Follow the tunes to the heart of the Riverina where the vibrant town of Wagga Wagga sets the stage for a star-studded Great Southern Nights line-up from 18 March to 10 April. Wagga will host two headline gigs as part of the month-long music festival, and when the music stops a delectable food and wine offering awaits. So why not make a weekend of it and hit the road on the ultimate musical GSN road trip with family and friends.
Great Southern Night Gigs
Australia’s formidable indie pop sweetheart Amy Shark (19 March) will play at the Civic Theatre to an already sold-out crowd. While First Nations singer-songwriter Archie Roach (10 April) – whose first album, written about his experiences as a child from the Stolen Generation, won an international Human Rights Achievement Award – will also play at the 59-year-old theatre.
Eat and drink
Featuring a sunny and leafy courtyard and a cool industrial-style interior, the Birdhouse Bar & Kitchen is a lively spot for a cocktail and a bite to eat from its globally inspired menu. Stay for the cheery vibes with live music every Sunday or try the bottomless mimosa lunch on weekends.
An authentic Italian restaurant with a big heart, Giuseppe’s was born from a passion for traditional Italian cooking. Comprising freshly made pizza dough, pillow-soft handcrafted gnocchi and rich sauces made from the freshest ingredients, the menu is inspired by family recipes that have been handed down through generations of Giuseppe’s family, who migrated here from the Southern Italian region of Calabria.
Housed in one of Wagga Wagga’s most iconic corner stores, which was a dining institution in the 1950s and 60s, Uneke Lounge is a relaxed café serving an all-day breakfast menu and coffee locally roasted in Orange. Once bellies are full, customers can browse Crown Corner afterwards, the boutique retail store within the restaurant, featuring quality Australian-made products including greenery, food and body care.
This family-owned and operated brewpub has been serving up beer to thirsty Wagga locals since 2010. Order some pub grub from the kitchen menu, then wash it all down with a pint of the original Sporting Ale or sample the unique and award-winning Vanilla Milk Stout. There’s also a host of events on the calendar including regular weekly trivia and live music on Saturdays.
Play
Learn about the land you’re standing on with local Wiradjuri man Mark Saddler. Leading tours around Wagga Wagga and along the Murrumbidgee River, Mark teaches guests about his people who come from one of the oldest cultures in the world, basic Wiradjuri language, significant local sites, useful native plants, bush tucker, and traditional tool-making.
From a tribe of eight rare Suri alpacas, a creative local mother–daughter duo handcrafts beautiful wraps, throws and ponchos that are created with as little impact on the earth as possible. Browse the handwoven ‘paddock to package’ wares or even learn to make your own in one of the workshops, with children’s and adult’s weaving classes available.
Sample local produce
The Riverina is known as the food bowl of Australia, so tuck in and enjoy its earthly delights crafted by the clever local providores. Just minutes from the town centre, pick your own strawberries at Bidgee Strawberries and Cream, meet the growers and sample award-winning olive oil and olives at Wollundry Grove Olives, and visit cellar doors at Borambola Wines, Boutique Wines by CSU and Cottontails Winery.
Explore
It’s not often an inland beach is named among the best in Australia, so when Wagga Beach was listed as one of 2020’s Top 10 beaches in the country, ears pricked up. Enjoy the lauded beach for yourself, lazing about on the banks of the Murrumbidgee River under the shade of river red gums or explore the tranquil waterway on a kayak.
A sprawling oasis, the Wagga Wagga Botanic Gardens has been delighting locals and visitors alike since 1968. There are nine sections to explore including an Australian native garden, a rainforest gully, and a Shakespearean Garden that is designed in line with Elizabethan-era style. Kids will love the model railway, adventure playground, zoo and aviary, which has more than 90 species of animals and birds.
Stay
The Baylis Boutique Apartments
Sitting pretty on Baylis Street in the city centre, these two family-owned apartments can be booked separately or together, to sleep from five to 10 guests. Beautifully and comfortably styled, guests are spoilt with a stocked pantry, free Netflix and laundry facilities.
Oozing character, this 10-bedroom boutique hotel is set within a charming 1868 building that once served as a private school, hospital and boarding house. Restored to its former Neo Gothic glory, the hotel is heritage listed and is an idyllic stay in the centre of town.
Located in the heart of the city, this hotel and restaurant has long been serving up delicious fare and well-appointed accommodation. The self-contained apartments are generously sized and The Charles Dining Room offers a five- or seven-course tasting menu for a fine dining experience.
For more information on Great Southern Nights and to purchase tickets go to our gig guide. Start planning your Great Southern Nights roadtrip and learn more about New South Wales’ diverse destinations and experiences at sydney.com and visitnsw.com.
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