Narrabri is situated in North West NSW, 560km from both Sydney and Brisbane. (A leisurely seven hour drive) The Newell and Kamilaroi Highways meet at Narrabri, carrying visitors north and south and east and west. Apart from road and rail travel, Narrabri is fortunate to be linked to Sydney with daily Qantaslink flights.

Aboriginal meaning “Forked Waters”

Population 7,300. 240 m above sea level

History credits explorers Sir Thomas Mitchell and Allan Cunningham with the honour of opening the way to the North West plains and indeed to the area that is now known as Narrabri Shire. However, an escaped convict, the notorious George "the barber" Clarke, was the first white man to seek his fortune in this area. He painted himself black, took two aboriginal wives and wandered the plains naked with the natives, stealing cattle and, after his recapture in 1831, related wonderful tales of his travels and of a deep, wide river, the Kindur, which flowed into a vast inland sea. This prompted Sir Thomas Mitchell to press out into a virtually unknown area. He did not find the Kindur or an inland sea but, without knowing it then, opened the way for settlement in one of the most productive parts of Australia. Wee Waa, the oldest town in the Namoi Valley, was proclaimed in 1847, followed by Narrabri and Boggabri in 1860.

In 2001, Narrabri Shire residents were very proud to be voted by Channel 9’s Today Show as the Sportiest district in Australia. No fewer than one hundred and ten Australian representatives and Champions representing forty-four sports were either born in our Shire or started their sporting careers here. Call to the Narrabri Shire Visitor Centre for a full list of our sporting heroes.

If you like variety in a holiday, then Narrabri Shire is sure to have what you’re looking for. Our Shire covers over 13,000km, and is the heart of the rich Namoi Valley in the North West NSW. It is renowned for the production of some of the world’s highest quality wheat, cotton, fat lambs and beef.

The presence of several research facilities in the shire bears testimony to this. All this is joined by a wealth of excellent tourist attractions for visitors to enjoy.

Narrabri Shire boasts many fabulous attractions such as Mt Kaputar National Park, Sawn Rocks and Waa Gorge.

Mt Kaputar National Park has something for everyone – walks for some and views for all! The National park is an ecological island with stunning diversity of geology, plants, animals and climate.

The Australia Telescope have interactive exhibits are found beside the 3km precision built rail track and its equally precision built cargo – five gleaming white dishes, 22 m in diameter which make up the compact array part of the AT. The resolving power of the AT can be likened to being able to read telephone books from tens of kilometres away.

The Australian Cotton Centre – From Field to Fabric. An award wining entertaining exhibition centre showcasing the Australian Cotton Industry. Fun for whole family. There is a modest entry fee to enter the exhibit section, which includes a 3D theatrette, and nine interactive exhibits. The gift shop in the Australian Cotton centre is stocked with 100%Australian Cotton products; entry to the gift shop is free.

Other attractions not to be missed whilst in Narrabri include: The Crossing Theatre.Bohena Olives, Narrabri Antiques and Art, Narrabri Craft Shop, Cotton Tours (Seasonal April – July), Kaputar Aviation Joy flights, Narrabri, Wee Waa and Boggabri Museums, The Pilliga Hot Artesian Bore, Pilliga Scrub, Burren Junction Hot Artesian Bore, Cuttabri Wine Shanty, Seplin Estate Wines, Lynch’s Lane Wines and Gins Leap in Boggabri.

The Narrabri Shire Information Centre is Open 7 Days Monday to Friday 9am – 5pm Saturday & Sunday 9am – 2pm Ph: 1800 659931 For all you’re local and National enquires