There is an abundance of reasons people travel to the Riverina to enjoy unique accommodation, fresh, local produce and nature-based activities.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
But aside from the key tourist attractions, a variety of lesser-known offerings pepper the region.
We've compiled a list for those seeking to explore new parts of the towns they live in, or for tourists hoping to get a little off the beaten track.
Accommodation
Hanericka Farm Stay
Situated in the small town of Yerong Creek, this bed and breakfast style accommodation offers a classic Aussie farm experience in a secluded, laid-back location.
It offers a haven for city-dwellers seeking to escape the hustle and bustle of daily life, or those international tourists wanting to experience the Australian county lifestyle.
Children and families, couples and retirees are all catered for with fields a-plenty to run through and explore, verandas to enjoy the afternoon breeze with a glass of wine, and the opportunity to watch and get hands on with how the farm is run.
The farm has always produced wool, fat lamb, beef and large-scale cropping of wheat, lupins, canola, triticali and oats.
Junee Rail Carriage
This quirky bed and breakfast is unlike any other, offering guests a room in a converted old rail carriage.
The old 'red rattler' houses families of up to six people, with bathroom, kitchen and master bedroom facilities to enjoy.
Conveniently located just on the edge of Junee town centre, it offers the perfect location to explore all that is on offer.
Wallendbeen Park Farm
Wallendbeen Park Farm is a natural farming enterprise based on the principles of holistic farm management and regenerative agriculture located an hour and a half North-East of Wagga.
With only 260 residents in the town, the farm stay offers peace and tranquility amid rolling canola fields where kangaroos roam freely and the birds are chirping.
The property houses up to four guests in a private school house with kitchen and bathroom facilities inside a beautiful Victorian hardwood building.
Gryphon Lodge
The Riverina is all about those close-knit, rural communities and another property available to stay in mirrors this feel.
Gryphon Lodge, 3km outside of Junee town centre, is perched on 10ha of land among the hills.
Enjoy panoramic views of farmlands and homes dotted around the shire, with an extra touch of homestyle living from freshly laid eggs on the premises and produce from the on-site fruit and vegetable gardens.
There is an abundance of bird life and even get up close and personal with the alpacas to share your breakfast.
Elm Grove Mountain Retreat
Take the ultimate escape from daily life and get back to nature at this mountain retreat nestled in the Goobarragandra Valley, right along the Peak River.
Bordering the South West slopes of the Kosciuszko National Park, the property is a dedicated wildlife refuge.
The cottages offer an authentic, natural feel with wooden walls and stone features, and guests have an endless amount of options for activities from fishing and wading in the river, to bush walking and star gazing.
Food
The Red Door Cafe
Offering freshly made light lunches, homemade cakes, and coffee, this little cafe goes the extra mile with an additional flower and homewares store attached.
Think indoor plants, wicker baskets and sanded down timber - this is what you will be surrounded by for a cool, quaint dining experience in Narrandera.
Pages on Pine
Situated in the small town of Leeton, take your taste buds on a trip to France with fresh, French cuisine.
Dining here is a personal experience as the chef is also the owner of the restaurant.
Only seating a few tables at a time, the restaurant focuses on their customers' experiences to provide a cosy, delicious meal time.
Poet's Recall
With a certain classical ambiance, this Gundagai restaurant and bar is attached to a motel built as the first travellers' inn for ancestors commuting between Sydney and Melbourne.
While you enjoy Australian, locally sourced meals, browse the framed portraits of poets from history lining the walls.
Artisan Baker
This Wagga patisserie brings a taste of France to the city with a range of cakes, tarts and other tasty treats on offer.
Owned and run by a French family, enjoy the full experience with alfresco seating, barista-made coffee and specially baked sourdough and french-style breads.
For those who have been to France, take a trip back through your taste buds by indulging in their opera cakes, mille feuille, frangipane tartes, and more.
Corowa Whiskey and Chocolate
While most people think Junee when they hear chocolate factory, a re-navigation to Corowa will have you find another similar site.
Renovated from a flour mill dating back to the 1920's, Corowa Whiskey and Chocolate Factory has a historical charm.
Tour the on-site, fully functioning whiskey distillery, enjoy a gourmet meal and indulge in their signature hot chocolates, brewed by melting real chocolate.
Attractions
Barmedman Mineral Pool
Fed by an underground, freshwater stream, this large mineral pool is the perfect destination for a relaxing dip among the fields of regional NSW.
The water is said to ease people's aches and pains as well due to its high mineral content, and provide an overall sense of refreshment.
With barbecue areas, parking and restroom facilities onsite, it is the ultimate place for a family afternoon away from the city's hustle and bustle.
Paddy's River Falls
While these falls have been known to certain locals of the Riverina, the word is catching on about their pristine, cool waters, and now is the time to take that day trip out past Tumbarumba to see them flow without a crowd.
Gaze over the streams from the lookout, or take a short walk through the bush down to the base of the main fall, or even walk behind the water as it gushes down from the overhead cliff.
Take a dip in the pools and follow the water as it meanders through the trees.
There is a certain magical glisten to the water as mineral and crystal particles settle on the sediment.
The Big Fig Tree
You've heard of the Big Merino in Goulburn, or perhaps the Big Banana at Coffs Harbour, but many have failed to take in the beauty of Narrandera's natural attraction, the Big Fig Tree.
Estimated at almost 200 years old, the tree possesses secrets of history in its branches, one of which holds the answer to how it got there.
The fig tree is not native to the area, and no one quite knows how it began growing in the small town of regional NSW.
Oaklands Vintage Machinery Museum
Take a step away from the natural wonders of the Riverina and enter the world of historical machinery.
Whether you enjoy the ins and outs of the machines themselves or simply wish to take in the slice of history, this museum offers free, year-round tours.
Explore the vintage collection and learn about days gone by in the small town of Oaklands.
Rustique Lavender Farm
Just 30 minutes out of Wagga, take a stroll through the fields of lavender and heritage roses.
Take in the scent of fresh flowers, browse the gift store full of crafts, ceramics and naturally-made products, or relax with an on-site massage.
Bring friends and family to sit in the serenity with a cuppa and tasty treat.