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Hay Gaol Museum — Image credit: Destination NSW

Galleries, Museums and Collections

Hay Gaol Museum

Built in the late 1870s and officially opened in 1880, Hay Gaol has had a rich and colourful history. It has served as a prison, maternity hospital, Prisoner of War detention centre, institute for girls and now, finally, a museum. Standing sentinel over the town of Hay for more than 140 years, it now tells the story of the town, its residents and the changing world around it. Wander through the historic buildings and hear the stories of its past, including the tale of the Prisoner of War who managed to escape. See the van that brought in troubled girls in the dead of night or sit inside the solitary confinement cells. The museum also houses many other artefacts from the Hay region, including Australia’s oldest-known bark canoe. There’s a significant collection of farm and plant machinery, wooden windmills, motorbikes, and clothing and handwork from the 1880s. Entry is a AUD5 for adults and AUD1 for children payable by card or cash. With an electronic open and closing this museum is open 7 days a week. The Apex Park, within the site’s grounds, is perfect for a picnic and has play equipment.

Hay NSW

0.7 km away

Light Horse Memorial Hay NSW — Image credit: Hay Outback Info Centre

Historical Sites and Heritage Locations

Light Horse Memorial Hay

Beautiful bronze statue presented in landscaped surrounds in memory of those troopers who formed the Australian Light Horse and who fought bravely to defend Australia. There are many families in the western Riverina who have ancestors who served with the Light Horse, and the stations surrounding Hay were a source of re-mounts for the Light Horse brigades. The bronze statue is the culmination of the tireless effort by local residents, Jim Cooper and Lurleen Mitchell, to have the horses and men from the Hay district remembered. There is nothing more beautiful than watching the sun set behind the statue.

Hay NSW

0.9 km away

Honor Roll Hay War Memorial High School

Galleries, Museums and Collections

Hay War Memorial High School Museum

The Hay War Memorial High School Museum commemorates both Hay and district's war service and the life of the school itself in a unique war memorial. As a museum within a school, it aims to connect the youth of today to young people from the past. The Hay War Memorial High School was opened in 1923 as the town's war memorial. It was built to honour all those volunteers who lost their lives on active service during World War I. Of the 641 men who served in World War I, 103 did not return. This impacted greatly on Hay and district community, who had one of the largest enlistment rates for a small town in Australia. The museum's collection preserves the medals, photographs, uniforms, letters and diaries of local servicemen.

Hay NSW

0.9 km away

Bikes and flowers — Image credit: Hay Shire Council

Sports and Recreation Facilities

Cycle Hay

The flat landscape of Hay makes it the ideal place to explore by peddle power! Pick up a free bike at the Hay Visitor Centre, grab a map and set off to see Hay. Visitors can enjoy a gentle cycle around the sites of Hay on one of 10 free-to-hire bikes. The map is an easy-to-use guide that offers suggested routes based on different interests, from history to nature, taking in the best sites of the town. Got a need for speed? Test your wheels at the skills track located within the Bidgee Riverside Track, right along the edge of the Murrumbidgee.

Hay NSW

1.2 km away

Hay Gaol

Galleries, Museums and Collections

Museums Hay

Bishop's Lodge - a remarkable iron house and outbuildings designed and built in 1888 by Bishop Sydney Linton, the Anglican Bishop of the Riverina and architect, John Sulman. It incorporates innovative design ideas for mitigating Hay's extreme summer heat. Dunera - Explores one of the most fascinating stories in Australian history – a story that stretches from WW2 to modern-day Australia. From the capitals of Europe to the vast flatness of the Hay Plains, learn the story of the Dunera Boys, who found themselves interned at a Hay Prisoner of War Camp. This newly refurbished museum is a moving tribute to the power of the human spirit. Located in the train carriages at the Hay Railway. Hay Gaol - Built in 1878 the Hay Gaol has stood sentinel over the town as it transformed from Gaol to maternity hospital to institute for girls and now a museum. The museum houses an intriguing collection of artefacts from antique windmills to Australia's oldest known bark canoe.

Hay NSW

1.2 km away

Chris McClelland — Image credit: Wildprints Chris McClelland

Galleries, Museums and Collections

Chris McClelland Gallery and Studio

Chris McClelland Gallery and Studio exhibits fine detailed drawings, using graphite or coloured pencils. Chris, a self-taught artist, is internationally recognised for his fine detailed graphite and coloured pencil drawings, which reflect his natural unique gift. He has won numerous awards and his art is in the New York State Museum. Chris has a strong passion for the wildlife of Africa and Australia. His artwork captures the movement of the wildlife with extraordinary precision and his animals appear alive. He has now time to create, fine, unique pencil drawings for which he is famous. Chris has recently been drawing montage-commissioned drawings of sheep stations in the Hay district. Chris McClelland managed Tupra Station a large sheep station for 21 years. After working on 'the land' for 40 years he retired in 2003.

Hay NSW

1.3 km away

Dusk Swimmers at Sandy Point Hay NSW — Image credit: Hay Tourism

Natural Attractions

Sandy Point Beach on the Murrumbidgee River

The beautiful sandy beaches of the Murrumbidgee River are a favourite spot for visitors and locals alike. A haven for water lovers, Sandy Point Beach has full amenities, a free primitive campsite and some of the best fishing sites on the 'Bidgee. Under the shade of the majestic old river red gums, visitors can enjoy a day by the water, swimming or fishing or just enjoying the passing parade of ski boats. Ample parking and boat ramp provide easy access for those wanting to get out on the water. Long summer days invite you to stay and cook up a feast on the complimentary barbeques as the sun slowly sets on day by the river. The Murrumbidgee River is affectionally known as the "Bidgee" by locals. The river is the life blood of the district, providing life giving irrigation water for local agriculture and hours of fun for visitors and locals alike. A formed walking track hugs the curves of the River and invites visitors to wander through the Bushy Bend reserve to Sandy Point beach and back again in a full loop. Featuring large public sculptures by artists John Wood and John Woodward and incredibly moving water tower art painted by Adnate.

Hay NSW

1.6 km away

Hay Water Tower Art — Image credit: Destination NSW

Galleries, Museums and Collections

Hay Water Tower Art

A magnificent tribute to the servicemen and women of Australia. Melbourne artist Matt Adnate created a striking memorial to the contribution of the people of Hay to both World Wars, displayed across two water towers on the edge of town, close to the popular Sandy Point Beach. The portraits of five individuals who served in the Second World War adorn the water towers, designed to represent the hundreds of people from this tiny community who answered the call to arms. The veterans depicted are Private William 'George' Cannon, Corporal Cliff Farlow, Private Norman Flack, Lieutenant Lorna Margaret Whyte from the Australian Army Nursing Service and Indigenous soldier Private Victor George Murray. Will be one of the most emotional water tower arts you find. The towers are part of the Australian Silo Art Trail, which has hundreds of sites dotted across the country.

Hay NSW

1.7 km away

Image of River behind trail

Historical Sites and Heritage Locations

Bidgee Riverside and Trail

A formed all-weather track that hugs the curves of the Murrumbidgee River invites visitors to wander through the Bushy Bend reserve to Sandy Point beach. The walking track features large public sculptures by artists John Wood and John Woodward. Complementary bike hire is available from the Visitor Information Centre in Moppett ST to explore all that the Bisgee Riverside Trail has to offer.

Hay NSW

1.8 km away

Bishop's Lodge House

Galleries, Museums and Collections

Bishop's Lodge Historic House and Heritage Garden

One of Australia's most remarkable buildings, Bishop's Lodge, was designed by renowned architect John Sulman and built in 1888 as the official residence for the first Anglican bishop of the Riverina, Sydney Linton. Bishop's Lodge is constructed from iron and incorporates many innovative design features (such as sawdust insulation and raised ventilation ridges) to withstand the area's searing summer heat and difficult soils. The lodge is surrounded by a wonderfully cool rose garden, one of the oldest in the region, planted with a spectacular collection of rare heritage varieties. As well as roses, there are historic trees, sweeping lawns and a kitchen garden, all tended by passionate volunteers. The house was the residence for Anglican bishops until the 1930s, when it became a hostel for schoolboys, and then a private residence until the 1980s. It was beautifully restored as part of Hay's major bicentennial project in 1988. Today, the museum has a small but fascinating collection of artefacts from throughout the building's history. Entry cost is an AUD5 donation payable with card or cash upon entry. Bishop's Lodge is now open via electronic device from the Visitor Centre. You press the button, and we will open the house for you to explore. Housed in the garden is the bell steeple from the St Paul's Anglican Church.

Hay South NSW

2.3 km away

John Sulman and Bishop Sydney Linton Blue Plaque — Image credit: Heritage NSW

Historical Sites and Heritage Locations

John Sulman and Bishop Sydney Linton Blue Plaque

Visitors can discover the stories behind the people, places and events that have helped shape NSW - where the history happened. A Blue Plaque visit offers more than sightseeing. It creates a direct connection between place and story, turning everyday locations into places of discovery. Each plaque reveals a unique piece of history, encouraging visitors to explore local areas from a new perspective and uncover stories they may never have known. This blue plaque commemorates John Sulman and Bishop Sydney Linton, an architect and a bishop, who designed Bishop's Lodge, a simple yet elegant building tailored to the Riverina's harsh summers and the ever-present threat of floods. Visit the blue plaque at Bishop's Lodge, 351 Moama Street, Hay NSW 2711 and scan the QR code there to learn more.

Hay NSW

2.3 km away

Shear Outback - Australian Shearer's Hall of Fame — Image credit: Destination NSW

Galleries, Museums and Collections

Shear Outback - Australian Shearer's Hall of Fame

The shearer is a legendary character of Outback NSW. Go behind the myth and meet the real men and women who shaped this vital industry, at Shear Outback in Hay. Hear the click of the shears, learn the lingo of the trade, meet the sheepdogs and watch a live demonstration at the Murray Downs Woolshed. Live demonstrations are daily. Shearers will be on hand to talk about the machinery and equipment, types of sheep, wool classing and microns for measuring wool quality. Test your own skills and see if you would be able to beat the famed Jackie Howe, the 19th-century Queenslander who was Australia's fastest ever hand shearer. Also on site is the Australian Shearers' Hall of Fame, beautiful homestead gardens, a maze and a café (where you can stop in for a traditional 'smoko').

Hay South NSW

6.2 km away

Picnic Table Hay WEir

Natural Attractions

Hay Weir

The Hay Weir (Also known as Johnston Park) is located approximately 15 kilometres from Hay on the Maude Road. Facilities available include barbecue, picnic area, and toilets. The Hay Weir is also an extremely popular fishing spot, where fisherman have been known to catch Murray Cod up to 70 pounds in weight, fishing in best right before the weir when it is open. Camping is prohibited at the Weir but is it a great place to spend the day.

Hay NSW

12 km away

The incredible Hay Plains — Image credit: Hay Tourism

Historical Sites and Heritage Locations

Hay Sunset Viewing Area

Enjoy the unique experience of seeing the sunset with a 360-degree uninterrupted view. Unhindered by tall buildings or smog, the traveller can delight in the magnificence of the sun going down. The full spectrum of colours is present as the sun sets over the plains. The sunset viewing area has been developed 16 kilometres north of Hay on the Cobb Highway to enable visitors to experience this wonderful phenomenon, rarely seen by the city dweller. It features a Long Paddock information panel and sculptural furniture, a great backdrop for a picnic, or some astro photography.

Hay NSW

15 km away

Kalyarr National Park

National Parks and Reserves

Kalyarr National Park

Kalyarr is the traditional Country of the Nari Nari People, who maintain their connection to Country today. There are thousands of cultural sites in the park, including hearths, earth mounds, stone artefacts and scar trees. When you're visiting the western Riverina, stop for a picnic barbecue at Lake Ita picnic area. Or if you're camping overnight, book your stay at Lachlan River campground. The next morning you can set out from there for a bushwalk along the Kalyarr cultural trail. Keep an eye out for red kangaroos, emus, wedge-tailed eagles and shingleback lizards. In wet years, Lake Ita fills and the park becomes a haven for waterbirds. Birdwatchers will be busy spotting uncommon species like white-bellied sea-eagles and pink cockatoos. After spring rains, stunning wildflowers transform the landscape with colour. Kalyarr was once part of the area's rich pastoral development. Old woolsheds and homesteads on the park are a great destination for history buffs.

One Tree NSW

40 km away

Oolambeyan Homestead picnic area — Image credit: NSW Government

Natural Attractions

Oolambeyan Homestead picnic area

Enjoy walking among the roses, go birdwatching under the trees and find a shady spot to enjoy a picnic at Oolambeyan Homestead picnic area. This peaceful location, 125km from Griffith, is a great spot for a day trip in the Riverina region. If you've got the kids with you, they'll love cycling along neighbouring trails. During spring and autumn, when the temperatures are mild and the days sunny, many birds, including noisy galahs and pretty blue bonnets, visit the gardens. See kangaroos resting under the boree trees or grazing on the native grass oval'. The sugar gums adjacent to the area are also popular with brown goshawks and black kites. Visit the historic shearing sheds and other farm buildings, some of them dating back to the 1930s, and discover the historic heritage of this site. It's easily combined with nearby Murrumbidgee Valley Regional Park.

Carrathool NSW

46 km away

Oolambeyan National Park

National Parks and Reserves

Oolambeyan National Park

Escape for the day at Oolambeyan National Park. Just 85km from Hay, in the beautiful Riverina region, its grasslands and woodlands provide a great spot for picnicking, walking and birdwatching. Find a shady spot for a picnic in the homestead's surviving orchard. There's an oval with a cricket pitch nearby and many historic buildings to see great if you've got the kids with you. Galahs can often be seen in the area, as can kangaroos, which often graze on the oval. For the adventurous, management trails from the homestead can be explored by cycling and hiking. After a day exploring Oolambeyan National Park, head to nearby Murrumbidgee Valley regional or national park, where you can camp overnight.

Carrathool NSW

47 km away

Lake Ita picnic area

Natural Attractions

Lake Ita picnic area

Set on the eastern shore of Ita Lake, you'll find Lake Ita picnic area a secluded spot to relax and unwind. Enjoy a picnic lunch or barbecue, then take a walk around the lake and admire the peaceful surroundings and local wildlife. If you stay later in the day you can enjoy a spectacular sunset, as you sit back and soak up the view over the lake and the black box woodland around it. Lake Ita picnic area is excellent for birdwatching. In wet years the lake fills with water and becomes a haven for water birds like black swans and red-necked avocets, as well as southern bell frogs. In dry years the lake transforms into a flat expanse of grass and saltbush, and you can see emus and red, eastern grey and western grey kangaroos roaming the area. The picnic area is also an important cultural centre for the Nari Nari people. The site and the areas surrounding it have great cultural and historical significance for them The best times to visit are autumn and spring. The weather is milder and the area comes alive with wildflowers, including billy buttons, paper daisies, colourful water ferns, native...

Maude NSW

54 km away

Toganmain Woolshed

Historical Sites and Heritage Locations

Toganmain Woolshed

Dating back to 1875, the Toganmain Woolshed is the largest remaining woolshed in the NSW Riverina region, and holds an iconic status in Australian pastoral folklore. Once a bustling hub of activity Toganmain saw more than seven million sheep pass through its doors, with the September of 1876 recording a total of 202,292 sheep shorn by 92 blade shearers, an Australian record never to be beaten. Toganmain was one of the first major woolsheds to embrace the Wolseley Sheep Shearing Machine, which was developed in 1887. The machine revolutionised shearing by enabling a large increase in the number of sheep to be shorn per day and increased the amount of fleece taken per sheep. The woolshed remained in operation until the early 1990s and was officially listed on the NSW State Heritage Register in 2024. Today tours can be booked to walk through the precinct as well as regular coordinated Open Days and working bees.

Darlington Point NSW

70 km away

Murrumbidgeee River

Natural Attractions

MIA Forest Drive Narrandera

Forest Drive can be accessed from within the MIA I or MIA II precincts of the Murrumbidgee Valley National Park. Maps are available from the Narrandera Destination and Discovery Hub. Please note that the area cannot be traversed during wet conditions, as roads are unsealed and may become impassable. For more information please visit the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service website or call the National Parks and Wildlife Service office in Griffith.

Narrandera NSW

88 km away

Willbriggie Regional Park family with caravan — Image credit: Murrumbidgee Council

National Parks and Reserves

Willbriggie Regional Park Beaches (East)

Explore in-spoilt beaches and areas of the Murrumbidgee River through the Willbriggie Regional Park (East). Access from Darlington Point is via Beach Road on the southern side of Whitton Road. The road becomes dirt as you enter the Willbriggie Regional Park. Explore beaches, such as Reserve Beach, Lady Jane Beach, Boomerang Beach, Waradgy Beach, Diggers Beach, and The Point Beach to pick out the best spot for you to relax. Not suitable for caravans, but 4WD and camping are permitted. Please obey all signs throughout the Regional Park.

Darlington Point NSW

95 km away

Conargo Hotel - Old — Image credit: Edward River Council

Historical Sites and Heritage Locations

Conargo Historic Walk

Conargo Historic Walk is a self-guided heritage trail in the small rural town of Conargo, New South Wales. It showcases a rich social, pastoral, and architectural history across eleven interpretive signs. A leisurely 30-minute drive north of Deniliquin's town centre, it's perfect for a road trip stopover or some historical education during a pit-stop at the Conargo Hotel.

Conargo NSW

95 km away

Kayaking on Moulamein Lake — Image credit: Visit River Country

Natural Attractions

Moulamein Lake

Whether you want to slow down with a leisurely swim, a spot of fishing or kayaking, or ramp up the action with the more adrenaline fuelled water sports, Moulamein Lake has you covered. The lake covers 15 hectares and is one of Moulamein’s most popular attractions. Indulge in some wildlife spotting with an abundance of birdlife on the lake including black swans, pelicans and ducks. Relax under one of the three shelters, take advantage of the free gas barbecue or make use of adjoining facilities, including the local swimming pool.

Moulamein NSW

99 km away

Exploring the Old Wharf

Historical Sites and Heritage Locations

Moulamein Wharf

Head back in time to the days when Moulamein was a thriving settlement of the Southern Riverina. Explore the Old Wharf, which was constructed in 1908 and still stands as a reminder of bygone days when the town prospered as an inland port, when the River system was the most effective means of transport for local produce.

Moulamein NSW

99 km away

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