Wagga Wagga

Originally inhabited by the Wiradjuri people, considered to be the largest Aboriginal mob in New South Wales. They inhabited much of what is now the Riverina area.
Early colonists first sighted the land on which the city of Wagga Wagga now stands in December 1829 during an expedition of discovery down the Murrumbidgee and Murray Rivers. Settlement swiftly followed.
Wagga Wagga was proclaimed a town in 1849 and by the 1860s had a population of 700. The train line reached Wagged in the 1870s and by 1881 it had increased to 3,975. In 1879 the railway line was extended south of the river.
"Wagga" in the local Wiradjuri Aboriginal dialect means "crow". The repetition of a word was the method of expressing the plural or emphasis, thus Wagga Wagga means "crows" or "the place where crows assemble in large numbers". The Murrumbidgee River which runs through the city also derived its name from the Aboriginal language and means "plenty water" or "big water".

By plane

Wagga Wagga Airportis served by flights to Melbourne and Sydney. Airlines serving the airport are QantasLink and Regional Express. The standard advance purchase flight is around $120 with prices rising to several times that if you book close to when you travel. Occasional discounts can be found. The airport is 15 minutes out of town, both taxis and hire cars are available at the airport. Approximate cost for a taxi to the centre of the city is $40.

• Melbourne operated by Regional Express
• Sydney operated by QantasLink and Regional Express

Ground transportation

• Wagga Shuttle BusServices available to and from Wagga Airport, and to and from the Army recruit training ground at Kapooka.

• Wagga Wagga Taxis

Best to book in advance if you want a hire car at the airport. Not just to ensure a vehicle is available, but also to ensure there is someone to meet your flight. Car hire from Wagga is usually limited milage. To get unlimited milage, Canberra is the best bet, around 3 1/2 hours drive away.

• Avis

• Budget

• Hertz

• Thrifty

By train

• Wagga Wagga railway stationNSW Trainlink offer a daily train service, with the city on the line between Sydney and Melbourne, providing two services a day in each direction.; From Sydney: 7 hours, departing at 6:50AM or 8:40PM. Concession price: $42.80 one way

By bus

• Firefly Express no longer stops in Wagga (since 2018). There is no effective and practical way of getting from Sydney to Wagga by coach.

• Wagga Radio Cabs operate 24/7 throughout the city.

• Busaboutservices most suburbs in Wagga Wagga from M-Sa (No services on Sundays and public holidays)

• Wagga Wagga Art Gallery

  address: Wagga Wagga Civic Centre, Cnr Baylis & Morrow Streets
  houses the Australian Print Collection and the Print Australia Archive. The gallery is home to the National Art Glass Collection, Australia's premier display of glass art.
• Museum of the Riverina which is in the historic council chambers at the Wagga Wagga Civic Centre (Cnr Baylis & Morrow Streets) and the Botanic Gardens (Lord Baden Powell Drive).

• Wagga Wagga Botanic Gardens

  address: Macleay Street
  8 hectares of beautiful gardens, which are also home to the Wagga Wagga Zoo (contains a free flight aviary) and the Wagga Wagga Miniature Railway (see listing below)

• Willans Hill Miniature Railway

  address: Wagga Wagga Botanic Gardens on Willans Hill
  A railway station and working controls are features along the extensive track. If you aren't the train type a pedestrians bridge over the train gives an expansive view of the train as it leaves the station.

• Charles Sturt University Winery

  phone: +61 2 6933 2435
  address: McKeown Drive
  Sample and buy quality local wines

• RAAF Wagga Aviation Heritage Centre

  address: Sturt Highway, Forest Hill
  showcases the RAAF's history and its significant involvement in the Riverina region.

• Wagga Wagga Rail Heritage Museum

  address: Station Place
  Show casing the heritage of the railway in the Riverina

• Ladysmith Tourist Railway Open Day

  address: Ladysmith Railway Station

• Walk, the Wollundry Track or the Wiradjuri Walking track with maps available at the Wagga Wagga Visitor Information Centre.

• Forum 6 Cinemas

  address: 77 Trail Street
• Swim in the Murrumbidgee River, at Wagga Beach (which is a sand beach).
• The local newspaper, The Daily Advertiser, is a good guide to what's on around town.

• Oasis Regional Aquatic Centre

  address: Morgan Street
  Home to Australia's only wave-ball, 2 outdoor pools (including diving pool) and four indoor heated pools (including whirlpool, baby pool and wave ball).
• Walk the track to the top of The Rock, a short drive away from Wagga.

• Blessed Beanis open M-Sa and offers breakfast and lunches, such as sandwiches on fresh sourdough with a taste of the region's finest ingredients. They also claim to offer the best coffee in town, made by NSW's "best latte artist".

• The Quinty Bakehouse at Uranquinty is a 10 minute drive from Wagga (South on the Olympic Highway, A41). Offers a range of products made using organic flour, such as sourdough melts and pies with real meat. They are famous for their tarts, which come in three sizes and more than 10 flavours.

• The Riverina Hotel, also known as The Bridge, serves good pub meals for very reasonable prices. A schnitzel, veg and gravy costs about $10. The special of the day is about $6 to $7.

• Il Corso dishes out large tasty Italian dishes at mid-range prices. Baylis Street cnr Edward Street.

• Nemos Fish and Chips

  address: 110 Fitzmaurice St
  Offers a variety of seafood; snapper, barramundi, whiting, flathead, blue grenadier and flake.

• Thirsty Crow Brewery

  phone: +61 2 6921 7470
  address: 31 Kincaid Street
  Famous for its diverse range of beers made on site and its unique range of pizzas

• Uneke Lounge

  phone: +61 2 6925 8143
  address: 140 Fitzmaurice Street
  A comfortable café with a cosy atmosphere.

• The Pot 'n' Kettle Coffee House

  phone: +61 2 6921 3340
  address: 10 Blake Street
  A small, intimate café that serves quality food and coffee. Free wifi and friendly staff.

Baylis Street is the main street of Wagga and is where you will find most shops. You'll find the Sturt Mall and Marketplace shopping centres which should have everything you need. You'll also find some smaller malls in the suburbs such as the Kooringal Mall (Kooringal) and the Southcity Shopping Centre (Glenfield Park).

• Riverina Producers' Market

  address: Wagga Wagga Showground, Bourke Street
  A range of local produce is on offer, including flowers, cheese, meat and even pistachios

• Sprout and About Markets

  address: Burns Way
  A range of local produce is on offer, including flowers, cheese, meat and even pistachios

• Markets by the Lake

  address: Apex Park, Lake Albert
  Stalls selling fresh produce, arts and crafts, hand made gifts, clothes, plants, bric-a-brac and more.

• Wagga Wagga Marketplace

  address: 87 Baylis St
  A major shopping centre. Contains a supermarket, a discount department store, a post office, a food court, and over 60 specialty stores.

• Kooringal Hotel

  phone: +61 2 6922 6370
  address: 88 Fay Avenue
  located in the eastern suburb of Kooringal

• Que Bar and Nightclub

  phone: +61 2 5925 5305
  address: 109 Baylis Street

• The Riverina Hotel

  phone: +61 2 6921 2222
  address: 188 Fitzmaurice Street
  Wednesday night trivia sessions. Popular with local agricultural students.

• The Victoria Hotel

  phone: +61 2 6921 5233
  address: 55 Baylis Street
  Wednesday night trivia sessions. Popular with local agricultural students.

• Wagga Wagga Winery

  phone: +61 2 6922 1221
  address: Oura Road
  Offers cellar door sales and a fully licensed restaurant set amongst 17 acres of established grape vines near the Murrumbidgee River.

• Allonville Motel

  phone: +61 2 6922 7269
  address: 3691 Sturt Hwy
  Has stables, kennels and yards available. Small pool. Restaurant and room service dinners available by prior arrangement.

• Best Western Plus Charles Sturt Suites and Apartments

  phone: +61 2 6923 4100
  address: 82 Tarcutta St
  Offers both standard rooms and serviced apartments, located in the CBD. Restaurant on site. Free Wifi.

• International Hotel

  phone: +61 2 6971 7007
  address: Corner of Sturt Hwy and Lake Albert Rd
  Modern hotel conveniently located on the Sturt Highway, close to the CBD.

• Mantra Pavilion Hotel

  phone: +61 2 6921 6411
  address: 22 Kincaid Street
  Unique 35 metre high canopy roof makes this building a local landmark. Modern rooms and conveniently located in the city centre.

• Mercure Wagga Wagga

  phone: +61 2 6921 6444
  address: 1 Morgan Street
  Hotel in the centre of Wagga Wagga, with comfortable rooms at reasonable prices, a Swimming pool and a fitness centre.

• Townhouse Hotel

  phone: +61 2 6921 4337
  address: 70 Morgan Street
  Upmarket, modern hotel located in the heart of the shopping district. Swimming pool and gym. Restaurant and bar onsite.

If you are driving, Wagga Wagga is at a crossroads. Head west on the Sturt Highway (Route A20) for a long drive to Adelaide (approx. 11hr drive), east on the Sturt Highway (Route A20) and then the Hume Highway (Route A31) to Canberra (3hrs) and Sydney (5hrs) or south on the Olympic Highway (Route A41) and then the Hume Highway (Route A31) to Melbourne (5hrs).