Guyra

Guyra is a small town (population 2,207 in 2016) in the New England region of New South Wales in Australia.

Understand


The local indigenous people were the Anaiwan people, who called the place either 'hillgo-el' or 'illgo-el', meaning 'a swamp'. The name Guyra comes from their word meaning either 'a white cockatoo' or 'a fishing place', after one of the first farms in the area. The indigenous Gumbayniggir people lived in the eastern part of the district.

The settlment of the district began with farms established in 1835. The Great Northern Railway reached Guyra in 1884 (passenger services ceased in 1989), and the settlement was proclaimed a town the following year. Dairying and potato cultivation became important industries in the district. The town became the focus of national attention in 1960 when a 4 year old boy wandered away from his home on a property and was lost for 4 days, found asleep against a log. A popular country music song 'Little Boy Lost' by Johnny Ashcroft commemorates the event. Sheep, cattle, potatoes, and tomatoes are the main agricultural industries in the district.

Guyra is in the Armidale Regional Council Local Government Area.

By car
Guyra is on the New England Highway/A15, 38 km north of Armidale and 61 km south of Glen Innes.

By coach
A NSW Trainlink coach service runs between Tenterfield and Armidale to catch the long-distance trains to Sydney. Coaches stop near to the Guyra Post Office.

Southbound coaches depart Tenterfield M-Su 5:40AM, depart Guyra at 7:51AM, and arrive at Armidale Railway Station at 8:20AM. Northbound coaches depart Armidale Railway Station M-Su 5:50PM, depart Guyra 6:26PM, and arrive at Tenterfield 8:28PM.

A map and timetable can be downloaded here. Bookings are essential.

Brisbane-Guyra
Crisps Coaches run between Brisbane and Tamworth via Guyra. Bookings are required - phone or use the website to secure your seat.

Note that the times given are Australian Eastern Standard Time/Queensland Time (GMT+10). From the first Su in Oct to the first Su in Apr New South Wales is on Australian Eastern Daylight Savings Time (GMT+11), so adjust arrival/departure times for stops in New South Wales by adding 1 hour.

Also note that services may be adjusted or cancelled at little or no notice due to Covid-19 lockdowns, natural disasters, or changes in operations, so please confirm with Crisp's before departure.



Outbound coaches depart Brisbane M and F 10:45AM from the long-distance bus station in Parkland Crescent (outside Platform 10 at Roma Street Railway Station) and arrive at Guyra at The Big Ram on Malapas Street/New England Highway 6:50PM.

Inbound coaches depart Guyra from The Big Ram on Malapas Street/New England Highway M and F 7:45AM and arrive at Brisbane at the long-distance bus station in Parkland Crescent (outside Platfrom 10 at Roma Street Railway Station) 2:30PM.

By plane
Guyra isn't served by any domestic airlines. The nearest airport with regularly scheduled services is in Armidale.

Get around
Private transport is the most conventient way of getting around Guyra, and essential to explore the surrounding district.

The nearest car rental agencies are in Armidale.

Self catering




Go next

 * Glen Innes - north of Guyra: 135 km via New England Highway (A15) northbound, through Llangothlin, through Glencoe, continue ahead to Glen Innes (1 hr 39 min)
 * Tenterfield - north of Guyra: 152 km via New England Highway (A15) northbound, through Glen Innes, through Deepwater, continue ahead to Tenterfield (1 hr 50 min)
 * Ebor - east of Guyra: 81 km (mostly unsealed road) via Ollera Street/Guyra Road eastbound, cross the Gara River bridge, pass through the Rockvale Road intersections, pass the Waterfall Way turn-off to Armidale on the right and continue ahead on Waterfall Way to Ebor (53 min)
 * Armidale - south of Guyra: 38 km via New England Highway (A15) southbound, turn left at the roundabout onto Glen Innes Road (29 min)
 * Uralla - south-west of Guyra: 60 km via New England Highway (A15) southbound, through Armidale (42 min)
 * Tamworth - south-west of Guyra: 148 km via New England Highway (A15) southbound, through Armidale, through Saumarez, through Uralla, through Bendemeer, through Moonbi, through Kootingal, through Nemingha, continue to Tamworth (1 hr 46 min)
 * Inverell - north-west of Guyra: 90 km (mostly unsealed) via Ollera Street/Guyra Road westbound, turn left onto Tenterden Road, turn right onto Moredun Dams Road, pass the Junction Road turn-off on the left and continue ahead as New Valley Road, continue through Tingha, pass the Inverell Airport on the right, turn right onto Bundarra Road and continue through Gilgai, pass the Inverell Golf Club on the right, cross the Macintyre River bridge (1 hr 17 min)