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13 Captivating Things To Do In Coonamble & The Pilliga Forest, NSW

Kangaroo soaking up the morning sun at Warrumbungle National Park

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Most people think that nothing interesting exists on the western side of the Great Dividing Range in New South Wales, but I’m here to tell you that this is far from the truth.

As it turns out, there are a number of things to do in Coonamble and the surrounding region. This small town is known as the gateway to The Pilliga Forest, and is also nestled in a convenient location to reach the Macquarie Marshes and Warrumbungle National Park.

Warrumbungle NP | Credit: Destination NSW

As well as exploring this iconic forest that’s known across the country for its rugged landscape, Coonamble boasts Australia’s biggest rodeo and campdraft. Not a bad feat for a town with less than 3,000 people living there.

It features wide streets, old art deco buildings, and has a slower pace of life synonymous with rural Australia.

If you’re not sure what to do in Coonamble and Pilliga Forest, then you’ve come to the right place.

In this guide we share the top attractions of this town and share our favorite activities that you should add to your itinerary.

Disclaimer: This post was sponsored by Dubbo Regional Council, but all thoughts, ideas and opinions in this guide are our own.

Things to Do in Coonamble, NSW

map of sydney to coonamble driving route

Coonamble (pronounced Coo-nam-bull) is located on the Castlereagh River, along the Castlereagh Highway half way between Dubbo and Lightning Ridge.

It makes for a great pitstop on the way to the Outback. I would suggest allowing at least a week to enjoy all there is to see and do.

April or May are ideal times of the year to visit Coonamble as the days are warm and sunny, with just a hint of a chill at night time.

Here are some awesome things you can do there…

1. Get To Know The Nickname Hall of Fame

Coonamble is also sometimes referred to as Australia’s nickname capital.

The Nickname Hall of Fame is a quirky way to celebrate the characters who live or have lived in Coonamble.

Take a walk along the main street and you will find about a dozen caricature portraits on billboards.

Each portrait expresses the particular traits and personality that each person was known for. You can ‘meet’ local characters like Tumbler, Ghost, Icey, Vanderbilt, Darla and Bricky.

As nicknames are a very personal thing, it is not always known how people acquire their nicknames. At least for the folks of Coonamble, this is no longer a…

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