Coolatai Local
Menu

Tourism hub

Visit Coolatai & Gwydir Country

Coolatai is the quiet northern verandah of Gwydir Shire — pub, creek and camping — with Warialda, Bingara, Upper Horton and the western villages filling in the full visitor map: heritage, fossicking, river days, food gardens and serious history.

Free area mapWhere to stayFamily daysHistory

Suggested loops

Six ways to explore

Coolatai base camp

Wallaroo Hotel rooms or sports-ground camping, then day trips to Kwiambal / Macintyre Falls. Warialda for groceries on the way in or out.

Warialda honey & heritage

Cranky Rock Nature Reserve, Carinda House, Pepperbox Gallery, Vic tip-offs and a Honey Festival weekend if dates line up.

Bingara river & Roxy

Fossicking, Batterham Lookout sunsets, Living Classroom, riverside camping and an Art Deco cinema night at The Roxy.

Myall Creek + respect

National Heritage memorial ~23 km from Bingara — walk the plaques quietly. Pair with Bingara VIC for directions and commemorations.

Upper Horton wild side

Highest village in the shire — Sports Club meals, Horton Falls, Rocky Creek pools, Bike Territory and New Year campdraft energy.

Croppa & North Star west

Golden-triangle grain country — village stores, Sporting Club evenings, showjumping and machinery displays when the calendar clicks.

Headline experiences

Things to do

All experiences
Things To DobingaraNeeds check

Bingara district fossicking

Self-guided fossicking for gold, gems and crystals on permitted Bingara district spots.

Gold, gems and crystal fossicking around Bingara — classic Fossickers Way family activity.

Last checked 29 Sept 2026View details
Things To DowarialdaNeeds check

Cranky Rock Recreation Reserve

Granite boulder reserve with viewing platform, walks, birdwatching and camping near Warialda.

East of Warialda — granite boulder landscape and camping popular with Gwydir travellers.

Last checked 29 Sept 2026View details
Things To Dosurrounding countryNeeds check

Cunningham’s Track (Gwydir Country)

Follow roadside markers where Allan Cunningham’s 1827 track crosses modern Gwydir roads.

1827 explorer route that passed near Coolatai — interpretive road signs across Gwydir Shire.

Last checked 29 Sept 2026View details
Things To DobingaraNeeds check

HF Batterham Memorial Lookout

High lookout over Gwydir and Stoddart’s valleys with picnic facilities (no toilets; not for caravans).

Steep bitumen climb to valley views — sunset and moonrise favourite above Bingara.

Last checked 29 Sept 2026View details
Things To Doupper hortonNeeds check

Horton Falls

Horton Falls lookouts, gorge walk options, BBQ area — spectacular after rain.

Swimming holes, lookouts and walks south of Coolatai country via Upper Horton.

Last checked 29 Sept 2026View details
Things To Dosurrounding countryNeeds check

Kwiambal National Park

Remote national park with Macintyre Falls, riverside swimming, walks and campgrounds.

Popular day trip from Coolatai and Yetman — gorges, falls, swimming and camping.

Last checked 29 Sept 2026View details
Things To Dosurrounding countryNeeds check

Macintyre Falls

Lookout, picnic area and boardwalk access to a plunge pool on the Macintyre River.

Signature nature stop for Coolatai–Yetman visitors exploring Kwiambal.

Last checked 29 Sept 2026View details

Stay

Beds & camps

All stay
AccommodationbingaraNeeds check

Bingara Riverside Caravan Park

Bingara caravan park in an idyllic riverside setting opposite the Gwydir.

Powered/unpowered riverside caravan park opposite the Gwydir — family-friendly Bingara stay.

Last checked 29 Sept 2026View details
AccommodationcoolataiNeeds check

Coolatai Sports Ground camping

Peaceful free camping at Coolatai Sports Ground with barbecues; toilets and hot showers by donation.

In Coolatai — free/donation camping used by travellers and during major local events.

Last checked 29 Sept 2026View details
AccommodationgravesendNeeds check

Ezzy’s Crossing campsite

Self-contained free riverside camping near Gravesend with bins and picnic shelter.

Self-contained free camping on the Gwydir near Gravesend — popular with anglers and birdwatchers.

Last checked 29 Sept 2026View details

Eat

Pubs & meals

All food
Eat & DrinkyetmanNeeds check

Codfish Hotel

Yetman country pub with meals, drinks and basic hotel accommodation.

Yetman village hub on the Coolatai–Queensland border touring route.

Last checked 29 Sept 2026View details
Eat & DrinkwarialdaNeeds check

Hope Café

Cosy Warialda café for breakfast, lunch, coffee and cake — Australian and Indian favourites.

Warialda main street — closest café strip for Coolatai travellers stocking up or waiting on laundry/pool time.

Last checked 29 Sept 2026View details

Calendar

Events worth timing for

All events
upper-hortonAnnual

Upper Horton Campdraft and Rodeo

29 Dec 2026

Huge New Year campdraft/rodeo (roughly 29 Dec–1 Jan) with thousands of cattle runs and competitors statewide. Jeans-and-buckles dress code optional but common. Camp early.

warialdaAnnual

Warialda Honey Festival

20 Feb 2027

Annual celebration of Warialda as “place of wild honey” with markets, beeswax crafts, food stalls, entertainment and kids’ activities. Confirm the year’s date via Visit Gwydir / festival Facebook.

gravesendAnnual

Mason Daley Memorial Cod Classic

20 Mar 2027

Annual Gwydir River fishing competition based at Gravesend (third weekend in March per Visit Gwydir). Check Gravesend Fishing Club channels for weigh-in details and camping rules.

north-starAnnual

North Star Cutting

15 Apr 2027

Visit Gwydir describes a four-day cutting event in April with substantial prize money — listed as one of Australia’s larger cutting meets. Confirm dates annually.

warialdaAnnual

Warialda Show

14 May 2027

Three-day agricultural show typically on the second weekend in May — one of the North West’s stronger country shows. Pavilion exhibits, animals, sideshows and volunteer energy.

Practical visitor notes

Fuel & groceries: Plan around Warialda and Bingara. Coolatai and smaller villages have limited retail hours.

Summer: Inland heat is serious — water, hats, early starts. Confirm pool opening seasons.

Free camps: Self-contained only on many river spots. Carry rubbish and toilet plans; check flood alerts.

Official tourism: Facts here are rewritten from public Visit Gwydir and council materials — always confirm hours and event dates on the ground or with the VIC.

Looking for work or relocating? See the jobs hub. Travelling with kids? Start at family days out.

Read before you go

Stories