Things to do in Wagga Wagga

When the first European settlers came to the land around Wagga Wagga in the 1830s, it was the Murrumbidgee River that attracted them.

Trying to escape the crowded cities, they wanted to set up farms in an area that was not developed yet, and the mighty water source made this a perfect location.

As more settlers came to the area, the main town was set up at a point where it was relatively easy to cross the Murrumbidgee. This is where we still find it today.

It’s a shame, then, that the Murrumbidgee River is no longer a central part of Wagga Wagga. Although it’s a beautiful river with majestic gum trees and dense thickets of native grass, it’s mostly hidden behind a large wall.

Why? Well, because the river is prone to regular flooding. Since those settlers arrived about 200 years ago, there have been 80 serious floods – some more than ten metres high!

Unfortunately for the safety of the whole city, the river needs to be kept at bay behind the fortifications of the flood wall.

And Wagga Wagga is a big city – the largest inland city in New South Wales, in fact. But even with a population of about 60,000 people, it feels quite small and peaceful.

Wide streets are lined with trees, offering greenery around every corner.

Gorgeous heritage buildings have been well maintained, while new modern architecture stamps the city’s status as the region’s cultural capital.

While it hasn’t been traditionally seen as a holiday destination for a while, there are actually quite a few interesting things to do in Wagga Wagga.

On top of the main Wagga Wagga attractions, there’s also new energy in the dining and nightlife scene. Combine that with a couple of activities on the Murrumbidgee River, and you’ve got a very well-rounded trip away!

Before I go into more detail about the best things to do in Wagga Wagga, I wanted to highlight my top recommendations in case you’re short of time:

• Riverside Wagga Beach: A gorgeous bit of landscaping along the Murrumbidgee, you can go for a swim, have a picnic, or walk along the riverbank.
• Wagga Wagga Art Gallery: A large modern space with a permanent collection plus interesting special exhibitions.
• Museum of the Riverina: This free museum covers the story of the region very well, touching on most aspects of traditional and modern culture.

There are lots of fantastic places to stay in Wagga Wagga, so it can make a great base for a couple of nights or two, either as a weekend getaway or perhaps on a road trip between Sydney and Melbourne.

And when you’re here, you’ll easily be able to fill your time.

Nature

Although there are plenty of things to do in the centre of Wagga Wagga, I wanted to first start with some of the nature that intersects with the city, because I think this is where you’ll find some of the most enjoyable experiences.

For a relatively large city, it’s impressive that the Riverina landscapes are so easily accessible – even by foot from many central hotels.

Riverside Wagga Beach

Of course Australia is famous for its beaches, but you would always associate them with the coast, right? Well, not in Wagga Wagga, where there is an inland beach! It’s a pretty special one too, named in the top 10 in Tourism Australia’s list of best beaches in 2020.

The long golden stretch of sand is along the southern bank of the Murrumbidgee River, right in the centre of Wagga Wagga. As well as lots of space to sunbake or relax on the sand, there’s easy access to the water for swimming (perfect for hot summer days).

In recent years, the landscaping around the beach has been rejuvenated with new picnic tables and other facilities, so it’s very family friendly and a wonderful place to spend a few hours.

Wiradjuri Trail

From Wagga’s beach, you can go directly onto the Wiradjuri Trail, a path for walkers and cyclists that passes right through here. It’s a good spot to get a taste of it if you don’t want to go the whole length.

In reality, you’re unlikely to want to go the whole way. After all, the Wiradjuri Trail is a 42-kilometre-long loop that circles the outskirts of Wagga Wagga.

What’s so lovely about the Wiradjuri Trail is the variety of scenery you’ll see along the way. It goes along the river, over hilltops, through wetlands, and around a lake. There’s lots of wildlife, particularly birds, to see along the way.

(And, if you are particularly keen on doing some cycling, there are also some great mountain-bike trails in Pomingalarna Reserve, which the Wiradjuri Trail passes through.)

Kayaking tour

Because it skirts around the edge of the city, the Murrumbidgee River often doesn’t seem to be a major part of Wagga Wagga’s landscape. Yet, it is not just an important part of the region’s story, it’s also one of the most beautiful assets.

While you’ll get a taste of the river at the beach, I think the best way to truly appreciate the Murrumbidgee is on a kayaking tour.

You can rent kayaks from In Motion Fitness, but I recommend joining owner Mick Wainwright for one of his guided tours. Paddling (or even just floating) down the river, with the river red gums along the banks, he’ll bring the waterway to life.

Most of the time, it’s a serene and safe stretch of the river, so it’s good for most ages and even inexperienced kayakers.

Wagga Wagga Botanic Gardens

With the first trees planted in 1962, the Wagga Wagga Botanic Gardens have been an important part of the city for decades.

The gardens are spread over about ten hectares and have different sections to explore, including focuses on camellias, cacti, and roses. There’s also a rainforest area and a section dedicated to native flora.

For children, there are three playground areas and even a model railway. This is also where you’ll find the city’s zoo, but I’ll talk more about that in a moment.

Art

On the cultural side of things, Wagga Wagga has made a name for itself as an art hub, attracting artists from across the state, as well as excellent touring exhibitions.

As you wander through the city centre, you’ll realise there are lots of galleries and other artistic projects to discover

Wagga Wagga Art Gallery

The main cultural institution is the Wagga Wagga Art Gallery, housed in a contemporary building that has seven different exhibition spaces.

The permanent collection holds about 2600 items, with a focus on Australian prints as well as different styles from artists in the Riverina. Most of the space in the gallery is used for temporary exhibitions, with several different major shows each season, including some big tours.

It’s one of the things I like about the Wagga Wagga Art Gallery – not only will you be exposed to something local, you’ll also often get treated to a bigger show.

National Art Glass Gallery

Right next door, in another modern building, is the National Art Glass Collection. Officially still part of the main gallery, I think it deserves its own mention.

The works on display show the development of contemporary art glass from the 1960s to today. There’s often something quite ethereal about the shapes and textures that have been created.

In total there are about 700 works in the collection – and you could argue that the building is an artwork in itself, with a large glass wall allowing you to look in from the outside.

Other galleries

Along with these main institutions, there are also quite a few smaller independent galleries throughout Wagga. They usually prioritise regional artists, but you’ll also find interesting exhibitions covering a variety of media and creators.

To see what’s happening when you’re visiting Wagga Wagga, a few good galleries to pop into are:

• Paper Pear: An eclectic gallery with lots of works by Australian artists for sale.
• The Curious Rabbit: A cute little spot that also has a cafe and an impressive collection of books.
• Gallery 43: Part of the local TAFE, it has regular exhibitions of students’ work.

There’s also The Ambo Gallery in a cultural complex that’s been developed inside an old ambulance station, where you might also find live music or other events.

Street art

It won’t be hard for you to spot some of the street art in Wagga Wagga – there are about 60 officially recorded pieces of ‘public art’, plus plenty of other works that pop up regularly.

One of the main spots I suggest heading is Cadell Place, a back lane where about six large murals were painted a few years ago for a street festival. These are some of the most iconic works in the city.

But walking down Bayliss Street, there are some other impressive and colourful murals, along with some smaller sculpture pieces.

If you’ve got a bit more time, go for a walk around Wollundry Lagoon near the art gallery to find even more.

There’s a good map of all the street art in Wagga available in this brochure.

Heritage

Everywhere you look, there are historic buildings throughout the city, from public institutions to private homes,

I think exploring the heritage is one of the best things to do in Wagga Wagga – and there are a few ways you can do that.

Heritage Trail

One of the best ways to explore the history of the city is to follow the Heritage Trail, which leads through different sections of Wagga Wagga’s centre, past about 40 places of interest.

I would suggest popping into the visitor centre and getting a map from there. But basically, it starts at Church St, goes along Fitzmaurice, circles around Trail St and Simmons St, and then loops around the blocks across from the Esplanade.

St Andrews Church and St Michaels Cathedral are a couple of highlights, as is the beautiful Court House and its clock tower.

As you continue, it’s more grand historic houses that become the focus. But there are also some smaller cottages that are quite interesting.

Museum of the Riverina

To get a good understanding of the heritage of Wagga Wagga and the broader area, I suggest popping into the Museum of the Riverina, next to the Botanical Gardens.

The exhibits here cover a long period of time, from Indigenous history, through to settlement and agriculture, right up to sport and famous modern events.

The Museum of the Riverina is all well laid out with interesting information panels and some items from the collection on display like farm equipment.

There’s even an old school house in the outside section at the back, so don’t miss that.

Other museums

The Museum of the Riverina is actually made up of two locations, although the one I’ve already mentioned is the main one.

The other location is at the Historic Council Chambers in Baylis Street. The chambers themselves are an important part of the museum, but there are also rotating exhibitions about local history as well as temporary travelling shows.

A few other museums in Wagga Wagga to visit are:

• The Mount Erin Heritage Centre: Set within the original Mount Erin Convent from the 1870s, you can explore some of the buildings and see the museum about the history of the Presentation Sisters in the NSW Riverina.
• Wagga Wagga Rail Heritage Museum: A number of locations within the Wagga rail precinct are used for this museum, particularly the old station platform, which has lots of memorabilia, old trikes and tools, and some model railways.
• RAAF Wagga Aviation Heritage Centre: The museum has a decent collection of memorabilia, photographs and documents about the role the Riverina played during WWII and activities on the base since then. This includes several aircraft on display.

Although these museums may seem a bit niche, the topics they cover have all had an important impact on the development of Wagga.

Food and drink

In recent years, Wagga Wagga has seen some cool new places emerge to eat and drink. Of course, this is still a regional city so pubs and Chinese restaurants abound – but it’s not hard to find alternatives.

Where to eat

For breakfast, there are quite a few cute cafes to choose from. In particular, I would recommend either The Brew, in an old corner store in a residential part of the city, or Mr Lawrence, a stylish spot near the centre of town.

For lunch, Larry’s has a delightful neighbourhood feel with cafe-style food, while Uneke Lounge is casual with a good range and healthy options.

If you’re looking for pub food, Romano’s Hotel is a bit of an institution with a large menu of classics.

Or for something a bit more upmarket for dinner, Hide Steak & Bar does excellent meat dishes (including a delightful set menu showcasing the local beef) or The Oakroom has a smaller menu but every dish is carefully curated.