📍12 Best Things To Do In Goondiwindi, QLD. (Attractions & Activities.) (2024.)
WONDERING WHAT THE BEST THINGS TO DO IN GOONDIWINDI ARE?
Located on the QLD/NSW border at the intersection of 5 national highways, the Cunningham(42), Barwon(85), Gore (A39), Leichhardt(A5) or Newell Highway(A39), Goondiwindi is a prominent gateway town to country New South Wales and Outback Queensland. This much-traversed place is a notable stopping point for road trippers looking to resupply.
But having visited here once to traverse the state-spanning Newell Highway across NSW to Victoria and another time as part of my three-month road trip throughout the premiere state and the Federation Capital, I can tell you there is much more to this pitstop than meets the eye.
From swimming, kayaking or jet skiing at the Natural Heritage & Water Park to discovering local heritage at the Custom House Museum, there are some fantastic things to do in Goondiwindi worth hanging around for.
👉 My top 3 picks for what to do in Goodiwindi, Queensland:
- Go swimming, kayaking or jet skiing at the Goondiwindi Natural Heritage & Water Park.
- Learn about local heritage at the Custom House Museum.
- Check out the Tree Of Knowledge flood marker.
Planning Your Trip? Use My Favourite Resources!
Tours/Experiences: I recommend Viator.
Accommodation: I recommend Booking.com.
Renting Vehicles: I recommend RentalCars.com.
Best Things To Do In Goondiwindi.
1. Goondiwindi Natural Heritage & Water Park.
Easily one of the best things to do in Goondiwindi is spend time at the Natural Heritage and Water Park. This expansive 210-hectare recreational facility is a nationally accredited water ski site, but that’s not all you can do at this versatile premier water sports destination.
The purpose-built 3km water channel provides also excellent opportunities for various other adrenaline-pumping water sports such as wakeboarding, tubing and jet skiing, along with more relaxing activities such as kayaking, canoeing, and stand-up paddleboarding. Visitors can also enjoy swimming in the designated area, have a picnic, BBQ or get-together, walk some of the 6.6km of walking trails and search for one of the many species of birds that call the place home.
2. The Big Cod.
Just as you enter town from the east at the roundabout on the Leichhardt Highway, you’ll be able to see the Goondiwindi town sign at the edge of Redmond Park. Right next to it is the town’s “Big Thing”. Here, it’s the Big Cod, a lovely 6.5m tall fibreglass Murray Cod built in 2015 for the Lions Club 50th anniversary that makes the perfect place to take a pit stop, take a fun selfie and breathe in the country atmosphere.
3. Customs House Museum. – $.
For those looking to dive into Goondiwindi’s rich heritage, the Customs House Museum is a great way to learn about it. This beautiful, authentically restored building holds historical significance as it is the last remaining inland Custom House in Australia and has been doing border duties since before Australia’s Federation in 1901.
Believed to have been constructed between the 1870s and 1880s, admire the craftsmanship and construction of the building whilst exploring its fascinating collection of mementos of the area through the years, in this building and others such as the Pioneer Shed, Blacksmith’s Workshops, Martha’s Kitchen and Burke’s Cottage.
Opening Hours: 9.00 am-1.00 pm Monday-Friday – Closed Weekends.
4. Tree Of Knowledge Flood Marker.
Close to the Custom House Museum, the Tree Of Knowledge Flood Marker is one of the most unique attractions in town. It consists of the Memorial To The Levee around an old Carbeen Tree on the high banks next to the MacIntyre River and pays homage to the local levee that was constructed to prevent the town from experiencing more of its frequent and devastating floods.
Note: Don’t forget to check out the lovely artwork on the water tower between the Tree of Knowledge & the Customs House Museum.
5. Border Bridge.
Right beside the Tree Of Knowledge Flood Marker is the Border Bridge. As the name suggests, this small bridge crosses the border which runs along the MacIntyre River. It’s a lovely little scenic spot overlooking the waterway. However, there are no pedestrian footpaths along it, so I’d advise driving across it instead. But, it also typically sees little traffic, so there’s that.
6. Macintyre River Walk.
A great way to incorporate the top tourist sites around Goondiwindi is by strolling along the scenic Macintyre River Walk. This picturesque three-kilometre track between Delacy and Brock Street follows the town’s beautiful tree-lined river, which also represents the Queensland and New South Wales border and goes past the Gunsynd, the Goondiwindi Grey Monument, the Border Bridge, the Tree Of Knowledge Flood Marker, the water tower artworks and the Custom House Museum, meaning you can tick off several heritage attractions while exploring its natural beauty in one fell swoop.
7. Goondiwindi Botanic Gardens.
Another lovely place to immerse yourself in nature is at the Goondiwindi Botanic Gardens. Boasting a diverse range of native Australian plants, visitors can roam the picturesque gardens that showcase the region’s unique flora including hundreds of tree species, shrubs, and ground covers found in the upper Darling Basin centred around a peaceful lake across its 25-hectare expanse. Furthering the tranquillity, it is also a bird watchers paradise, with it being home to over 200 different bird species, including the rare regent Honey Eater.
There are also shelter sheds, free electric barbecues, an expansive lawned area and a fenced-in kids playground, making it an ideal spot for a relaxing picnic family gathering or get-together. What’s also great about this place is that it is dog-friendly, so your four-legged pooch doesn’t have to get left behind.
Best Places To Visit Near Goondiwindi.
8. Silo Artwork.
Yelabon.
For those who enjoy artwork, Yelabon, the town next over on the Cunningham Highway, has a stunning artwork pictured across a row of silos well worth discovering. If you’re heading toward Goondiwindi from Warwick, it is impossible to miss, as they’re directly in front of the road and depict a gorgeous scene of a young country boy, a lily, a kingfisher and a paper boat floating on water. It’s a beautiful addition to the scenery, which would otherwise be very stock standard and makes a great place to pull over and stretch the legs.
While you can stop at the side of the road to grab a quick snap, there is a dedicated parking lot just around the bend, with a metal Polaroid frame so you can get a fun and unique old-school photo with it. There is also a signboard that shows what other attractions are around the area and where to find more incredible artworks like this.
9. Inglewood.
Further east along the Warrego Highway is Inglewood. The small town has the Inglewood Heritage Centre & Australian Tobacco Museum, which is a fascinating stop for all those who like diving into the history of a place. As for those who love nature, Lake Coolmunda, a short distance away, is a great place to stop and enjoy a picnic on the long drives between townships.
You can also head out on the water in a boat or kayak, but be warned, it’s a shallow lake, and the water level can vary dramatically. I’ve been out there three times, and while the first visit was reasonably high, the second was shockingly low. However, it was completely full the third time, so I’d advise calling ahead if you were looking to do that, otherwise you might be disappointed.
10. Big Yabbie, Moonie.
A hundred kilometres north of Goodiwindi is Moonie. While this minuscule town that basically consists of an intersection with a rural truck stop and a school doesn’t have much to offer the road trip tourist except for a car and body refuel, there is one thing there that people venturing out this way will delight in seeing. The Big Yabbie.
As one of the country’s famous “Big Things”, it is really not that big. Certainly not at the scale that these iconic attractions usually are. But it is rustically cute and quirky and posing with it for a fun photo is a fantastic way to break up the drive. There’s also a drilling rig beside it for some local heritage too.
Best Day Trips From Goondiwindi.
11. Warwick.
Head east out of Goondiwindi along the Cunningham Highway past the silo artworks at Yelabon, and the shallow Coolmunda Lake and you’ll eventually reach Warwick, some 200kms away. With a diverse range of activities to enjoy, it caters to a range of road trippers’ tastes. From the picturesque Lake Leslie, where you can go swimming, kayaking, boating, and jetskiing, to the adrenaline-pumping experience of racing your own car or motorbike at Morgan Park Raceway while 4WD enthusiasts can conquer challenging terrains at the Springs 4X4 Park.
For those who don’t want to drive, take in the country atmosphere aboard a heritage locomotive journey from Goondiwindi to Warwick with Downs Explorer, which is a relaxing and nostalgic way to relive the golden era of railway travel.
12. Miles.
If you’re heading north out of Goondiwindi, Miles makes a fantastic day trip destination. The small Western Downs town at the intersection of the Leichhardt and Warrego Highways has some incredible attractions not to miss. Highlights include the Historical Village Museum, which features numerous lovingly restored heritage buildings, giving visitors a glimpse into what life was like in the region’s bygone days and ANZAC Park, the home to an extremely rare German gun from World War II.
While you’re driving there, I highly recommend detouring to Meandarra to see the ANZAC Memorial Museum, which is by far the best country War Museum I’ve seen, and the Caliguel Lagoon near Condamine, which is a stunning water body that is also my favourite free camping spot. If you have a kayak, stand-up paddleboard or canoe, it’s a beautiful place to paddle too.
Accommodation: Where To Stay In Goondiwindi, Queensland.
- Budget: Lees Reserve (Dumaresq River) – Free.
- Mid-Range: Pioneer Motel Goondiwindi.
- Luxury: Country Roads Motor Inn.
Visiting Goondiwindi: Frequently Asked Questions.
Where Is Goondiwindi?
Goondiwindi lies on the northern banks of the Macintyre River which forms part of the Queensland, New South Wales border approximately 358km south-west of Brisbane.
Is Goondiwindi Worth A Visit?
Goondiwindi is a border down in the middle of nowhere, so as somewhere to visit on its own, I don’t think it is worth the long drive. However, if you are road-tripping that way, it’s a good place to pull over and discover, especially the Natural Heritage & Water Park when it’s a hot day and you want to go swimming, kayaking, boating, waterskiing, or jetskiing.
What Region Is Goondiwindi In?
Goondiwindi is a small town and one of the 4 subregions of the Darling Downs in Queensland, Australia, along with Toowoomba and the Western & Southern Downs.
Conclusion: Best Things To Do In Goondiwindi.
Thanks to its position on the Queensland/ New South Wales border and being at the intersection of four national highways, this small gateway town is a well-trafficked place for road trippers travelling through the Darling Downs and the Moree Plains, but while it doesn’t look like it has much to offer, digging a little deeper, there are some fantastic things to do in Goondiwindi that make it well worth spending time in.
If you are planning to visit Goondiwindi, consider looking at these other posts.
