Port Macquarie → Walcha → Tamworth → Quirindi → Coonabarabran → Gilgandra → Dubbo
Craving a regional road trip where the coffee is consistently exceptional and the country hospitality even better? We've mapped out a journey from the mid-north coast to the Central West, and every town along the way invites you to stay a little longer. Think winding roads, warm fires, friendly locals, and honest-to-goodness great coffee, served by independent cafés that care about quality.
Port Macquarie → Walcha (2.5 hrs)
Wave goodbye to the salt air and coastal breeze as you climb into the misty hinterlands along the Oxley Highway. This drive is famous for its winding bends, and ancient eucalyptus forest. It feels like stepping into another world. If you're up early, you'll pass through shifting morning fog and hear bellbirds echoing across the valleys.
Coffee Stop: Walcha Royal Café
This isn't just the best coffee in Walcha, it's a place that feels like home. Located inside the Royal Hotel, the Walcha Royal Café is warm, rustic, and inviting. Order a coffee, a bite to eat and settle by the fireplace, where locals often share stories and the barista knows everyone by name.
What to Do in Walcha:
- Open Air Gallery: Take a self-guided walk to see over 50 public sculptures integrated into the town's streetscape. Highly regarded and renowned within the global art community, as well as being immensely enjoyed by proud locals and bewildered visitors alike.
- Walcha Gallery of Art: Showcasing contemporary works from across the region. Small in size but high in impact.
- Apsley Falls: Just a short drive out of town, the twin falls thunder down dramatic gorges — especially powerful after rain.
Where to Stay: Stay upstairs at the Walcha Royal Hotel for old-world charm, or try a nearby farmstay for a peaceful, paddock-view sunrise.
Walcha → Tamworth (1.5 hrs)
Grab a coffee and hit the road again in the morning. From the high country to the country music capitol, this drive winds through fertile sheep country, dotted with shearing sheds and lazy cattle. It’s the kind of road where you lose time gazing at windmills and wool bales.
As you arrive into Tamworth, explore one of the oldest regional gallaries in NSW with contemporary and Indigenous works at Tamworth Regional Gallery, established in 1919.
You can’t visit Tamworth without visiting the Country Music Hall of Fameand The Big Golden Guitar! Celebrate Australia's musical legends with interactive displays and memorabilia.
We’re going to head south of Tamworth to Goonoo Goonoo (pronounced 'gunna-g'noo') Station, but not before a photo opportunity with The Big Golden Guitar on the way.
Afternoon & Overnight Stop: Goonoo Goonoo Station
Goonoo Goonoo Station is a beautifully restored 19th-century pastoral village that seamlessly blends heritage and high-end hospitality.
Make time to enjoy dinner at the Glasshouse Restaurant, a multi-award-winning venue and ranked among Australia's Top 50 restaurants. Expect contemporary Australian cuisine, local produce, and stunning presentation. The restaurant’s architectural beauty (polished concrete, floor-to-ceiling windows, brass finishes, panoramic views) adds to the fine dining experience.
Goonoo Goonoo Station offers luxury self-contained accommodation options ranging from intimate cottages to the historic Homestead. After a long day, soak in a clawfoot tub, enjoy a local wine, or stargaze under the clear rural sky.
Wake to the sounds of the countryside and head back to the Glasshouse for a full country breakfast and, of course, a cup of coffee. The peaceful, slow start to the day is a highlight for many travellers.
Goonoo Goonoo → Quirindi (1 hr)
This short drive is quintessential New England: golden fields, railway sidings, grain silos, and sheep lazing under gums. Pull into Werris Creek for a quick detour at the Australian Railway Monument and Rail Journeys Museum.
Coffee Stop: Sugar Plum Tea & Coffee House, Quirindi
Right in the heart of Quirindi, Sugar Plum is all warm smiles and sweet treats. It’s the kind of place where you grab a flat white and end up chatting to the owner, Kezz.
What to Do in Quirindi:
- Who'd A Thought It Lookout: For panoramic views over Liverpool Plains and one of the best spots to catch golden hour.
- Quirindi Rural Heritage Village: Huge collection of farming machinery, tools, and local stories.
- Quipolly Dam: Great for birdwatching and quiet reflection. Bring your binoculars.
Where to Stay: Try a local farmhouse Airbnb with big skies and even bigger stars.
Quirindi → Coonabarabran (2.5 hrs)
Drive west through the Liverpool Plains, often hailed as one of Australia’s most productive farming regions. Vast, open, and stretching to the horizon, this leg is soul food for scenery lovers. Stop in at Premer for a moment of stillness before continuing to Coonabarabran
Coffee Stops in Coonabarabran:
- Cardians Coffee Lounge— Ideal for dine-in. The food is hearty, the servings generous, and the coffee strong. This is where travellers linger.
- Me & Co Café — Perfect for a grab-and-go. Locals love it for its consistency and unique location inside the Space Art Gallery. Pick up a latte and house-made snack.
What to Do in Coonabarabran:
- Siding Spring Observatory: Take a guided tour of Australia’s largest optical telescope. The view alone is worth it.
- Warrumbungle National Park: Hike the Breadknife or enjoy gentler trails with ancient volcanic views.
- Milroy Observatory: Visit at night for a guided stargazing session. The clarity of the skies here is world-class.
Where to Stay: Lots of AIRBNB or motel options to suit every budget
Coonabarabran → Gilgandra (1.5 hrs)
Roll south following the Castlereagh River. It’s a calming drive where time feels slower and life feels lighter. Look for emus near the fences and wedge-tailed eagles perched on posts.
Coffee Stop: Caffeinity Food & Wine Co - inside The Coo-ee Centre (Gilgandra Visitor Information Centre)
Based right inside the Coo-ee Heritage and Visitor Centre, which tells the story of the 1915 Coo-ee March. Grab a coffee, sit under the veranda, and reflect on the grit of the young men who walked from Gilgandra to Sydney to enlist in WWI.
What to Do in Gilgandra:
- Coo-ee Heritage Display: Learn about the town’s famous march and explore local artefacts.
- Gilgandra Rural Museum: Vintage tools, tractors, and Aussie ingenuity.
Gilgandra → Dubbo (45 mins)
This final stretch runs along the Newell Highway, with flat farmland and big skies keeping you company. You’ll know you’re close when Dubbo’s skyline (yes, regional towns have one!) rises into view.
Coffee Stop: The Lab @ Coffee Bean Roasting House
End the trip with a visit to The Lab, our container café attached to the roastery. This is where we roast, cup, and experiment. Ask about our latest single origin, try a filter brew, or just enjoy the minimalist vibe with a seriously good coffee.
What to Do in Dubbo:
- Taronga Western Plains Zoo: Drive-through zoo with rhinos, lions, giraffes and more.
- Old Dubbo Gaol: Step back in time and experience colonial justice firsthand.
- Western Plains Cultural Centre: Art, history, and stories from regional NSW.
Where to Stay: Zoofari Lodge (who wouldn’t want giraffes for neighbours).
Why This Trip?
Because it’s not just about where you're going, it's about the feeling you get along the way. Every town supports local stories, independent businesses, and the kind of country warmth you can’t manufacture.
So go slow. Sip often. Make memories in places most people drive straight past.
