📍15 Best Things To Do In Canowindra, New South Wales. (2024.)
WANT TO KNOW WHAT THE BEST THINGS TO DO IN CANOWINDRA ARE?
Way out west of Sydney, between the big country cities of Bathurst and Orange and the notable inland towns of Cowra, Parkes and Forbes, lies Canowindra. Although it’s only a tiny place on the Lachlan Highway, don’t just pass through, because while it doesn’t look like there’s much to see for tourists, I found out during my 3-month trip travelling throughout New South Wales and the ACT that there’s a handful of fantastic things to do in Canowindra that’ll make you glad you stopped by.
👉 My top 3 picks for what to do in Canowindra:
- Discover prehistoric fish from when Australia was under the sea at the Age Of Fishes Museum.
- Enjoy spectacular views of the countryside from Blue Jacket Hill Lookout.
- Visit during the International Balloon Festival.
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Best Things To Do In Canowindra.
1. Walk The Historical Town.
Gaskill Street
People who love exploring rustic architecture from days gone shouldn’t go through Canowindra without first dropping into Gaskill Street because, as a historical town, it’s full of beautiful old buildings to discover.
Wandering the short distance between Blackford and Ryall Street is so unintrusively old-fashioned you feel like you’ve stepped back in time. Or on a movie set, which you sort of are, as the 2003 buddy comedy Kangaroo Jack and the 2015 suspense film Strangerland featuring Nicole Kidman both filmed scenes in this gorgeous throwback of a place.
I adored that they’ve kept the town feeling authentically retro and haven’t succumbed to modernity because it’s a big part of what makes Canowindra so charming.
2. Age Of Fishes Museum. – $.
Of all the fantastic things to do in Canowindra, one place no one should skip out on is the Age Of Fishes Museum. Located at the Visitor Information Centre on Gaskill Street, this outstanding award-winning attraction showcases some of the most well-preserved fish fossils ever found.
Aged at an estimated 360-370 million years from the Late Devonian era, the fish species found in this discovery are significantly older than the more commonly known dinosaurs and megafauna! It’s believed they died trapped in a pool of evaporating water, as scientists found more than 3700 of them densely packed together and perfectly preserved on a single bedding plane.
As one of the most significant fossil finds ever uncovered, the discovery site has become a place of international scientific significance and national heritage. And because it is such a rare find, visiting the museum, which is only one of two fish fossil museums worldwide, and learning about these ancient species is an absolute must.
3. Canowindra Historical Society And Museum. – $.
Those still itching to delve deep into Canowindra’s history will enjoy the Historical Society and Museum next door to the Age Of Fishes Museum and Information Centre.
Displaying artefacts and memorabilia from bygone eras inside beautiful old building transported here from around the region, the museums provides a heartfelt look at Canowindra’s more recent memory lane.
4. Blue Jacket Hill Lookout.
Another unmissable place to visit in Canowindra is Blue Jack Hill Lookout. Only a 2.5km drive east of town, this unassuming spot has incredible uninterrupted, almost 360-degree panoramic views of the surrounding countryside.
It’s a gorgeous spot but is particularly so at sunrise. Not just because the sun’s soft light casts a warm orange glow over the landscape, but you’ may likely also see a hot air balloon rising over the landscape as I was fortunate enough to see. Better yet, if you come around mid-August to late September when the canola plants bloom, it’s even more spectacular as the fields turn bright yellow!
5. Hot Air Ballooning. – $.
As well as being home to one of the greatest fish fossil sites in the world, Canowindra is also the Hot Air Balloon Capital Of Australia. It owes that title to the region’s consistent gentle weather allowing year-round balloon flying, so if you’ve been eyeballing a hot air balloon flight, there’s no better place to do it than here.
Hop into a basket and enjoy floating above the undulating landscape of the picturesque Cabonne Shire during the peaceful early morning in the soft light of sunrise. It’s such a beautiful way of sightseeing and easily one of the best and most memorable things to do in Canowindra. But word to the wise, if you book your flight between mid-August and late September when the canola fields bloom a vivid yellow, the view is even more magical.
6. International Balloon Challenge. – $.
Can you really be the capital of something without having a festival to showcase why you are the greatest? Technically, yes, but it’s way less fun that way. As Australia’s Balloon Capital, Canowindra fittingly hosts the International Balloon Challenge.
The annual event typically takes place over five days in April and sees ballooning pilots from all across the globe gather to compete in courses that involve skilful manoeuvering to complete a series of tasks and goals. Seeing so many balloons gracing the skies is nothing short of spectacular, but something to absolutely not miss is the signature Cabonne Community Glow.
Watch as 15 hot air balloons take off shortly after sunset, light up and synchronize their lights to a fun soundtrack in a mesmerizing aerial show. The event is magical, so for those wondering what to do in Canowindra to make it worth visiting, this is it, so plan your trip around April and experience this unique sky festival.
7. Blind Freddy Bushranger Tours. – $.
Adding to the list of unique things to do in Canowindra is the Blind Freddy Bushranger Tours. Back in the olden days, when Australia felt more like the Wild West, this place had its fair share of troublesome characters with questionable motives that passed through town. Some of those shady people have become folklore and legend, including infamous bushranger Ben Hall, leader of the Gardiner–Hall gang.
You can get an in-depth look at his chaotic and crime-ridden life with the Ben Hall Day Tour, where your expert guide will dish out heavily researched nuggets of information while exploring some of the places the bushranger was known to have visited. There’s also the shorter Canowindra Walking Tour and the half-day highlights tour.
The former delves deep into the handful of times bushranging thugs visited the town, while the latter is a mix of both trips. It’s a fun way to get insight into the early days of Canowindra, and thanks to the engaging and enthusiastic guide, it’s a fantastic experience for the whole family.
8. Big Peg.
As if Australia’s love affair with Big Things couldn’t get weird enough with town “mascots” such as the Big Melon in Chinchilla, and the Big Prawn in the car park of a Bunnings Warehouse in Ballina, Canowindra has a quirky unofficial Big Thing of its own.
Located on Cargo Road a short distance away from the township, a rural farm has a Giant Peg sticking up out the ground and creating a fantastic photo opportunity for anyone passing by, which is both weird and highly amusing.
9. Morris Park.
Whichever direction you come from, it’s quite the distance to get to Canowindra. And if you’re travelling with kids, they can quickly get restless. Morris Park is a great place to take them because it has a playground to help them burn off excess energy. There’s also lots of open space, making it a lovely place to enjoy a peaceful picnic.
10. Canowindra Swimming Pool.
Summers in Canowindra are warm, so the perfect way to cool off on those hot, sticky days is to head to the pool. The local swimming pool is located in the heart of town and is a great place to cool down after driving long distances in the car, riding the Lachlan Valley Cycle Path or Nangar National Park.
11. Lachlan Valley Cycle Trail.
Those looking to spend more time in the countryside will be pleased to learn about the Lachlan Valley Cycle Trail. This mammoth 345km circuit trail zig zags across the countryside and encompasses Cowra, Forbes, Parkes, Eugowra, Gooloogong and Canowindra.
The two sections that start from Canowindra lead to Eugowra and Cowra. Both are classified as hard as they involve some hill climbs, but the former is a 53km trip, while the latter is 8 km shorter at 43 km.
Even if going town-to-town isn’t something you want to do, shorter, return trips are also great, especially if you have kids. They’ll love being outdoors while burning off their pent-up energy and enjoying the fresh air instead of sitting in the car for extended periods. And if you’re on the opposite end of the spectrum and love overnight biking adventures, cycling the entire Lachlan Valley Cycle Trail is a great way to enjoy this beautiful area.
Places To Visit Near Canowindra.
Those who would like to discover what else there is to see and do around Canowindra will be pleased to know that the towns surrounding it have plenty to offer.
12. Eugowra Historical Museum.
Those interested in learning more about the history of the area and the bushrangers that gave the town its claim to fame may enjoy heading the thirty-four kilometres west to Eugowra to visit the Eugowra Historical Museum & Bushranger Centre.
Filled to the brim with local artefacts and wares, it tells the story of Eugowra’s past, most notably, the nearby bushranger’s attack on four passing policemen, including a pistol one of the gang members lost during the fiasco. Among other items on display are wartime memorabilia from local service personnel and farming tools.
13. Escort Rock.
Also out at Eugowra is Escort Rock, a heritage-listed series of boulders on Escort Way made famous because it was where bushrangers Frank Gardiner and Ben Hall attacked a group of four policemen guarding a large stash of gold, money and mail during transportation.
Before or after visiting the Eugowra Historical Museum & Bushranger Centre, head to the location and read the signs that depict a vivid story of what went down that fateful day in 1962 and get a fascinating insight into what life was like when scum like Gardiner and Hall were far more commonplace.
14. Nangar National Park.
People who enjoy hiking rather than cycling will love Nangar National Park. Although small, this beautiful place between Canowindra and Eugowra is a spectacular natural gem. Three trails are each doable in a day and start from the Terarra campground but are combinable for longer adventures.
The Mount Murga walking trail is an 8km return, grade 5 track that follows the ridgeline west, then north to a plateau overlooking the surrounding countryside. Chinamans Garden is the easiest trail in the national park and leads north-northeast to an old fence that served as a perimeter for a garden tended to by Chinese miners, which is how the trail got its name. The distance returning along the same path is 7.4km along a Grade 4 trail. Mt Nangar is the shortest of the three individual tracks and the only one that goes east but has the best views of the Lachlan Valley. It’s a 6km return journey on a grade 5 trail.
For the most immersive adventure, there is the mammoth Mount Murga To Mt Nangar Loop. As the name suggests, this hard, 16km circuit trail encompasses two of the national park’s most scenic pathways and combines them into a challenging but rewarding full-day trek.
15. Cowra.
Not far south of Canowindra along the Lachlan Valley Way (B81) lies the Cowra, which has notable ties to World War II as it is where the largest POW breakout in Australia occurred in August 1944. Many of the Japanese military prisoners lost their lives in their efforts to escape along with 4 Australian personnel working at the detainment facility.
Many of the town’s attractions are poignant reminders of what went down that day, such as the Cowra Peace Precinct where the ruins of the POW Camp lie and the Hologram Theatre at the Information Centre which has a documentary depicting what went down that fateful day.
In the aftermath of the event, the two nations of Australia and Japan forged a strong and enduring friendship, where many of Cowra’s noteworthy attractions are symbolic of this beautiful relationship that grew from it such as the World Peace Bell and the Japanese Gardens And Cultural Centre, making visiting this picturesque town well worth it.
Canowindra Map.
Visiting Canowindra, NSW. – Frequently Asked Questions.
What Is Canowindra Known For?
Canowindra is Australia’s Hot Air Balloon Capital, thanks to the favourable weather making flying the floating aircraft suitable most days of the year. It also hosts the International Balloon Challenge, a massive 5-day event that sees balloon pilots from all over the world come together to put on an epic spectacle showcasing the floating aircraft.
Furthermore, the region is also home to a significant find of prehistoric fossils. Millions of years ago, when much of the present-day landscape was underwater, way before the dinosaurs and megafauna roamed the earth, fish were the dominant species.
And in the area surrounding Canowindra, a dense concentration of them was found fossilized nearby. While you can’t see the site where they were discovered, you can examine some at the Age Of Fishes Museums, one of the town’s biggest attractions.
When Is The Canowindra Balloon Festival?
The International Balloon Challenge is an exciting 5-day annual event usually held in April when the weather is the most consistently suitable for ballooning.
Where Is Canowindra in New South Wales?
Canowindra is the southernmost township in the Canbonne Shire. This shire is part of the New South Wales Orana Region, the central country area between the Great Dividing Range and the Outback.
It lies on the Lachlan Highway 300km west of Sydney and is close to six major inland cities and towns, including Dubbo, Orange and Bathurst.
How To Get To Canowindra?
Canowindra is a tiny country town that people typically reach by car, as it is a place folks typically drop into when they are road-tripping through the region. As it isn’t a prolific place, very few modes of public transport service the area, but there are still a couple of ways to get there.
From Sydney, catch the Blue Mountains Intercity Train to Bathurst, which then meets up with the 794 bus line to Cootamundra. Alternatively, take the Western XTP train to Orange, then hop aboard the Parkes Coach Service 571 to Canowindra.
How Many Kilometres Is It From Sydney To Canowindra?
The most direct route from Sydney to Canowindra is 303km and goes directly through the magnificent Blue Mountains along the Great Western and Mid-Western Highways.
Another way to get to the country town is by heading south and inland along the Hume Highway before going north along Lachlan Valley Way at Yass. It’s a much longer drive at 435km and less, but the terrain is flatter, and traffic typically runs smoother.
How Far Is Canowindra From Orange?
Canowindra is a 58km, 45-minute drive from Orange along Cargo Road.
What Is The Distance From Cowra To Canowindra?
From Cowra, it’s a 33km, 25-minute drive along Canowindra Drive to get to the township.
What Is Canowindra’s Weather Like?
The weather in Canowindra usually has calm conditions, with gentle winds and clear days typical throughout most of the year. That is why it’s the perfect place for hot air ballooning and is the Balloon Capital of Australia.
Conclusion: What To Do In Canowindra, New South Wales.
While it may only be a tiny town, there are few things to do in Canowindra and the Cabonne Shire, that make stopping by worthwhile, such as visiting the renowned Age Of Fishes Museum, enjoying the country views from Blue Jacket Lookout and flying in a balloon over the picturesque landscape.
