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Major city · Australia

AshfordAshford, New South Wales

Go only as a base for Kwiambal National Park and the Severn River swimming holes: one night, your own car, fuel and cash before you arrive.

Ashford is a village of about 650 people on the Severn River in the New England region, 58 km north of Inverell. It has one shop with fuel, one club for meals, a caravan park and no taxi, no bus and no bank. It works as a one-night stop for Kwiambal National Park, Pindari Dam and the river crossings, and as nothing else.

basic guide: no trip line yet
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
Weather
see forecast
Currency
AUD
Best months
Mar–May, Sep–Nov
avoid Dec–Feb (heat, 35 °C (95 °F)+ and fire risk)
Airports
IVR · MRZ · GOO
Nights
1
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.
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾

Not in this guide yet

  • Walking areas with bag rules
  • Day plans checked against opening hours
  • Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
  • Field-checked times and prices
Emergency numbers for Ashford000 ▾
  • Police, fire, ambulance000
  • From mobiles112

Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.

EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

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

Show all 12 answers

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

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

  • CoffeeCoffee or takeaway snack at the service stationA$5–12 (≈ US$4–8)
  • Museum or sight ticketKwiambal National Park entryFree
  • Budget bedLemon Tree Flat campground (Kwiambal NP), a night, per roomA$12 (≈ US$8)
  • Mid-range bedBowling club single room, a night, per roomA$70 (≈ US$50)
  • High-end bedBowling club single room, a night, per roomA$90 (≈ US$60)

A day, not counting the bed: Budget A$60 (≈ US$40) · Mid A$110 (≈ US$75) · High A$180 (≈ US$120)

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 →

DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works

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.

Kwiambal National Park and Macintyre FallsSevern River swimming and fishing holesPindari DamFossickers Way (B95) road stop
Airports
IVR Inverell (Link Airways) (Nearest scheduled service; about 45 min by road. Check current routes and days.) · MRZ Moree (About 1 h 50 min by road; larger regional airport.) · GOO Goondiwindi (Queensland) (About 2 h by road, across the state line.)

Best months at a glance

From the guide's best and avoid lists

  1. Jan

    Avoid

    32°C (90°F)

  2. Feb

    Avoid

    31°C (88°F)

  3. Mar

    Best

    29°C (84°F)

  4. Apr

    Best

    25°C (77°F)

  5. May

    Best

    21°C (70°F)

  6. Jun

    not flagged

    18°C (64°F)

  7. Jul

    not flagged

    17°C (63°F)

  8. Aug

    not flagged

    19°C (66°F)

  9. Sep

    Best

    23°C (73°F)

  10. Oct

    Best

    26°C (79°F)

  11. Nov

    Best

    29°C (84°F)

  12. Dec

    Avoid

    31°C (88°F)

Best: Mar–May, Sep–Nov. Avoid: Dec–Feb. Month by month →

Warmest Jan (32°C (90°F)), coolest Jul (2°C (36°F) low), wettest Jan (8 rain days), driest Aug (5). Averages, not a forecast.

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Ashford: 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 (90°F)

17°C (63°F)

8 rd

Feb

31°C (88°F)

17°C (63°F)

8 rd

Mar

29°C (84°F)

15°C (59°F)

7 rd

Apr

25°C (77°F)

11°C (52°F)

6 rd

May

21°C (70°F)

7°C (45°F)

6 rd

Jun

18°C (64°F)

4°C (39°F)

6 rd

Jul

17°C (63°F)

2°C (36°F)

6 rd

Aug

19°C (66°F)

3°C (37°F)

5 rd

Sep

23°C (73°F)

6°C (43°F)

5 rd

Oct

26°C (79°F)

10°C (50°F)

7 rd

Nov

29°C (84°F)

13°C (55°F)

8 rd

Dec

31°C (88°F)

16°C (61°F)

8 rd

High / low, both scales · rd = rain days

Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Arrive & move

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

Getting around

Private car only. There is no taxi and no local bus in Ashford, and the nearest car rental is in Inverell. Distances to the sights are 4–30 km on sealed roads with gravel sections; a 4WD is needed for Fisherman's Bend.

See & doDay-trips, door to door

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Kwiambal National Park

go

Door to door: About 30 min each way

Drive 20 km (12 mi) north-west via Martyn Street, Kniepp Street and Limestone Road

Free entry. Walks to Dungeon Lookout, Macintyre Falls and the limestone caves; toilets and potable water at the day area.

Pindari Dam

go

Door to door: About 30 min each way

Drive 26 km (16 mi) south-east via Bukkulla Road, then Pindari Dam Road

Open 24 hours. Fishing, swimming, boat ramps, showers and picnic areas.

Wells Crossing

go

Door to door: About 15 min each way

Drive 8 km (5 mi) south-east via Bukkulla Road

Swimming and canoeing hole with wood barbecues; no toilets, and treat or boil river water for 10 minutes.

Inverell

go

Door to door: About 45 min

Drive 58 km (36 mi) south on Ashford Road

Supermarkets, car rental, hospital and the visitor information centre at 11/31 Campbell Street.

Warialda

caution

Door to door: About 1 h 5 min

Drive 79 km (49 mi) south-west via Wallangra Road and Coolatai Road

Fine as a through-route on the Fossickers Way; little reason to go and return in one day.

Moree

overnight

Door to door: About 1 h 50 min

Drive 159 km (99 mi) west via Warialda and the Gwydir Highway

Too far for a comfortable return day; sleep in Moree and continue.

Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

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

Ashford village (Bala and Bukkulla streets)

Bowling club rooms and the caravan park, both a short walk from the shop and fuel.

Kwiambal National Park

Lemon Tree Flat campground, 30 km (19 mi) north-west; pit toilets, bring water and book ahead.

Pindari Dam

26 km (16 mi) south-east; camping with showers and boat ramps, open 24 hours.

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

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 (camping, self-catering)
Mid
A$110–180 (≈ US$75–120) excl. bed (club meals, fuel, park fees)
High
A$180 (≈ US$120)+ excl. bed (guided or 4WD days, longer drives)

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Caravan park, powered site1 × 1 night × A$25A$25
Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × A$110A$220
Fuel, one tank top-up at the village service station1 × A$60 · checkA$60
Club meal and a drink2 × A$35 · checkA$70
eSIM, about a week of data2 × A$15A$30
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeA$41
Trip total≈ A$223 per person per day, bed includedA$446≈ US$300

Payable at the Ashford Rural Transaction Centre; unpowered sites from about A$10.

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

Prices of common things

Coffee or takeaway snack at the service stationA$5–12 (≈ US$4–8)
Club counter mealReservations essential; pizza on Thursdays.A$20–35 (≈ US$14–25)
Powered caravan site, per nightFrom A$13 (≈ US$9)
Unpowered site, per nightFrom A$10 (≈ US$7)
Kwiambal National Park entryFree
Fuel, per litrecheckA$1.80–2.20 (≈ US$2)

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

A quiet, low-crime village; the real risks are long empty drives, summer heat and fire, patchy phone signal, and river water that needs treating before you drink it.
  • Fuel up in Inverell or Warialda if you arrive late: the village service station trades 7:00–19:00 only.
  • No bank branches. Use EFTPOS and bring cash; Bank@Post at the post office is the only counter service.
  • Stock groceries, medicines and camping supplies before you leave Inverell or Moree.
  • Mobile coverage is patchy outside the village; tell someone your route.
  • Total fire bans in summer close wood barbecues and can shut park access.

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.

AshfordAshford, New South Wales

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

To this address, thanksTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police, fire, ambulance000
  • From mobiles112

Embassy

No consulates in Ashford. The US consulate-general is in Sydney; the UK, Canada and New Zealand have consulates or high commissions in Sydney and Canberra.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Coach Route 499, Inverell → Ashford: departs Inverell Friday 16:00, arrives Ashford 16:44; book by phone with Reynolds and Fogarty (check)
  • Coach Route 499, Ashford → Inverell: departs Ashford Friday 10:10, arrives Inverell 11:00 (check)
  • Coach stop: Caltex Ashford, corner Duff and Albury streets; no tickets sold at the service station

Say or show

  • Where's the servo? — Where is the fuel?
  • Do you take EFTPOS? — Can I pay by card?
  • Is it bitumen all the way? — Is the road sealed?
  • Is there a total fire ban today? — Is there a fire ban today?
  • Where's the nearest hospital? — Where is the nearest hospital?
  • Is this water okay to drink? — Can I drink the water?

Fuel 7:00–19:00 daily; post office and Bank@Post Mon–Fri 9:00–17:00; public toilets at the Rural Transaction Centre, open 24 hours.

Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources

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 Ashford. 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+ and fire risk) · month by month →
  2. 3 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 6 day-trips, door to door
  6. 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contract for IVR and MRZ: Link Airways days, coach Route 499 timings, taxi fallback from Inverell.
  2. Four walking and driving clusters with rescue anchors: village centre, Kwiambal, Pindari Dam, the Severn River crossings.
  3. Place pages with verified cutoffs (Kwiambal day area, Pindari Dam, Lemon Tree Flat campground) and eat pages with club kitchen hours.
  4. Fuel, cash and fire-ban fixtures so gates A–D can go green.

Sources