Grenfell
Town
Population 1991
Nestled at the foot of the Weddin Mountains, Grenfell is best known as the birthplace of writer Henry Lawson. The wealth appropriated during the days of the gold rush is evident in the opulent original buildings on Main Street. Originally named Emu Creek, the town was renamed after Gold Commissioner John Granville Grenfell, who was gunned down by bushrangers.
Visitor Information
CWA Craft Shop and Visitors Centre, 68 Main St; (02) 6343 1612
Nearby national parks
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Blue Mountains National Park
Blue Mountains National Park presents an astounding and unique landscape to its millions of visitors. The terrain ripples and folds, a...more -
Kosciuszko National Park
Kosciuszko National Park embraces the majestic grandeur of the high country. This is one of the world’s great national parks with its...more -
Kanangra–Boyd National Park
Kanangra–Boyd National Park’s majestic landscape of wild rivers and waterfalls, mountainous terrain and deep gorges is rimmed...more
Nearby towns
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Young NSW
Young is an attractive town in the western foothills of the Great Dividing Range with a fascinating history of goldmining. The Lambing...more -
Cowra
Cowra is nestled in the Lachlan Valley, where you can enjoy local food and wine. The peaceful air of this town on the Lachlan River belies...more -
Eugowra
Situated on the rich basin of the Lachlan River, Eugowra is a tiny country town known for its crafts. Nearby on the Orange–Forbes road,...more
In Town
Henry Lawson Obelisk: memorial on the site of the house where the poet is believed to have been born; next to Lawson Park on the road to Young. Grenfell Museum: local relics (and their stories) from world wars, the gold rush, Henry Lawson and bushrangers; open weekends 2–4pm; Camp St. O'Brien's Reef Lookout: views of the town on a gold-discovery site with walkway and picnic facilities; access from O'Brien St. Weddin Bird Trails: unique Grenfell birdlife; maps from visitors centre. Historic buildings: walk and drive tours; brochures from visitor centre.
Nearby
Weddin Mountains National Park The park is a rugged crescent of cliffs and gullies providing superb bushwalking, camping and picnicking spots. Two of the highlights of the bushwalks are Ben Hall's Cave, where the bushranger hid from the police, and Seaton's Farm, a historic homestead set on beautiful parkland. The bush is also rich with fauna including wedge-tailed eagles, honeyeaters and wallabies. 18 km SW.
Fishing spots near town
Wagga Wagga 151 km
In my early teens I lived in Wagga Wagga for about three years and spent many hours fishing from a kayak on the Murrumbidgee and at Lake Albert. The river held excellent numbers of redfin, and they were of good size, so... Find out moreLithgow to Mudgee 185 km
Early settlers following in the footsteps of Blaxland, Wentworth and Lawson took three weeks of hard trudging to cross the majestic Blue Mountains. These days the drive from the Penrith plains in western Sydney takes... Find out moreYaouk Valley 222 km
It was late autumn 1997 when I arrived in Canberra to fish with the late Chris Hole, fly-fisherman, author and painter. Chris offered to take me to some of his favourite trout streams that snake... Find out moreEco-friendly activities around town
Birdwatching in Fivebough and Tuckerbil wetlands 151 km
Fivebough and Tuckerbil Wetlands are Ramsar-listed, and among nearly 200 birds spotted here are brolgas, black-winged stilts and painted snipes. Fivebough has 5 kilometres of walking tracks, with bird hides along the... Find out moreKoala-spotting - Narrandera 176 km
Koalas have thrived at Narrandera since they were released in 1972. At Narrandera Nature Reserve you should be able to spot a few.... Find out morePicnicking around Canberra 176 km
There are many great places to unpack a picnic in the Australian Capital Territory, from the copious native areas in the Australian National Botanic Gardens, to the bird mecca of Jerrabomberra Wetlands on the Molonglo... Find out morePicnicking around Dubbo 188 km
Throw a rug down in the 167-hectare Burrendong Botanic Gardens and Arboretum near Wellington, and take in the fragrance of an estimated 2500 native plant species.... Find out moreWine-tasting - Mudgee 196 km
Mudgee is probably best known for its vineyards and wine, and there are a growing number of organic wineries, including Botobolar, Lowe Family Wines, Martins Hill and Thistle Hill. Broombee also has organic fruit and... Find out moreIce-climbing 200 km
In winter, the frozen cliffs around Blue Lake provide one of the only places in Australia to learn and perfect the art of ice-climbing. Multi-day courses involve a hike in with heavy packs, and camping out in the... Find out morePicnicking in the Blue Mountains 213 km
Take a picnic up to the Blue Mountains Botanic Garden in Mount Tomah at any time of year and you will not be disappointed. At 1000 metres above sea level, it is usually cool in summer, brimming with flowers in spring,... Find out moreBurrowa–Pine Mountain National Park 248 km
Located near the New South Wales border, 430 kilometres north-east of Melbourne, and one of Victoria’s lesser-known national parks, this has some remarkable features. The granitic Pine Mountain is one of the... Find out moreGolf courses around town
Royal Canberra Golf Club (Westbourne course) 178 km
When the site for the nation’s capital was selected in 1909, it was mainly rolling grassy plains with few trees. Little was known about what species might flourish in Canberra’s environment. The federal... Find out moreTwin Creeks Golf & Country Club 240 km
As a globetrotting professional golfer of the 1970s and ’80s, Graham Marsh won more than 60 titles across five continents. The key to his success was his approach to the game. Every shot was thoughtfully... Find out moreNearby breweries
Wig & Pen Brewery/Tavern 177 km
Canberra may well claim to be the real ale capital of Australia on the strength of this single brew-pub, which sees more pints of hand-pumped ale pulled than any other joint in the land. From the well-balanced and... Find out moreWilliam Bull Brewery 191 km
The high-profile, family-run De Bortoli Wines diversifying into craft beer has been one of the longest-running stories around. In the late 1990s they acquired a brewhouse that originally belonged to the ... Find out moreCampsites around town
Holy Camp camping area 15 km
This is a nice, shaded spot 15 km west of Grenfell via Holy Camp Rd. From the camp you can do the Euladrie walk, which follows an old logging road to the base of the escarpment and then climbs steeply to Peregrine... Find out moreBen Halls camping area 20 km
The grassy unpowered campsites here are set beside historic Seatons Farm, and just a half-hour walk from Ben Halls Cave. The farm is a well-preserved Depression-era farm, with interpretive signs that give a... Find out moreWallaby picnic and camping area 28 km
Take a walk along the Wallaby Walking Track (4 km, 1 hr, medium difficulty) and you may catch a glimpse of a red-necked wallaby or swamp wallaby. Alternatively, sneak out at night with a torch and see if you can catch... Find out moreTerarra Creek camping area 61 km
To get to this sole camping area in the park, follow Escort Way from Eugowra and keep an eye out for an NPWS sign pointing to a dirt road. The campground is a little under 5 km from the park entrance. The road is 2WD,... Find out moreWyangala Waters camping area 74 km
This is a sprawling space on the shores of Wyangala Dam, offering powered and unpowered tent sites, bungalows, cabins, cottages and houseboats. Activities include waterskiing, sailing and fishing – the latter a... Find out moreGrabine Lakeside State Park camping area 80 km
Grabine Lakeside State Park is on the north-eastern banks of the Wyangala Dam, 75 km north-west of Crookwell along the Crookwell–Bathurst Rd, or from Goulburn along Bigga Rd. The park offers endless boating,... Find out moreBakers Shaft Reserve 87 km
This camping area is around 20 km west of the historic town of Carcoar. Follow the Mid-Western Hwy through Mandurama, and about 10 km north you’ll come across Burnt Yards; take Bakes Rd then Junction Park Rd. This... Find out moreCanobolas Forest Park 88 km
This is a peaceful picnicking and camping area surrounded by a 60-year-old pine forest. There are picnic tables, walking tracks, and trout in the creek nearby. It’s 20 km south of Orange via Cadia Rd then Four Mile... Find out moreFederal Falls camping area 97 km
The road in to Federal Falls camping area isn’t suitable for caravans or camper trailers, although 2WD vehicles are permitted. To get here, follow Pinnacle Rd from Orange and turn onto Towac Way. There are a number... Find out moreCarcoar Dam camping area 99 km
Carcoar is a small and picturesque town, 12 km south-west of Blayney. On the National Heritage list for being the third-oldest settled village west of the Blue Mountains, it certainly has a ye olde feel to it. The dam is... Find out moreCaravan parks around town
Apex Riverside Tourist Park 56 km
The park is about 3 km from the town centre on a picturesque bend of the Lachlan River, which some sites overlook. It is managed on behalf of Apex and is of good quality.... Find out moreBIG4 Forbes Holiday Park 57 km
This is a very neat owner-operated park, about 2 km from the centre of town on Cowra Road. The park caters predominantly for tourists and has good amenities and most facilities. Bookings are required in peak periods.... Find out moreForbes River Meadows Caravan Park 58 km
Located about 2 km south of Forbes along the highway, this owner-operated park is a convenient and ideal overnight stop. It has shady trees, large expanses of lawn and spotless amenities. We stay here when passing by.... Find out moreSpicer Caravan Park 85 km
This is a budget-priced, council-owned park with good basic facilities, about 2 km from the town centre. It is in a quiet spot, off the main highway, about 16 km from the Parkes satellite dish. Bookings are required in... Find out moreAce Caravan Park 89 km
This is an owner-operated park with a good choice of accommodation. The park is just 500 metres from the town centre and easily accessible from the major highways.... Find out moreColour City Caravan Park 112 km
This is a council park with good basic facilities in a quiet, off-highway position, about 2 km north of the city centre, adjoining the showgrounds. It is good value at a budget price. Bookings are recommended all year... Find out moreYass Caravan Park 125 km
The park is just 1 km from the town centre and is a popular overnight stop for those travelling the Hume Highway. There are convenient drive-thru sites, grassy areas and clean amenities. Bookings may be required during... Find out moreGundagai Tourist Park 130 km
Within walking distance of the town centre, this park has 30 undercover, drivethru, ensuite sites. It is ideal for vans or motorhomes less than 3.5 metres high. Some of these sites are suitable for camper trailers with... Find out morePeak Hill Caravan Park 130 km
This owner-operated park offers a range of accommodation and is ideal for an overnight stay. It is a small, budget-priced park, located off the main highway and just a short walk from the town centre. The owners supply... Find out moreGundagai River Caravan Park 131 km
Located on the banks of the Murrumbidgee River, the park is about 1 km from the town centre. First impressions are the wide expanses of green grass and large shady trees. It is a great spot to stay and enjoy this... Find out moreEco-friendly places to stay around town
Clonturkle Sanctuary 162 km
Join the experiment in sustainable living and tourism at Clonturkle Earth Hamlet and Forest Sanctuary. Located at Yetholme, there are four cabins set on 240 hectares of mostly eucalypt forest, with 15 kilometres of... Find out moreJenolan Cabins 169 km
These basic but cosy self-contained cabins, 6 kilometres up the steep hill past Jenolan Caves, are earth-sheltered for climate control and have composting toilets and rainwater. There are great views over the mountains,... Find out moreWoolshed Cabins, near Blackheath 196 km
Eleven kilometres from Blackheath and surrounded by a glorious natural amphitheatre of towering sandstone walls, the Woolshed Cabins sit on 100 hectares of cleared farmland (a working cattle farm) in the Kanimbla Valley,... Find out moreKanimbla View, Blackheath 197 km
Solar-powered, the two- and three-bedroom cottages here are surprisingly large inside. They are partially constructed from recycled and salvaged timbers, have composting toilets and a great view of the Kanimbla Valley... Find out moreDargan Springs Mountain Lodge, Clarence 197 km
At the soft end of ecotourism, this pleasant lodge and wellness retreat has advanced eco-certification. It is surrounded by a mountain ash forest dotted with waratahs, the habitat of wombats and wallabies. With a maximum... Find out moreJemby-Rinjah Eco Lodge, Blackheath 201 km
One of the first working examples of large-scale sustainable tourism to exist in Australia, Jemby-Rinjah has advanced eco-accreditation, and one of the most extensive systems of composting toilets in the country. Ten... Find out moreOld Leura Dairy 201 km
This creative collection of six buildings, which can sleep up to 30 people in various combinations, has been renovated and fitted out with all manner of recycled bits and bobs. There are old oven doors, rusted corrugated... Find out moreBunjaree Cottages, Wentworth Falls 207 km
Great for families, Bunjaree Cottages have been designed to make a small environmental footprint, with full solar power and earth-brick insulation. One is built with recycled car tyres and mud, providing even better... Find out moreWollemi Wilderness Retreat, Bilpin 216 km
These unusual self-contained cabins of various sizes feature passive solar design and are mainly constructed from recycled and salvaged materials. Although not high-class, they all have a spa and are in isolated bush... Find out moreRest areas around town
Bogolong Rest Area 8 km
95 km E of West Wyalong (L) or 9 km W of Grenfell (R) Large area just off the highway. Limited shade. GPS: S33 50.982 E148 05.447 ... Find out moreBen Halls Cave Camp Area 20 km
T/O 99 km E of West Wyalong (R) or 5 km W of Grenfell (L) Large open area located 26 kilometres south-west of the highway via Back Piney Range Road and Weddin View Road in a pleasant natural bush setting in Weddin... Find out morePiney Range Rest Area 21 km
82 km E of West Wyalong (L) or 22 km W of Grenfell (R) Small area adjacent to the highway. Limited shade. GPS: S33 48.917 E147 57.204 ... Find out moreTyagong Creek Rest Area 28 km
31 km E of Grenfell (R) or 24 km W of Cowra (L) Small area adjacent to the highway. Limited shade. GPS: S33 54.096 E148 27.977 ... Find out moreCowra Park Area 48 km
Middle of town Large parking area opposite the information centre. GPS: S33 50.200 E148 40.919 ... Find out moreRamage Park Rest Area 51 km
5 km NE of Cowra (R) or 104 km SW of Bathurst (L) Small area just off the highway. GPS: S33 49.787 E148 42.614 ... Find out moreForbes Rest Area 58 km
South side of town Large area on the riverbank 500 metres north-west of the highway past the Forbes Lake Motel. Good shade. Facilities at adjacent day use area. GPS: S33 23.292 E148 00.110... Find out moreMarsden Rest Area 62 km
36 km NE of West Wyalong (R) or 68 km W of Grenfell (L) Large area just off the highway. Good facilities. Limited shade. GPS: S33 45.846 E147 31.126 ... Find out moreBillabong Creek Rest Area 76 km
23 km N of Forbes (R) or 10 km S of Parkes (L) Small area just off the highway. Good shade. GPS: S33 12.531 E148 07.473 ... Find out moreWyalong Park Area 86 km
West side of town Small parking area just off the highway. GPS: S33 55.440 E147 14.127 ... Find out morePoppett Head Mine Park Area 86 km
3 km E of West Wyalong (L) or 101 km W of Grenfell (R) Small area just off the highway. Good facilities. Limited shade. GPS: S33 55.493 E147 14.017... Find out moreFullers Lane Rest Area 98 km
60 km NE of Cowra (R) or 49 km SW of Bathurst (L) Small area just off the highway. Good shade. GPS: S33 35.890 E149 09.927 ... Find out moreCarcoar Dam Camp Area 99 km
T/O 62 km NE of Cowra (R) or 47 km SW of Bathurst (L) Large camp area located 2 kilometres south of the highway on the shores of the dam. Good facilities and shade. GPS: S33 36.717 E149 10.864 ... Find out moreBlayney Park Area 109 km
West side of town Small parking area adjacent to the highway. Good facilities. Limited shade. GPS: S33 32.263 E149 15.254... Find out moreKingsley Fairborough Park Area 110 km
30 km NW of Orange (R) or 4 km SE of Molong (L) Small grassed area just off the highway. Good shade. GPS: S33 07.26 E148 54.31 ... Find out moreMolong Park Area 110 km
South side of town Small area adjacent to the highway. Good facilities. Limited shade. GPS: S33 05.966 E148 52.297... Find out moreBookham Rest Area 111 km
32 km W of Yass (L) or 113 km NE of Tarcutta (R) Small area just off the highway. Good facilities. GPS: S34 48.849 E148 38.503 ... Find out moreGamboola Rest Area 113 km
17 km NW of Orange (L) or 17 km SE of Molong (R) Small area just off the highway. Reasonable shade. GPS: S33 09.44 E149 00.36... Find out moreCoolac Rest Area 116 km
87 km SW of Yass (L) southbound only Large area adjacent to the highway. GPS: S34 56.514 E148 10.511 ... Find out moreBeckom Rest Area 117 km
78 km N of Narrandera (L) or 58 km SW of West Wyalong (R) Large area just off the highway. Good facilities. Limited shade. GPS: S34 20.219 E147 00.923... Find out moreMacquarie Wood Camp Area 119 km
T/O 28 km W of Bathurst (R) or 28 km E of Orange (L) Large open grassed area located 2 kilometres north of the highway among some large trees. Good facilities and shade. NOTE: Access road unsealed. GPS: S33 24.34... Find out moreMingay Rest Area 120 km
56 km NE of Tarcutta (L) northbound only Large area adjacent to the highway. GPS: S34 58.741 E148 08.281 ... Find out moreThe Rocks Rest Area 124 km
20 km W of Bathurst (R) or 36 km E of Orange (L) Small area adjacent to the highway. Good shade and facilities. GPS: S33 25.56 E149 22.48 ... Find out moreBell River Rest Area 128 km
23 km N of Molong (R) or 42 km S of Wellington (L) Large area adjacent to the highway. Limited shade. GPS: S32 54.712 E148 53.429 ... Find out moreMundoonan Rest Area 133 km
64 km W of Goulburn (L) or 23 km E of Yass (L) Large areas well off the highway (both sides). Good facilities. Limited shade. GPS: S34 49.462 E149 04.468 ... Find out moreTwo Mile Creek Rest Area 137 km
32 km N of Molong (L) or 33 km S of Wellington (R) Large area adjacent to the highway. Limited shade. GPS: S32 50.029 E148 54.404... Find out moreArdlethan Rest Area 137 km
54 km N of Narrandera (L) or 82 km SW of West Wyalong (L) Large areas (both sides) adjacent to the highway. Good facilities. Limited shade. GPS: S34 26.832 E146 50.372... Find out moreWeethalle Rest Area 142 km
Middle of town Small parking area adjacent to the highway. GPS: S33 52.520 E146 37.539... Find out moreTomingley South Rest Area 144 km
64 km N of Parkes (R) or 56 km S of Dubbo (L) Large area just off the highway. Good shade. GPS: S32 35.698 E148 13.176 ... Find out moreWhat's on around town
Guinea Pig Races: Easter and June.
Henry Lawson Festival of Arts: June.
Amateur Country Music Festival: Sept.
Open Day: Oct.