| Thirty
kilometres southeast of Leeton, at the junction
of the Sturt and Newell highways, NARRANDERA is a popular overnight
stop en route from Adelaide to Sydney, or Melbourne to Brisbane. It’s
actually a very pleasant place to take a break, set on the Murrumbidgee
River with streets lined with tall native and deciduous trees owing to the
foresight of the pioneer settlers; its white cedars, which blossom in
November, are particularly beautiful. |
|
| A
good place to cool down is Lake Talbot, a willow-surrounded expanse
of water flowing from the Murrumbidgee River. Right next to the lake, with
just a grassy bank between them, is the splendidly sited Lake Talbot
Holiday Complex (third weekend in Oct to third weekend in April,
Mon–Fri 5.30–8am & 10am–9pm, Sat & Sun 10am–9pm; adults
$2, children $1). The complex is very family-friendly, with picnic areas
and barbecues, various watery slides at 20–80˘ a go, children’s pools
and an Olympic-sized swimming pool. Nearby, a reserve along the
river has been declared a koala regeneration area for a
disease-free colony of koalas; to get there, follow the Bundidgerry
Walking Track around Lake Talbot and the Murrumbidgee River. Free maps
of the track are available at the Narrandera Tourist Information Centre,
in Narrandera Park on the Newell Highway (Mon–Fri 9am–5pm, Sat &
Sun 10am–4pm; tel 02/6959 1766). Fishing fanatics could try out the lake
or river for some Murray cod, yellowbelly or silverbeam; fish abound in
the river, and 5km east of Narrandera, off the Sturt Highway, the John
Lake Centre at the Inland Fisheries Research Station (Mon–Fri
9am–4pm; guided tours 10.30am; $5), carries out research into the
species of the Murray, Murrumbidgee and Darling rivers.
The most economic place to stay in
Narrandera is the Star Lodge, on the corner of Whitton and Arthur
streets. Classified by the National Trust, the building retains many of
its original 1916 features and is now a fine B&B and hostel run by a
friendly couple. East Street is the main street for hotels and motels,
with several classic iron-lace-verandahed country hotels, all offering
accommodation. The real bargain is the Royal Mail Hotel on East
Street, or try the Mid Town Motor Inn on the corner of East and
Larmer streets, which has a swimming pool. Another good spot is the shady Lake
Talbot Caravan Park, well positioned above the lake and pool. The best
place for a meal is the large old Narrandera Hotel, the last
pub on East Street near the Murrumbidgee canal. |