Skip to content
Voykit
Set your trip — dates, party, bagsPlanner

Draft data. Times, fares and step counts are desk estimates awaiting field checks. Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify

Major city · Australia

Bendemeer

Stop 1 night if you are driving the New England Highway and want a quiet pub bed; skip it as a base — no shops, no taxi, no bus of its own.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
AUD
Best months
Mar–May, Sep–Nov
avoid Dec–Feb (heat, 35 °C+ days); winter nights near 0 °C
Airport
TMW
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.

Bendemeer is a 492-person village on the New England Highway at the junction with the Oxley Highway, 41 km north of Tamworth and 49 km south of Uralla. It has one pub with rooms, one caravan park with the fuel bowser and the ATM, and a river. It works as a single overnight on a road trip between Tamworth and Armidale, or as a lunch and fuel pause. It does not work as a base: there is no local transport, no bank and almost no shopping.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Bendemeer, 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$5–7 (≈ US$4–5)
  • BeerDraught beer, schoonerA$7–10 (≈ US$5–7)
  • Budget bedPowered campsite or caravan site, a night, per roomA$35 (≈ US$25)
  • Mid-range bedPowered campsite or caravan site, a night, per roomA$45 (≈ US$30)
  • High-end bedPowered campsite or caravan site, a night, per roomA$60 (≈ US$40)

A day, not counting the bed: Budget A$80 (≈ US$55) · Mid A$140 (≈ US$95) · High A$260 (≈ US$180)

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.

New England Highway junction with the Oxley HighwayBendemeer Hotel, an old country pubMacdonald River and the caravan parkSheep and cattle country of the Tamworth Regional Council area
Airports
TMW Tamworth Regional Airport (Nearest airport with scheduled flights, about 41 km south-west by road; hire cars are in Tamworth, not Bendemeer.)

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Bendemeer: 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

33°C

17°C

8 rd

Feb

31°C

16°C

8 rd

Mar

28°C

13°C

7 rd

Apr

24°C

8°C

6 rd

May

19°C

4°C

6 rd

Jun

16°C

2°C

7 rd

Jul

15°C

1°C

7 rd

Aug

17°C

2°C

6 rd

Sep

21°C

5°C

6 rd

Oct

25°C

9°C

7 rd

Nov

28°C

12°C

8 rd

Dec

31°C

15°C

8 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

You need your own car. There is no local taxi and no local bus. The nearest car rental is in Tamworth. The Tamworth Buslines route 444 runs Monday–Saturday between Tamworth and Bendemeer (about 43 min, pay the driver, exact fare preferred); it stops in Caroline Street and will also stop at the petrol station/caravan park if you tell the driver. Crisps Coaches run Brisbane–Tamworth via Bendemeer on Mondays and Fridays, booked in advance.

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Tamworth

go

Door to door: About 35–40 min each way

New England Highway/A15 south through Moonbi and Kootingal

Biggest town for supplies, car hire, the airport and the visitor information centre at the Big Golden Guitar.

Uralla

go

Door to door: About 35 min each way

New England Highway/A15 north

Gold-rush-era main street and Thunderbolt connections; easy half-day.

Walcha

go

Door to door: About 35–40 min each way

Oxley Highway/B56 east

Open-air sculpture and a good coffee stop; the road east of Walcha can close in bad weather.

Armidale

go

Door to door: About 50–55 min each way

New England Highway/A15 north through Uralla

Cathedral city with the nearest big-hospital backup; a full half-day.

Quirindi

caution

Door to door: About 1 h 15 min each way

New England Highway south, then the Kamilaroi Highway

Better done as a leg of a longer drive than a return trip.

Gunnedah

caution

Door to door: About 1 h 45 min each way

New England Highway south, then the Kamilaroi Highway west

Koala country and a bigger town; long for a day return.

Barraba

caution

Door to door: About 1 h 45 min each way

Oxley Highway west, then the Fossickers Way

Fossicking and the Peel River; plan it as part of a loop.

Werris Creek

caution

Door to door: About 1 h 15 min each way

New England Highway south, then the Werris Creek Road

Railway heritage museum; check opening days before driving out.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

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

Caroline Street (village centre)

The Bendemeer Hotel has rooms on the corner of Caroline and Havanah; you can walk to the pub bistro and the public toilets.

Bendemeer Tourist Park, 19 Havanah Street

Caravan and camping sites next to the petrol station; drive-through sites, small store, ATM. Cabins: check.

Watsons Creek Road, 8 km north

Riverside Stay, a three-bedroom cottage; self-catering, so bring food. Bookings essential.

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$110–180 (≈ US$75–120) excl. bed
High
A$180 (≈ US$120)+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Bendemeer Hotel room1 × 1 night × A$130A$130
Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × A$140A$280
Pub bistro dinner, per person2 × A$35A$70
Tamworth Buslines route 444, one way2 × A$6 · Adult cash fare, exact fare preferred; concession and child fares lowerA$12
Fuel, 50 L at country prices1 × A$100A$100
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeA$59
Trip total≈ A$326 per person per day, bed includedA$651≈ US$450

2026 estimate in Australian dollars; fuel to reach Bendemeer excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Pub counter mealA$25–40 (≈ US$17–30)
Draught beer, schoonerA$7–10 (≈ US$5–7)
CoffeeA$5–7 (≈ US$4–5)
Campsite, powered site per nightA$35–60 (≈ US$25–40)
Unleaded fuel, per litreCountry prices run above city pricesA$1.80–2.10 (≈ US$2)
Tamworth Buslines route 444, adult one wayCash to the driver, exact fare preferredA$5.90 (≈ US$4)

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

A quiet highway village and generally safe; the real risks are the drive (kangaroos and livestock at dawn and dusk, long empty stretches, heat and fire danger in summer) and having no cash or fuel plan, since there is one ATM and one bowser.
  • No bank and no bank branch in the village: the only ATM is at the caravan park, and the post agency there handles some banking Monday–Friday 9:00–17:00.
  • Stock up on food, fuel and medication in Tamworth or Uralla before you arrive; the village store is small.
  • The Oxley Highway east towards Walcha and Wauchope can close in bad weather or after landslips: check the live road status before committing.
  • Kangaroos and livestock on the highway at dawn and dusk; long empty stretches between towns.
  • Summer heat and total fire bans: check the fire danger rating before a day of driving.
  • Mobile coverage is patchy outside the village.

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.

BendemeerBendemeer

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 consulates in Bendemeer. For consular help, contact your embassy or consulate in Canberra or Sydney; US citizens can use the US Consulate General in Sydney.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Tamworth → Bendemeer, bus 444: A$5.90 (≈ US$4) adult, about 43 min, Monday–Saturday, cash to the driver
  • Bendemeer → Tamworth, bus 444: A$5.90 (≈ US$4) adult, about 45 min, Monday–Saturday
  • Brisbane → Bendemeer, Crisps Coaches: Mondays and Fridays, arrives about 20:40; booking required

Say or show

  • Where's the servo? — Where is the petrol station?
  • Have you got a cash machine? — Is there an ATM here?
  • Table for two, thanks — A table for two, please
  • Is the Oxley open past Walcha? — Is the Oxley Highway open?
  • Do you take card? — Can I pay by card?
  • Where are the loos? — Where are the toilets?

Fuel, the ATM, the small store and the post agency are all at the Bendemeer Tourist Park on Havanah Street. Public toilets with disabled access are at War Memorial Park, open 24 h.

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 Bendemeer. 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); winter nights near 0 °C · 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. 8 day-trips, door to door
  6. 6 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contract for TMW: last flight arrivals, taxi and hire-car cutoffs, and the drive time to Bendemeer at night.
  2. Walking cluster for the village: pub, caravan park, public toilets, police station, bus stop — all within about 600 m.
  3. Place pages with verified hours for the Bendemeer Hotel bistro, the tourist park store and the public toilets.
  4. Road-status fixtures for the Oxley Highway east of Walcha so the day-trip verdicts can go green or red.

Meanwhile

Back to Australia

Sources