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Major city · Australia

Willow Tree

Stop for 60–90 min on the New England Highway: coffee, a walk, fuel. Sleep only if you want a quiet night between Tamworth and the Hunter.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
AUD
Best months
Mar–May, Sep–Nov
avoid Dec–Feb (heat, 35 °C+ days)
Airports
TMW · SYD
Nights
1
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.

Willow Tree is a village of about 300 people on the New England Highway, 74 km south of Tamworth and 19 km north of Murrurundi. It exists for travellers: a visitor centre, a pub with rooms, a donation campground and a daily NSW TrainLink train from Sydney. There is no bank, no ATM and no taxi. Treat it as a highway break, not a destination.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Willow Tree, 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)
  • Budget bedPowered site, Recreation Ground (donation), a night, per roomA$10 (≈ US$7)
  • Mid-range bedPowered site, Recreation Ground (donation), a night, per roomA$20 (≈ US$14)
  • High-end bedPowered site, Recreation Ground (donation), a night, per roomA$30 (≈ US$20)

A day, not counting the bed: Budget A$60 (≈ US$40) · Mid A$120 (≈ US$80) · High A$220 (≈ US$150)

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.

Highway break on the New England HighwayLiverpool Plains Visitor Information CentreGraze Willow Tree InnDonation campground at the Recreation Ground
Airports
TMW Tamworth Regional Airport (74 km north via the New England Highway, about 55 min by car; no public transport from Willow Tree) · SYD Sydney Kingsford Smith (About 4 h 30 min by car south; NSW TrainLink runs a daily train from Central)

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Willow Tree: 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

32°C

17°C

7 rd

Feb

31°C

17°C

7 rd

Mar

28°C

14°C

7 rd

Apr

24°C

10°C

6 rd

May

20°C

6°C

6 rd

Jun

16°C

3°C

7 rd

Jul

16°C

2°C

6 rd

Aug

18°C

3°C

5 rd

Sep

22°C

6°C

5 rd

Oct

26°C

10°C

7 rd

Nov

29°C

13°C

7 rd

Dec

31°C

16°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 the only practical way to move around; there is no taxi and no local bus. The village is small enough to walk or cycle end to end in under 15 minutes. Slow to 70 km/h through the town centre — there is a speed camera. The nearest car rental is in Quirindi, Werris Creek or Tamworth.

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time
Quirindigo

Door to door: About 15 min

Kamilaroi Highway/B51 north-west, 18 km

Nearest shops, car rental and a bigger town for supplies.

Tamworthgo

Door to door: About 55 min

New England Highway/A15 north through Wallabadah, 74 km

Country music capital; the practical base for this stretch of highway.

Burning Mountain Nature Reserve

go

Door to door: About 30 min

New England Highway south through Murrurundi and Blandford, 36 km

Coal seam burning for an estimated 5,500 years. Reserve open 7:00–19:00; rest area 24 h. Sturdy closed shoes only — no thongs or sandals.

First Fleet Memorial Garden, Wallabadah

go

Door to door: About 20 min

New England Highway north, 19.5 km, then Coach Street

Eleven circular gardens for the First Fleet ships plus convict storyboards; toilets open daylight hours.

Gunnedahcaution

Door to door: About 1 h 5 min

Kamilaroi Highway/B51 north-west through Quirindi, Breeza and Curlewis, 97.5 km

Doable as a half-day, but there is little reason to drive past Quirindi and Tamworth to get there.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

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

Graze Willow Tree Inn

Pub rooms on the northbound highway near King George V Memorial Park; phone for rates and availability.

Willow Tree Recreation Ground (freedom camp)

Donation campground on Recreation Rd with power, water, toilets and hot showers; 72-hour maximum stay.

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$60–110 (≈ US$40–75) excl. bed
Mid
A$110–200 (≈ US$75–140) excl. bed
High
A$200 (≈ US$140)+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Pub double room, Graze Willow Tree Inn1 × 1 night × A$160A$160
Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × A$120A$240
Fuel, 50 L at highway prices1 × A$100 · checkA$100
Café breakfast or lunch2 × A$25A$50
eSIM, about a week of data2 × A$20 · checkA$40
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeA$59
Trip total≈ A$325 per person per day, bed includedA$649≈ US$450

check — phone for rates and availability.

2026 estimate in Australian dollars; fuel and long-distance train fares 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)
Takeaway burger or chipsA$10–18 (≈ US$7–12)
Fuel, per litrecheck — highway pricingA$1.80–2.10 (≈ US$2)
Powered campsite, per nightDonation (check)
NSW TrainLink Sydney → Willow Tree, one waycheck — book ahead; no ticket office at the stationA$60–90 (≈ US$40–60)

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Very low crime; the real risks are heat, long empty highway stretches and wildlife on the road at dawn and dusk. There is no ATM, so carry cash.
  • No banks and no ATMs in Willow Tree: bring cash or use EFTPOS before you arrive.
  • The railway station has no ticket office and no ticket agent, and tickets are not sold on the train — book by phone or online with NSW TrainLink first.
  • The police station is not open 24 hours.
  • Summer days on the Liverpool Plains are hot; carry water if you walk anywhere outside the village.

Emergency numbers

Police, fire, ambulance
000
From mobiles
112
Willow Tree Police Station (not 24 h)
+61 2 6747 1246
NSW TrainLink bookings (daily 7:00–22:00)
13 22 32

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.

Willow TreeWillow Tree

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

To this address, pleaseTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police, fire, ambulance000
  • From mobiles112
  • Willow Tree Police Station (not 24 h)+61 2 6747 1246
  • NSW TrainLink bookings13 22 32

Embassy

No embassies in Willow Tree. The nearest consulates and embassies are in Sydney; the US Consulate General is in Sydney (check the address).

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Sydney Central → Willow Tree, NSW TrainLink: departs 9:30, arrives 14:25; book ahead, no ticket office (check)
  • Willow Tree → Sydney Central, NSW TrainLink: departs 11:41, arrives 16:39 (check)
  • Drive, Willow Tree → Tamworth: 74 km, about 55 min
  • Drive, Willow Tree → Quirindi: 18 km, about 15 min

Say or show

  • Where is the petrol station? — Where is the petrol station?
  • Is there an ATM here? — Is there an ATM here?
  • A table for two, please — A table for two, please
  • Can I pay by card? — Can I pay by card?
  • Where are the toilets? — Where are the toilets?
  • Is there a campsite nearby? — Is there a campsite nearby?

No bank, no ATM, no taxi and no local bus. Fuel at the Caltex/Ampol on the corner of the New England and Kamilaroi highways, daily 6:00–20:00.

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 Willow Tree. 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: Mar–May, Sep–Nov · avoid Dec–Feb (heat, 35 °C+ days) · month by month →
  2. 2 airports and 2 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 5 day-trips, door to door
  6. 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Highway-stop card: fuel, toilets, coffee and the 70 km/h speed camera, with a 60–90 min stop plan.
  2. Train-day fixture: the daily Sydney service and the no-ticket-office rule, with a booking fallback.
  3. Freedom-camp card: donation rate, 72-hour cap, power and shower status, and a wet-weather alternative.
  4. Heat and fuel-gap fixtures for the Liverpool Plains so the drive south to the Hunter can go green.

Meanwhile

Back to Australia

Sources