "being of significance". Take some time to stop and look & see how grand it would have been.

Narrandera Fishing - Come catch a famous Murray cod! Fishing the Murrumbidgee is must if your a keen fisherman. A boat ramp exists at Lake Talbot, off Broad street, on boat ramp road adjacent to Lake Talbot Tourist Park. You can also find a boat ramp located in Narrandera township off Old Brewery Road, just East of the Murrumbidgee River bridge on the Newell Highway. NOTE: A fishing license is required to fish in NSW.

Narrandera Fisheries Centre - Home to research and breeding programs for native species in the Murrumbidgee Darling River System. Located 6 km East of Narrandera on the banks of the Murrumbidgee River the centre has over 35 hectares of parkland. Open for tours, see their site for more information. On a visit to the centre you can have a close up encounter with native and endangered species of the Murray-Darling river system.

Facilities include ample parking for large vehicles, playground and you can enjoy a picnic on the lovely lawns and you have available electric Barbecues. Open Mon-Fri (except public hols) 8.30am - 4pm - you must do a guided tour, no public roaming of facilities is allowed. Tours run at scheduled times, please check their website for latest times.

Narrandera Wetlands - This man made wetland recycles storm water from the town and is fast becoming a home to native flora and fauna. There is an easy walk around and it is located just off the Newell Highway approach to the River Bridge.

Parkside Cottage Museum - has been established in a century old building and houses the MacArthur Opera cloak which was made from the first bale of wool sent to England by the MacArthur family in the early nineteenth century. The museum is open Mon - Tues 2pm - 5pm & Wed - Sun - 11am - 5pm. PH: 02-6959 1372

John O'Brien Bush Festival - what a gem of a festival this is! It takes its inspiration from Australian bush culture, music, verse and lifestyle. The festival is held annually in mid March, there are competitions, exhibitions, busking, poetry performances, old fashioned sing-along, artists, crafts and food and wine.

Who was John O'Brien? - An Australian bush balladist, he lived and worked in Narrandera for 27 years. Writing under a nom de plume his true identity was the St Mel's Parish Priest, Father Patrick Hartigan who was much revered by the community. His poetry style reflects the particular brand of Irish/Australian culture we also know today. His first collection of poems "Around the Boree Log" was published during his time in Narrandera.

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Calendar of Events

Event

Jan

Feb

Mch

Apl

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Narrandera Rodeo

Zone 5 N S W Water Skiing Championships

Open Water Swim Australia Day Celebrations

John O’Brien Bush Festival A festival of music and poetry

Free flighters

Easter Rod Run

National Cavvy Show (Known as Guinea pigs)

Camellia Show Castor Oil days (bi-annually)

Narrandera Agricultural Show and Championship Dog show

Murrumbidgee Sheep dog Trials

Morundah Bush picnic Races

Wooden Speed boat regatta

Morundah Carpathon (carp fishing)

Country Music Concert

Light up for Christmas