Forbes
Forbes is a town in the Central West region of New South Wales.
Understand
Get in
100km from Orange on the Mid-Western Highway and Lachlan Valley Way (from Sydney, it takes up to 4 hours) and also accessible from Wagga Wagga and Canberra/Goulburn. Intermittent buses are available.
See
Lake ForbesThe centrepiece of the town is a billabong that winds around the town centre. It is used for recreation including dragon boat racing, jogging, fireworks and cycling. Forbes' plane-on-a-stick is in Apex Park by the main bridge, with its landing gear down but pointed distinctly down at the ground - doesn't look like a great landing coming but the plane's survived for 50 years now.
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address: Oxford StAn impressive collection amassed by a local couple, displayed with a variety of mannequins in period costume.
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Ben Hall Shooting Site
address: Ben Hall RoadIt's now a corner of a farm with just a few placards about Ben Hall's last hours, but hey it's always fun to drive up The Bogan Way towards Bogan Gate. -
Forbes Historical Museum
address: 11 Cross StShort opening hours but an extensive museum of local history. Not as much on Ben Hall as there used to be.
Do
Manna MountainThe land west of Forbes is flat fields punctuated by the Lachlan River and occasional hills. Manna Mountain is a prominent ridge accessed by turning down Marsden Road (dirt) from the Lachlan Valley Way. Curl around the farm to the marked location and walk up the steep and rough access road from there (don't drive it without a good 4WD) to enjoy the views from the top. To the southwest is a road running through the interesting town of Burcher with its pleasant pub.