Moree, located in the Gwydir Valley in North West NSW, is a town steeped in culture, enriched by dense nutrients from the black-soil plains the town is situated on. Named from a Kamilaroi Aboriginal term meaning “long waterhole” or “rising sun” and known as the natural spa capital of Australia, Moree is located on the banks of the Mehi River, and enjoys the benefits of mercurial waters which are naturally supplied to the town from the Great Artesian Basin.
Alongside being home to the most substantial spa access to the Great Artesian Basin in Australia, Moree offers a world renowned astronomy centre, burgeoning contemporary arts scene, as well as incredible fine dining under the helm of a Michelin star trained chef.
Here’s how to spend 48 hours in Moree.
Relax and unwind in natural mineral hot springs from the Great Artesian Basin in outback NSW.
Moree is home to a suite of natural hot springs, with mineral waters sourced from the Great Artesian Basin, the largest and deepest Artesian basin in the world. Located beneath the Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia and New South Wales, the Great Artesian Basin is held in an underground sandstone layer created by continental erosion during the Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous periods. The basin is an incredible 1.7 million square kilometres in size, and covers some 22% of the Australian continent. Up to 3,000 metres deep in some areas, the basin enabled Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to occupy dry inland areas for 40,000 years, and is now a vital lifeline for rural Australia.
The Moree Artesian Aquatic Centre, located a 4 minute walk from the Econo Lodge Moree, features two external mineral rich hot Artesian pools, a private wellness Artesian pool, Olympic standard pool, and hydrotherapy pool – Each filled with natural mineral waters naturally heated to up to 41 degrees. For those travelling with children, the centre hosts a Hydroplay area and 10 metre high waterslide, guaranteeing hours of excitement while the adults unwind. After a recent $7 million dollar upgrade, the centre now also features the Moree Artesian Wellness Centre which houses 7 treatment rooms, a private spa retreat with plunge pool, Artesian jet beds, and sauna facilities.
Econo Lodge Moree, features two external mineral rich hot Artesian pools, a private wellness Artesian pool, Olympic standard pool, and hydrotherapy pool – Each filled with natural mineral waters naturally heated to up to 41 degrees. For those travelling with children, the centre hosts a Hydroplay area and 10 metre high waterslide, guaranteeing hours of excitement while the adults unwind. After a recent $7 million dollar upgrade, the centre now also features the Moree Artesian Wellness Centre which houses 7 treatment rooms, a private spa retreat with plunge pool, Artesian jet beds, and sauna facilities.
Visit the CSIRO Australia Telescrope in Narrabri
For those who have ever wondered if there’s life on Mars, the Australia Telescope (CSIRO) in Narrabri, a one hour drive from Moree, is the largest telescope of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere. The Australia Telescope consists of six 22-metre dish antennas, weighing an incredible 270 tonnes each, which operate together to create a six kilometre wide antenna dish.
Visitors must switch phones to airplane mode on arrival, as any cellular transmissions (including texts!) can ruin observations many months and millions of dollars in the making.
Inside the centre, interactive displays such as the Whispering Dishes (where a whisper can be transmitted over a hundred metres by focusing two small telescope dishes) are sure to entertain teenagers and younger children, as well as more terrestrial lifeforms, such as kangaroos, galahs, emus, echidnas and koalas, which can be seen in the bushland surrounding the telescope.
Watch a Moree sunset at a lake formed by a fallen meteor
Yarrie Lake is located at the edge of the Pilliga Scrub on the outskirts of Moree, and is said to have been formed by a fallen meteor thousands of years ago. The lakes perfectly round shape and sheltered position makes it a perfect breeding ground for birds, and over 70 unique and endangered species of birds are found along the lakes tree line. Be sure to catch a Moree sunset at the lake, where clear skies and the regions expansive plains make for a beautiful, saccharine sunset.
Immerse yourself in Aboriginal Australian art at Yaama Ganu Gallery
Yaama Ganu Gallery is a not-for-profit Aboriginal art gallery and cafe located on Balo Street, Moree. Opened in 2011, Yaama Ganu features works from artists of the local Kamilaroi nation, as well as art from Aboriginal owned and managed art centres around Australia, such as Tjala Arts and Tjarlirli and Kaltukatjara Art.
Yaama Ganu Gallery is also home to Cafe Gali, an Aboriginal owned and operated cafe serving a delicious array of breakfast and lunch menu items.
Enjoy a fine dining menu created by Michelin star trained chef Nick Whitehouse
Rich alluvial black soils make the land in Moree incredibly fertile and productive for growing crops and seasonal produce. Maslina Bar & Grill, located at the Econo Lodge Moree, has a love for local farmers and seasonal produce at its core, and features a menu by Executive Consulting Chef Nick Whitehouse, a Michelin star trained chef who cooked for Princess Diana in London.
The menu’s crowd favourite, the smoked sous vide 350g rump cap, offers locally grown grass-fed beef, best enjoyed alongside roasted baby beetroot and carrot grilled fig, fondant chats, and devils on horseback.
Need a place to stay?
Econo Lodge Moree Spa Motor Inn is the convenient and inviting Moree accommodation option for short and long stay travellers. The lodge offers relaxing and spacious guest rooms, including twin, queen, king, suites and self contained apartments, suitable for all travel needs.
Book your next stay with Choice Hotels.
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