RV-friendly and filled with cafe culture, history and nature trails, it’s worth setting up camp in Wagga Wagga and staying a while.
There are several caravan parks to choose from in Wagga Wagga, and all offer something a little different. Whether you’re bringing along the kids (and the dog) or just want to relax under some shady gum trees before exploring the city, there is a park that’ll both fit your vehicle and cater to your needs.
Big4 Ingenia Holidays Wagga Wagga Caravan Park
Big4 are renowned in the RV world for their clean, spacious parks and top-notch facilities, and its Wagga Wagga caravan park is no exception.
The kids’ amenities are next-level good.
Nestled on the banks of the Murrumbidgee River and just two kilometres from the town centre and its wealth of fine dining restaurants, this park has it all – a pool for swimming in on hot days, a modern playground for the kids, and a massive camp kitchen and BBQ space.
Embrace the nomad life in the camp kitchen.
You can pick from grass, gravel and ensuite sites, plus powered and unpowered tent sites. There is also a range of cabins, and the park is pet friendly upon the manager’s approval, including some cabin accommodation.
Adjacent to Charles Sturt University is Carinya Caravan Park , a boutique rural offering with cabins and RV sites. A little more no-frills than some of the bigger parks in Wagga Wagga, Carinya makes up for the lack of bells and whistles with friendly service and heart – you’ll find many reviews that praise owners Andrew and Fiona for their hospitality.
Carinya Caravan Park is pet friendly (including cabins), and they also offer long-term stays. However, it’s worth noting that it is one of the furthest caravan parks from the Wagga Wagga CBD, so if you’re planning on spending a lot of time in town or aren’t coming by car, this might not be the right pick.
Carinya Caravan Park offers cabins and RV sites to book.
Address: 449 Pine Gully Rd, Wagga Wagga NSW
Wagga Wagga Tourist Park
Further out near the airport, you’ll find Wagga Wagga Tourist Park . While this Wagga Wagga caravan park involves a short drive to the town centre for those cafe breakfasts, it has competitive pricing and spacious drive-thru sites, plus plenty of cabin accommodation including self-contained villas and pet-friendly options.
There are plenty of cabins to choose from.
Being a little outside of town, this isn’t our top pick for Wagga Wagga caravan parks, but if you don’t mind a commute, the low prices might appeal.
Rest in the cosy bed.
Address: 16 Allonby Ave, Forest Hill NSW
Horseshoe Tourist Park
One for those looking for peaceful accommodation, Horseshoe Tourist Park doesn’t cater to children or pets to the degree of other parks in the area, so makes for a good choice if you want a quieter caravan park to unwind at.
The deluxe accommodation is modern and self-contained, and the park has powered and unpowered sites for all sizes of caravans, including big rigs – making this the best choice if you have a large caravan in tow.
The deluxe accommodation comes with modern amenities.
There is also a swimming pool, free wi-fi, laundry facilities and even a coffee machine. This is our pick for older travellers wanting to get away from the fast pace of kid-friendly caravan parks.
Soak up nature views at Horseshoe Tourist Park.
Address: 23 Horseshoe Rd, Cartwrights Hill NSW
Airport Tourist Park
Also situated near the airport is Airport Tourist Park , another competitively priced caravan park. You won’t find all the mod cons here, but accommodation and sites are affordable, and the park is pet friendly.
Facilities include a playground for the kids, washers/dryers, a camp kitchen and BBQs. However, reviews are relatively poor and call out the rundown nature of the park and the lack of facilities.
Address: 36 Allonby Ave, Forest Hill NSW
Wilks Park
This free camping area in Wagga Wagga has great reviews thanks to its clean facilities and proximity to the Murrumbidgee River, plus an on-site dump point and fresh drinking water.
The camping area is in Wagga Wagga North, and has grassy, shady spots for pulling up your caravan – unfortunately, no tents are allowed. Stays are restricted to 72 hours and this spot is also dog friendly. Spaces can fit RVs, camper trailers, caravans, and big rigs.
You can stroll around with your furry friends at Wilks Park.
Address: Cnr Hampden Ave and Wall St, Wagga Wagga North NSW
Melissa Mason is a freelance journalist who loves road tripping and car snacks. Previously holding Editor roles at ELLE, marie claire, Broadsheet and Pedestrian.TV, she now writes travel and lifestyle content for a wealth of Australian titles like SMH, Mamamia and Urban List, as well as copywriting for international brands. Outside of writing, she loves walks with her dog Ted, a great Sunday afternoon with friends, and op shopping. If she could be anywhere right now it would be lounging on a hammock at a tropical resort with a great romantic fantasy book.
It may be known as the land of many crows, but Wagga Wagga and surrounds are fast evolving into the land of boutique stays, quality coffee, gourmet restaurants, fine wines and rich cultural experiences.
Planted alongside the Murrumbidgee River near the Great Dividing Range in New South Wales’ Riverina region is Wagga Wagga. Translated as ‘the land of many crows’ from the Wiradjuri Aboriginal language, the inland city is emerging as one of the state’s most idyllic weekend escapes. We’ve uncovered the best places to eat, stay and play while you’re there.
Wagga Wagga restaurants
Dig into a selection of exquisite meals at these top restaurants and cafes in Wagga Wagga.
Larry’s
Larry’s , formerly known as 10BestSt, is located on one of the main streets in the centre of town and is one of the most popular cafes in Wagga Wagga. The specialty coffee roasters serve up excellent coffee alongside a well-rounded breakfast menu. You’ll find old favourites such as eggs benedict, smashed avocado, eggs your way and toasted muesli served with seasonal fruits and yoghurt, as well as a selection of tasty sides to build your own ideal dish.
Sit down for a hearty breakfast at Larry’s. (Image: Ash Smith)
Address: 10 Best Street, Wagga Wagga, NSW
Fitz Cafe
At first glance, Fitz Cafe looks like a tiny takeaway cafe with limited outdoor seating, but step inside through the door to the left and you’ll find the cafe’s cosy indoor seating area. Industrial-looking lights dangle from the jungle growth of greenery on the ceiling and chilled tunes play over the speakers. Sit and enjoy a coffee and one of the many treats from the cafe’s counter cabinet or choose from their extensive all-day breakfast menu. There are also salads, wraps and focaccias available to order for lunch. The cafe offers gluten-free and vegan options.
The Trail Street Coffee Shop is a bit of an institution in Wagga. Established in 1999, the cafe grinds up specialty beans from Full Circle Coffee Roasters and serves one of the best coffees you’ll find in town.
It’s the kind of quirky, edgy cafe you’d expect to find in diverse Sydney suburbs like Marrickville, with lycra-clad cyclists sitting outside enjoying their coffee pit stop, early risers typing away on their laptops and groups of young and old who come for the food, coffee and company. Top it all off with a stellar breakfast and lunch menu and you can see why this is a local favourite.
Stop by for brunch at Trail St Coffee Shop. (Image: Justine Brentenall)
Address: 34 Trail Street, Wagga Wagga, NSW
Cottontail Restaurant & Winery
While Wagga Wagga is filled with cosy pubs that have extensive wine lists, it’s worth heading out of town and checking out drops straight from the vine. This family-owned-and-run restaurant and vineyard is just 15 minutes from the centre of town. Ask for a seat on the deck so you can enjoy the view (they have ample heating, so don’t worry about the cold).
Cottontail’s menu offers a mix of real good comfort food and modern dining, so you can share a few wood-fired pizzas or go a bit fancier with crispy pork belly or the trio of lamb. Don’t skip dessert – the rice chocolate pave with salted caramel, toasted hazelnuts and ice-cream is not to be missed.
Discover cheesy favourites at Cottontail Restaurant & Winery.
Address: 562 Pattersons Road, Eunanoreenya, NSW
The Artisan Baker
You can even find a little slice of France in Wagga at the Artisan Baker on Morgan Street in the town centre. The French-born owner and baker creates the most delectable French pastries, sweets and fresh, crunchy, soft-centred baguettes.
Address: 2/189 Morgan Street, Wagga Wagga, NSW
Wagga Wagga accommodation
Wagga Wagga is an RV-friendly town, but if you’re heading in sans caravan it’s worth considering some of the state’s most unique and luxurious accommodation options that can be found just outside of Wagga. You’ll leave feeling refreshed from a rural escape in the Riverina and energised from the peaceful surrounds of the Australian bush.
Kimo Estate
Nothing says cosy, country escape like a couple of nights in a wooden-and-glass eco hut on top of a hill, complete with a fireplace, expansive views of the night sky and nothing but rolling green hills to see in every direction.
A stay at one of Kimo Estate’s eco huts is luxury glamping at its absolute best. Linger under the rainfall shower and lather up the beautiful Leif body products, then sit by the fire with a glass or two of Gundagai’s own Borambola Wines shiraz.
Soak in a wood-fired hot tub outside your rustic eco hut. (Image: Destination NSW)
A gourmet dinner basket for two is available to order and delivered direct to your door ready to cook on the barbecue. Breakfast isn’t overlooked either. You’ll find homemade baked beans, eggs, bacon, cherry tomatoes in balsamic dressing and fresh sourdough bread in the bushman outdoor fridge.
Wake up to the countryside at Kimo Estate (image: Matt Beaver).
The eco hut has everything you need to unwind from the busyness of life and reconnect with nature. While it is closer to Gundagai than Wagga, as you’re sitting on the deck watching the sun drop behind the hills of Kimo and the sky change from hues of pink to purple and blue, you’ll agree it is more than worth the drive.
Kimo Estate features luxury A-frame Eco hut cottages. (Image: Destination NSW)
Address: 1218 Nangus Road, Gundagai, NSW
Things to do in Wagga Wagga
There is plenty to experience in and around Wagga; you’ll find everything from foodie experiences and wineries to Aboriginal cultural tours.
Bundyi Aboriginal Cultural Tours
I can’t recommend the Bundyi Cultural Tours enough. Spending a couple of hours with Mark Saddler, a proud Wiradjuri man, will enrich your understanding of the local Aboriginal culture in significant ways. Not only do you get to learn about plants, animals, the Wiradjuri language, tool-making and bush tucker on a walking tour of central Wagga; but Mark encourages respectful discussion of the impact of what has been taken from his people and his vision for how we can work together towards a better future.
Soak up the history and majestic scenery in Wagga Wagga with Bundyi Cultural Tours. (Image: Destination NSW)
Address: 7/295 Copland St, Wagga Wagga NSW
Junee Licorice and Chocolate Factory
Could there be a better combination than licorice and chocolate? Don’t pass up the opportunity to visit the Junee Licorice and Chocolate Factory . Owner Neil Druce is as much of a town attraction as the restored flour mill that houses his factory. Back in 1998 he had the ingenious idea to use the wheat and spelt grown on his family’s Green Grove Organics farm in Ardlethan to make licorice. Today his products can be found in shops all around Australia and overseas.
Tours are open to the public daily and allow visitors to see the magic happen behind the scenes. You can also make your own giant chocolate freckle or rocky road, or if you’d rather just eat it all you can stock up on sweets at the shop at the end.
Stay for lunch at the Millroom restaurant and if you’re visiting on a weekend there is live music from 11 am to 3 pm.
Address: 45-61 Lord Street, Junee, NSW
Coolamon Cheese Tour and Tasting
Is cheese your love language? You’ll want to take a drive to Coolamon Cheese . Take a tour of the cheese factory, eat a cheese-inspired meal (can recommend the nachos) and top it all off with a tasting platter of the Coolamon Cheese range.
Its range of semi-hard cheeses uses native ingredients such as bush tomato, alpine pepper, lemon myrtle and river mint to create uniquely Australian flavours. It also makes an impressive range of blue, soft and hard cheeses. All its cheese is handmade onsite and developed under the guidance of international award-winning cheesemaker, Jenn Nestor.
Make sure you stock up on accompaniments for your selection of take-home cheeses, like vanilla figs and spiced pumpkin chutney – the shop’s selection of providores is highly curated, and all products are designed to complement the cheeses on offer.
Take your time choosing from many varieties at Coolamon Cheese Co.
Address: 87 Cowabbie Street, Coolamon, NSW
Borambola Wines cellar door tasting
Make time for a wine tasting at Borambola Wines . The owner-operator Tim McMullen is as much of a gifted storyteller as he is winemaker. There is a tale behind every wine you taste, from the time Prince Charles announced his “double joy” at tasting Tim’s wines to the bullet scars in the walls of the Old Borambola Homestead left behind after a visit from the notorious bushranger Captain Moonlite in the late 1800s.
Taste a selection of his red, white and sparkling wines, as well as his Tuckerbox ‘Hoppy Lager’ beer and apple cider; best enjoyed alongside a cheese platter. If you’re a red wine lover, you should definitely purchase a few bottles of the Hiraji’s Spell shiraz and Moonlight cabernet sauvignon.
The cellar door is open Thursday to Monday for tastings by appointment or book in a group tasting.
Head to Borambola Wines for a glass of chardonnay. (Image: Destination NSW)
Address: 1734 Sturt Highway, Borambola, NSW
Charles Sturt Winery
While you’re on the wine-tasting circuit, make another stop at Charles Sturt Wines cellar door on the university campus. You’ll find a selection of Charles Sturt’s boutique wine range to taste and buy.
After your tasting, we’d recommend ordering a cheese platter, a bottle of wine and sitting outside to enjoy the views of the countryside. The cellar door is open for tastings and sales from Wednesday to Sunday.
Order a cheese platter, a bottle of wine and sit outside to enjoy the views of the countryside.
Address: Mambarra Drive, Charles Sturt University Campus, Wagga Wagga, NSW
Food I Am Cooking Class
If you’d call yourself a foodie and you love experimenting in the kitchen, you’ll want to treat yourself to this unique culinary experience. Set up high on a hill overlooking Wagga’s countryside, it’s easy to see why Food I Am’s site doubles as a popular wedding reception location.
The cooking school offers a range of masterclasses run by guest chefs. You’ll be introduced to numerous cooking techniques and cuisines from around the world – and get to eat everything that’s cooked on the day with regional wine and beer to drink. Classes usually run for around four hours. Find the latest available classes to book on its website .
Don’t miss this cooking class when you’re in Wagga. (Image: Destination NSW)
