Aerial view of Central Wagga Wagga, via Wikimedia Commons.
Canberra Day Trips usually focuses on interesting smaller destinations, but this week we’re showcasing the vibrant regional city of Wagga Wagga. Sprawled along the banks of the Murrumbidgee River, Wagga has a thriving food and wine scene, fabulous galleries, beautiful parks and gardens and fascinating heritage to discover, and several award-winning wineries are right nearby.
Wagga is a major city in the Riverina region of NSW. It’s an important agricultural, military, and transport hub for the wheat, cattle and sheep industries. Its name is an Aboriginal word that means many crows.
Things to do
When it comes to things to do in Wagga, the options are endless.
- The Botanic Gardens promise hours of fun, with a zoo, an aviary and a mini railway to discover.
- Down by the river, the Wiradjuri Walking Track showcases the city and encompasses Marrambidya Wetland bird sanctuary.
- Head down to Wollundry Lagoon, where you’ll find the Wagga Wagga Art Gallery. It’s home to the renowned Margaret Carnegie print collection, and the National Art Glass Collection is right nearby, housing some significant Australian artworks.
- Just outside the city, find the RAAF Wagga Aviation Heritage Centre, with a museum that showcases air force history and displays vintage warplanes.
- Hit the wineries and breweries. You won’t have to go far to enjoy the best of what the region has to offer. The Charles Sturt University Winery is around 9km out of town, while Borambola Wines is around 25km from Wagga.
- There’s no shortage of places to eat in Wagga. Some of our favourites include The Blessed Bean, a coffee spot that serves up excellent coffee with five-star service, The Thirsty Crow Brewery, which promises not just a range of golden ales but also a simple but delicious menu (don’t miss the chance to try a pizza), and Artisan Baker on Morgan Street. If you’re visiting in winter, the steaming hot soup and fresh baguettes are sublime.
Getting there
From Canberra, take the Barton Highway towards Yass until its intersection with the Hume Highway. Continue along the Hume Highway past Gundagai until you reach a major intersection – the Sturt Highway – which will take you through to Wagga.
When to go
As the largest regional city in NSW, there’s always something happening in Wagga. Check out the events calendar for exhibitions, performances, produce and craft markets, and festivals, and if your idea of a perfect day is cycling combined with a craft beer and cider festival, don’t miss the Gears and Beers Festival every October.
Key details
- Duration: Around 2 ¾ hours each way from the CBD
- Distance from Canberra: 240km
- Recommended for: Just about everyone. With lovely tree-lined streets to wander around, excellent museums and galleries to explore, parks and gardens galore, a river to take a swim in, an Aboriginal trail to walk along and boutique breweries to visit, Wagga has plenty to offer
- More information: Visit Wagga
If you’ve spent time in Wagga, let us know your favourite thing to do there.
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