If you’ve only got a day to spend in Narrabri Shire, don’t worry – you can still experience a taste of its big skies, volcanic past and quiet country magic.
Start your morning right with coffee and breakfast at One23, located on Maitland Street in the heart of town. This cafe never disappoints – our pick is the zucchini, corn fritters with bacon. Breakfast here will set you up perfectly for a full day of adventure.
With bellies full, it’s time to hit the road and head north towards Sawn Rocks, a 40-minute drive that quickly swaps farmland for the looming silhouette of Mount Kaputar.
Here you’ll find one of nature’s masterpieces: a towering cliff face of giant organ pipes, perfectly geometric and impossibly dramatic – carved by an ancient volcanic past. The short, flat walk from the carpark makes it an easy but unforgettable stop, and accessible for all.
If you’re after a slightly different view, drive a little further up the hill. On the fourth bend, you’ll spot a small gravel patch on the right-hand side, this makeshift carpark leads to a short walking path with a birds-eye view of Sawn rocks and the rolling peaks of Mount Kaputar National Park beyond.
Next, head back towards the plains, trading cliffs for wide horizons. If you haven’t packed morning tea or lunch, call into Watson’s Kitchen – a local favourite that’s been serving Narrabri since the 1940s.
For a quick self-serve option, you’ll find their Tibbereena Street shop convenient, but for the full country bakery experience, stop at their Maitland Street store to get a freshly made sandwich, or the hot carvery along with classic pies and sausage rolls.
With snacks sorted, make your way out to the CSIRO Australia Telescope, about 25 minutes west of town. To get there, hop back on the highway towards Narrabri West, pass Narrabri Lake and turn onto Yarrie Lake Road. The drive takes you through farmland and scrub where the landscape feels worlds away from the mountainous north. When you see the frame of an old antenna on the roadside, you’ll know you’ve arrived.
The visitor centre is free to enter and open daily from 8am to 5pm. The compact array consists of six 22-metre-wide antennas spread across 6km, working together to mimic a much larger telescope. They study different wavelengths to pick up hydrogen clouds, black holes, pulsars and much more.
Visitors can explore the interactive displays inside before stepping onto the viewing deck to see the antennas in action – and if you’re lucky, one might be right in front of you.
Remember to switch devices to airplane mode while on site, as the telescopes are actively operating.
If you’re not quite ready to return to town, take a short detour to Yarrie Lake, just 3.6km up the road. Staying on theme, the lake itself is thought to have been formed by a meteor strike thousands of years ago.
Its milky coloured water may surprise coastal visitors, but locals know it’s a favourite for kayaking and water-skiing during summer.
As you head back to Narrabri, end the day with a stroll around Narrabri Lake, watching the birdlife settle and the mountains turn purple in the fading light.
Then wind down with dinner and a drink at the Wilga Hotel – sit outside, soak up the evening air and reflect on a day well spent in the heart of the Shire.
