Day tripping: 4 day-trip ideas across Goondiwindi Region
Published on 03 December 2024
The town of Goondiwindi is the largest centre in our Region – and a fantastic base for keen day trippers who love the open road and exploring tiny towns with big attractions. Whether award winning silo art entices you or if organic olive farming is more your thing, these 4 day-trip ideas will have you falling in love with our small towns, while relishing in the comforts of a base in Gundy (as the locals call it!).
Day One: Goondiwindi Cotton farm tour & Yelarbon silo art
Book ahead and enjoy the Goondiwindi Cotton bus tour with a friendly local guide in the morning. You’ll visit a working cotton farm and learn about the cotton industry, from growing cotton to creating garments for the ‘Goondiwindi Cotton’ brand. Complete with morning tea at Customs House and a pit stop back at Goondiwindi Cotton’s fashion house and store, this three-hour tour will inspire and leave you with a newfound appreciation for the clothes on your back.
Arrive back in town, grab yourself a picnic lunch from one of the many cafes or bakeries, and then travel east along the Cunningham Highway, with a quick stop alongside ‘Nungwai’ to take in the paddock sculptures created by local artist and farmer, Angus Wilson.
Your destination is the small town of Yelarbon where you’ll find the awe-inspiring artwork, “When the Rain Comes”, painted across eight GrainCorp silos. There’s a designated parking area across the road for the best view and selfies. You should also visit the town’s lagoon – a natural habitat for local birdlife – and enjoy a cool beverage at the Oasis Pub before heading back to Goondiwindi along the Border Rivers Tourist Drive to view the region’s diverse farming and accessible fishing spots and reserves along the river.
Day Two: Lavender, olives and history in Inglewood
Day two sees you heading east to Inglewood where along the way you can book a stop at the Leven K Farm to wander through the lavender fields, browse the Shed Shop, and see the essential oil distillery in action. The best time to visit is during peak flowering season, November to February.
In town, visit the Inglewood Heritage Centre and Australian Tobacco Museum for an insight into the region's history. Open 9am – 5pm, 7 days a week via digital self-check-in, this is a must stop on your journey to wander back in time.
Tummy telling you it’s time for lunch? The Inglewood Bakery is widely renowned for their pies – try the chicken curry or classic beef and cheese to go and take a break amongst the trees at the Inglewood Apex Lions or Memorial Parks. If you’re a honey lover, don’t leave the Bakery without taking home a tub of local Lavendar Honey – it is the bees’ knees…!
Your afternoon plans see you taking the short drive east of Inglewood to the family-owned Coolmunda Organic Olives where you can take a self-guided, audio walking tour through their groves or jump in the 'Coolie Coaster' (a six seater e-car) with passionate owner Katie before sampling organic olives and products. All with a view of Coolmunda Dam over the olive trees – bliss.
Day Three: Rabbit the day away in Texas…
Head south to the town of Texas on the banks of the Dumaresq River. Visit the Texas Rabbit Works Museum to learn about the 1920s rabbit plague and how locals turned the problem into an opportunity. For more history, visit the Texas Railway Museum and Texas Heritage Centre and Tobacco Museum.
Next, visit the ‘Spirit of Texas’ a Phoenix sculpture symbolising the community’s resilience after the 2011 floods, and the ‘Turning Things Around’ water tank mural commissioned by the Texas Arts Council to tell the story of the town.
Time for lunch at the Stockman Hotel where you can enjoy a classic pub lunch and ice-cold drink. Afterwards, wander the main street for beautiful giftware and clothing at Olive Figg & Co, a treasure hunt at the Texas Community Op-Shop and a visit to the Texas Art Gallery displaying free art exhibitions from artists both local and further afield.
If you have little ones in tow and more time to enjoy, Texas is home to an all-abilities, soft-fall park complete with a pretend coffee shop and water play, and the town pool is just a splash away!
Day Four: Head west to our tiniest towns
For a day trip west of Goondiwindi, head to the small towns of Bungunya, Toobeah and Talwood. Plan your day trip to see the wheat harvest in full swing or join locals and others at the Talwood Races in August - a big event on the small town’s calendar. Enjoy a break in Talwood at the Recreation Grounds with free picnic facilities or lunch at the Talwood Hotel. The Toobeah Hotel Motel also offers pub meals as well as being the town’s store, post office, coffee shop and café.
If you’re continuing west into the red dirt country of Weengallon, keep an eye out for the Weengallon Aboriginal Rock Wells, which are a beautiful place of spiritual and cultural importance to the local Traditional Owners.
When choosing your day trip always remember to drive safely, keep an eye out for the ‘roos and check road conditions before you head off.