Hay

Hay is a classic outback town on the Murrumbidgee River in the Riverina region of New South Wales. With its wide, red-dirt streets and historic buildings, it feels like a step back in time to the days of the Cobb & Co coaches. The town is a gateway to the vast Hay Plains, offering a genuine taste of Australian rural life, from shearing sheds to river red gums.

Highlights & What to See

• Hay Gaol Museum: Step inside this atmospheric 1880s prison, complete with cell blocks and a fascinating collection of local history, including Aboriginal artefacts and shearing memorabilia.
• Bishop's Lodge Historic House: Tour this grand 1889 residence set in beautiful gardens, showcasing the lifestyle of the region's early wealthy families.
• Hay River Walk: Stroll along the Murrumbidgee River, passing under river red gums and spotting birdlife. The path connects the town centre to the showground and is lovely at sunset.
• Hay Shearers' Hall of Fame: Celebrate the skill and culture of shearing in a restored shearing shed, with interactive displays and a woolly history.
• Hay Plains: Drive out onto the seemingly endless flat plains for a true outback horizon. The sunsets here are spectacular, painting the sky in fiery hues.

Suggested Time to Spend

Hay can be explored in a day, but to truly appreciate its outback charm, plan a full day and overnight stay. Spend the morning at the Gaol and Bishop's Lodge, have lunch at a local pub, then wander the river walk in the afternoon. If you're self-driving, use Hay as a comfortable stopover between Sydney and Adelaide or on the way to the Snowy Mountains.

Nearby Areas Worth Combining

• Deniliquin: A lively river town about an hour north, known for its steam railway and the annual Deni Ute Muster.
• Narrandera: A historic river town with a lovely main street and the Fivebough Swamp bird sanctuary, about 90 minutes east.
• Griffith: The food bowl of the Riverina, famous for Italian-style wineries and orchards, two hours east.
• Mungo National Park: A World Heritage-listed landscape of lunettes and ancient human history, about two hours west (unsealed roads).
• Wagga Wagga: The largest inland city in NSW, with museums and the Botanic Gardens, two hours east.

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