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Major city · Australia

Narrabri

Give Narrabri one full day for Mount Kaputar and one for the town and observatory; two nights is enough, three if you hike.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
AUD
Best months
Apr–May, Sep–Oct
avoid Dec–Feb (heat, 35 °C+), Jan school holidays
Airport
NAA
Nights
2
Not field-verifiedbasic guide
Print / PDF guide
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
Rules in force · 7
  • Oceania ↗Oceania's island states guard their farms and reefs at the border: tick 'yes' on the arrival card for any food, plant, animal product, soil or used outdoor gear, and let the officer decide.
  • Oceania ↗Across the tropical South Pacific, cyclones are possible from November to April: choose insurance that covers weather delays and keep one spare night before a long-haul departure.
  • Australia and New Zealand ↗Both countries drive on the left, with long distances between fuel stops in the outback and on New Zealand's back roads; fatigue causes more visitor crashes than speed.
  • Australia ↗Almost every visitor needs a visa or an electronic authorisation (ETA or eVisitor, depending on passport) before boarding: apply only through the official Department of Home Affairs site or the official AustralianETA app, and check the rules for your passport.
  • Australia ↗Declare all food, plant material, seeds, wood and animal products on your arrival declaration; undeclared items can bring on-the-spot fines or visa cancellation. When unsure, declare it.
  • Australia ↗Drive on the left. An overseas licence in English (or with an official translation or International Driving Permit) is accepted for visitors; check the state rules and your rental contract.
  • Australia ↗Swim between the red and yellow flags on patrolled beaches; rip currents cause most beach drownings.

Narrabri is a cotton-farming town on the Newell and Kamilaroi highways in north-west New South Wales, the practical base for Mount Kaputar National Park and the Australia Telescope at the Paul Wild Observatory. Sights sit 25–50 km out of town, so a car decides your trip: without one you see the town and little else. Most travellers pass through on the Sydney–Moree train or break a Newell Highway drive here.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Narrabri, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • CoffeeA$4–6 (≈ US$3–4)
  • Taxi, about 5 kmTaxi across towncheckA$12–20 (≈ US$8–14)
  • SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a weekA$10–30 (≈ US$7–20)
  • Budget bedHostel or pub bed, a night, per personA$45 (≈ US$30)
  • Mid-range bedMotel double room, a night, per roomA$190 (≈ US$130)
  • High-end bedMotel double room, a night, per roomA$300 (≈ US$200)

A day, not counting the bed: Budget A$120 (≈ US$80) · Mid A$200 (≈ US$140) · High A$320 (≈ US$250)

Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Mount Kaputar National ParkSawn RocksPaul Wild Observatory radio telescopesCotton farming country
Airports
NAA Narrabri Airport (8 km north-east of town; Link Airways to Sydney and Brisbane; rental cars at the airport, book ahead)

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Narrabri: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

34°C

20°C

8 rd

Feb

33°C

20°C

7 rd

Mar

30°C

17°C

6 rd

Apr

26°C

13°C

5 rd

May

21°C

9°C

5 rd

Jun

17°C

6°C

5 rd

Jul

16°C

5°C

4 rd

Aug

18°C

6°C

4 rd

Sep

22°C

9°C

4 rd

Oct

26°C

13°C

5 rd

Nov

29°C

16°C

6 rd

Dec

32°C

18°C

7 rd

High / low °C · rd = rain days

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

A car is close to essential: the national park, Sawn Rocks and the observatory are 25–50 km out and there is no useful public transport to them. In town, taxis must be booked by phone, not hailed, and a local bus runs to Wee Waa. Rental cars are available at the airport.

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Mount Kaputar National Park

go

Door to door: 1–1.25 h each way

Drive Kaputar Road east from town, about 50 km to the summit area

Full day: lookouts, summit walk and campgrounds; bring water and warm layers.

Sawn Rocks

go

Door to door: About 45 min each way

Drive 38.5 km via the Newell Highway and Killarney Gap Road

1.5 km return walk to the organ-pipe rock face; free entry, no facilities at the car park.

Paul Wild Observatory

caution

Door to door: About 30 min each way

Drive south-east of town; check open days before setting out

Access and tour times vary: confirm before you drive out.

Moree

go

Door to door: About 1.25 h by car

Drive 101 km north on the Newell Highway, or take the daily train

Artesian baths and a bigger town; works as a half-day or an onward stop.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Town centre (Maitland and Barwan streets)

Motels, pubs and the visitor centre within walking distance; best if you have no car.

Newell Highway edge

Drive-up motels with parking; convenient for a one-night highway stop.

Mount Kaputar campgrounds

Bark Hut and Dawsons Spring, 46–50 km east; unpowered sites, book ahead, no town services.

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
A$120–180 (≈ US$80–120) excl. bed
Mid
A$180–280 (≈ US$120–190) excl. bed
High
A$280 (≈ US$190)+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Motel double room1 × 2 nights × A$190A$380
Food, local transport, entries2 × 2 days × A$200A$800
Car hire, one day1 × A$80 · checkA$80
Fuel, Mount Kaputar return1 × A$25 · checkA$25
Park camping fee, per night1 × A$12 · checkA$12
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeA$130
Trip total≈ A$357 per person per day, bed includedA$1,427≈ US$950

2026 estimate in Australian dollars; fuel and flights excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

CoffeeA$4–6 (≈ US$3–4)
Pub counter mealA$22–35 (≈ US$15–25)
Loaf of bread and milkA$4–7 (≈ US$3–5)
Fuel, per litrecheckA$1.80–2.10 (≈ US$2)
Taxi across towncheckA$12–20 (≈ US$8–14)
eSIM or data SIM, about a weekA$10–30 (≈ US$7–20)

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

A quiet, low-crime country town; the real risks are heat, long drives and wildlife on rural roads at dawn and dusk. Tell someone your park plan and carry water.
  • Summer heat: plan park walks before 10:00 and carry more water than you think you need.
  • Mount Kaputar roads can need 4WD after rain; check park alerts before driving up.
  • Fuel and food are limited once you leave the highway; fill up in Narrabri.
  • Kangaroos and livestock on rural roads at dawn and dusk.

Emergency numbers

Police, fire, ambulance
000
From mobiles
112

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

NarrabriNarrabri

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

Can you take me to this address?To this address, please

Emergency

  • Police, fire, ambulance000
  • From mobiles112

Embassy

No embassies in town; the nearest consulates are in Sydney. US, UK, Canada and other missions are all in Sydney or Canberra.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Train Sydney → Narrabri: daily NSW TrainLink service, arrives late afternoon; bookings essential (check)
  • Taxi in town: book by phone, not hailed; A$12–20 (≈ US$8–14) across town (check)
  • Car hire, one day: from about A$80 (≈ US$55) plus fuel (check)

Say or show

  • Thanks — Thank you
  • Where's the servo? — Where is the petrol station?
  • Card OK? — Can I pay by card?
  • How far is it? — Is it far?
  • A flat white, thanks — One coffee, please
  • Where's the loo? — Where is the toilet?

Emergency 000 works from any phone; 112 from mobiles.

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Narrabri. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: Apr–May, Sep–Oct · avoid Dec–Feb (heat, 35 °C+), Jan school holidays · month by month →
  2. 1 airport and 3 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 4 day-trips, door to door
  6. 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contract for NAA: Link Airways arrivals, rental-car desk hours, taxi fallback.
  2. Four walking clusters with anchors: town centre, Narrabri Lake, Mount Kaputar, Sawn Rocks and Deriah.
  3. Place pages with verified hours (Old Gaol museum, visitor centre, observatory) and eat pages with last orders.
  4. Park-alert and heat fixtures so gates A–D can go green.

Meanwhile

Back to Australia

Sources