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Voykit pocket guide · 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.
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.
- Country
- Australia
- Best months
- Mar–May, Sep–Nov
- Avoid
- Dec–Feb (heat, 35 °C (95 °F)+ days)Dec–Feb (heat, 95 °F (35 °C)+ days)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- AUD
- Money
- Currency is the Australian dollar (AUD, A$). Contactless cards and phones are accepted almost everywhere, including public transport in the big cities; some small cafes are card-only.
- Daily spend
- Budget A$60–110 excl. bed · Mid A$110–200 excl. bed · High A$200+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Telstra has the widest outback coverage; Optus and Vodafone (TPG) are cheaper and fine in cities and along highways.
- Emergency
- Police, fire, ambulance 000 · From mobiles 112 · Willow Tree Police Station (not 24 h) +61 2 6747 1246 · NSW TrainLink bookings 13 22 32
- Plugs
- Types I · 230 V · 50 Hz · Angled two- or three-pin Type I, shared with NZ, Fiji and China; sockets have their own switch — turn it on.
- Tipping
- Cafés and casual meals: Nothing; a tip jar is optional.; Restaurants: Not expected; 10% for very good service in a nice restaurant if you wish.; Taxi / rideshare: Round up or nothing.; Tours and guides: Optional; A$10–20 for a great day guide.; Surcharges: Weekend and public-holiday surcharges of 10–15% are legal if shown on the menu.
- Water
- Tap water is safe in cities and towns; in remote places use signed drinking taps. Carry plenty on any outback drive or walk.
- Toilets
- Free public toilets in parks, beaches, shopping centres and petrol stations (servos); the National Public Toilet Map app lists them.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee | A$4–6 |
| Pub counter meal | A$22–35 |
| Takeaway burger or chips | A$10–18 |
| Fuel, per litre | A$1.80–2.10 |
| Powered campsite, per night | Donation (check) |
| NSW TrainLink Sydney → Willow Tree, one way | A$60–90 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- TMW · Tamworth Regional Airport
- 74 km (46 mi) north via the New England Highway, about 55 min by car; no public transport from Willow Tree46 mi (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
Typical fares
- Sydney Central → Willow Tree, NSW TrainLink
- departs 9:30, arrives 14:25; book ahead, no ticket office (check)departs 9:30 AM, arrives 2:25 PM; book ahead, no ticket office (check)
- Willow Tree → Sydney Central, NSW TrainLink
- departs 11:41, arrives 16:39 (check)departs 11:41 AM, arrives 4:39 PM (check)
- Drive, Willow Tree → Tamworth
- 74 km (46 mi), about 55 min46 mi (74 km), about 55 min
- Drive, Willow Tree → Quirindi
- 18 km (11 mi), about 15 min11 mi (18 km), about 15 min
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get 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 (43 mph) through the town centre — there is a speed camera. The nearest car rental is in Quirindi, Werris Creek or Tamworth.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 43 mph (70 km/h) through the town centre — there is a speed camera. The nearest car rental is in Quirindi, Werris Creek or Tamworth.
See and do
Known for
- Highway break on the New England Highway
- Liverpool Plains Visitor Information Centre
- Graze Willow Tree Inn
- Donation campground at the Recreation Ground
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Quirindi | Kamilaroi Highway/B51 north-west, 18 km (11 mi)Kamilaroi Highway/B51 north-west, 11 mi (18 km) | About 15 min |
| Tamworth | New England Highway/A15 north through Wallabadah, 74 km (46 mi)New England Highway/A15 north through Wallabadah, 46 mi (74 km) | About 55 min |
| Burning Mountain Nature Reserve | New England Highway south through Murrurundi and Blandford, 36 km (22 mi)New England Highway south through Murrurundi and Blandford, 22 mi (36 km) | About 30 min |
| First Fleet Memorial Garden, Wallabadah | New England Highway north, 19.5 km (12 mi), then Coach StreetNew England Highway north, 12 mi (19.5 km), then Coach Street | About 20 min |
| Gunnedah | Kamilaroi Highway/B51 north-west through Quirindi, Breeza and Curlewis, 97.5 km (61 mi)Kamilaroi Highway/B51 north-west through Quirindi, Breeza and Curlewis, 61 mi (97.5 km) | About 1 h 5 min |
Sleep
- 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.
Phrase card
| English | 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? |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake or 'G'day' / 'How are you going?'; first names from the start; avoid: Formal titles; long answers to 'how are you'
- Rounds: Buy your round ('shout') when drinking in a group; avoid: Leaving before your shout
- Queues: Queue patiently; sitting in the front seat of a taxi when alone is common; avoid: Pushing in — it is noticed
- Country: Listen to Welcomes and Acknowledgements; use local place names when offered; avoid: Touching artefacts or photographing ceremonies without permission
- Beach: Swim between the flags; respect lifesavers' instructions; avoid: Swimming at unpatrolled beaches alone
- Humour: Expect teasing and understatement; laugh along; avoid: Taking dry sarcasm literally or boasting
- Walking and driving: Keep left on footpaths and escalators; wave thanks to drivers who let you in; avoid: Stopping on the road to photograph kangaroos
Scams and watch-outs
- 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.
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.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Willow Tree yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Highway break on the New England Highway
- Liverpool Plains Visitor Information Centre
- Graze Willow Tree Inn
- Donation campground at the Recreation Ground
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Liverpool Plains Shire — Willow Tree visitor information: www.visitliverpoolplains.com.au/willow-tree
- NSW National Parks — Burning Mountain Nature Reserve: www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/visit-a-park/parks/burning-mountain-nature-reserve
- Transport for NSW — North West regional line timetable: transportnsw.info/regional-north-west-line
- NSW TrainLink — regional bookings: transportnsw.info/regional-bookings/
- Liverpool Plains Shire — freedom camping areas: www.liverpoolplains.nsw.gov.au/Community/Recreation-and-facilities/Freedom-camping-areas
- Wikivoyage: Willow Tree, revision 5244730 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5244730
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Willow Tree
To this address, please
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police, fire, ambulance000
- From mobiles112
- Willow Tree Police Station (not 24 h)+61 2 6747 1246
- NSW TrainLink bookings13 22 32
No embassies in Willow Tree. The nearest consulates and embassies are in Sydney; the US Consulate General is in Sydney (check the address).
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.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 AM–8:00 PM.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/willow-tree). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.