January Festival Route, New South Wales

Here is a great little itinerary for a 7 - 10 day camper road-trip to highlight fabulous country New South Wales.  If you plan to go on the suggested dates in 2026 you can do both the Parkes Elvis Festival and the Tamworth Music festival.   This itinerary is not designed for hard core enthusiasts,  many of you would be interested to dip your toe in the water of both festivals for the experience of a life time without being aficionados.   

Add or delete days to suit your level of interest and available time. 

In 2026: 

Elvis Festival is on between 7 - 11th January 

Toyota Country Music Festival Tamworth is on between 16 - 25th January

DAY 1 - Sydney - Bathurst - Orange. Travel - 200km - 2hrs 45mins,  58km - 30mins 

Book a morning pick-up of your camper,  If you're flying into Sydney, most of the camper suppliers are quite close to the airport. 

Head straight to Bathurst and tour Abercrombie House,  Australian Fossil and Mineral Museum, Bathurst Rail Museum.  And of course if you are a motor racing fan there is the National Motor Racing Museum and you can drive around the Mount Panorama race circuit. 

Just outside Bathurst there is the Hill End Heritage Centre and Historic Gold Mining town that is definitely worth a visit.   

Move on to Orange for your overnight stay. 

Orange Caravan Park 

DAY 2 - Orange 

One of New South Wales most interesting wine areas, consider a winery tour where someone else does the driving for you (for obvious reasons), especially if you are only in Orange for the day.  The surrounding towns of Millthorpe, Molong and Canowindra are also worth a visit. 

DAY 3 - Orange - Forbes. Travel - 116km - 1 hr 20 mins 

Follow the Heritage Trail in Forbes to understand the areas gold rush and bushranger past. 

Forbes Caravan Park 

DAY 4 - Forbes - Parkes. Travel - 33km - 25mins 

Get an early start and head into Parkes for the Elvis Festival 7th - 11 Jan 2026, check out the festival schedule to decide which day and what events suit you. 

Try to make sure you work in a visit to the 'Dish' the CSIRO Observatory and Radio Telescope 

DAY 5 - Elvis Festival Parkes 

Parkes Caravan Park

DAY 6 - Parkes - Dubbo. Travel - 120km, 1hr 23mins. 

Take off early from Parkes so you can have as much time in Dubbo as possible.  You will want to visit the Old Dubbo Gaol, the Royal Flying Doctor Service Visitor Experience and Wellington Caves. 

Check out the Big Adventure Passes that give you a saving on all the entry fees.

DAY 7  - Western Plains Zoo Dubbo

See the link to the Taronga WP Zoo site,  you will need at least the full day (possibly 2 days if you have kiddies with you), download the app and decide what you will be doing ahead of time. 

Dubbo Caravan Park 

DAY 8 - Dubbo - Coonabarabran  Travel - 143km, 1hr 30mins 

Siding Springs Observatory, 27 kms from Coonabarabran,  and only open 8.30pm to 4pm, but 7 days a week. 

Stay in Coonabarabran for the best facilities. 

DAY 9 - Warrumbunge National Park  Travel - 33km's from Coonabarabran

Allow yourself the day to do the 14.5km Breadknife and Grand High Tops Loop Walk

Warrumbungle National Park, has the souther hemisphere's first Dark Sky Park.  Take your dinner with you so you can stay in the Warrunbunge's till after dark.  the combination of altitude, lack of humidity and light pollution, provides clear skies for amazing views.  

DAY 10 - Coonabarabran - Tamworth. Travel - 182km, 2hrs

Tamworth Country Music Festival - 16th to 25th January 2026

DAY 11 - Tamworth Country Music Festival 

Tamworth Caravan Park 

DAY 12 - Tamworth - Morpeth, Travel - 259 km 3hrs 30 mins 

Don't pass up the opportunity to stop for an afternoon and evening in beautiful Morpeth.  It's rich history as the busiest river port and riches makes it a pretty and well preserved town.   Follow the heritage walking tour trail and enjoy the local cafes and restaurants. 

Morpeth Caravan Park 

DAY 13 - Morpeth - Australian Reptile Park - Drop off, Travel - 100km - 1hr 15mins/ 90km - 1hr 12 mins 

If you have time and especially children in tow be at the Australian Reptile Park for opening at 9am. You can pre-purchase your entry tickets and decide which shows you want to be present for. 

Visit NSW site for more information 

Image Credits: Destination NSW

Shelley Richardson

Shelley has been working in the travel industry for over 30 years, in aviation, for tour operators and since 2016 for DriveNow. Having travelled extensively worldwide, alone, as a couple and with her family, Shelley has experience to share about how to make the most of your holiday, especially road-trips to amazing destinations.