Moree (New South Wales)

Moree is a large town (population 9,311 in 2016) on the banks of the Mehi River in the New England region of New South Wales, Australia.

Understand
The Weraeria and Kamilaroi people are the indigenous peoples of the Moree district. The European explorer Major Thomas Mitchell went to the district in 1832, and squatters soon followed. The name of the town comes from the indigenous word for either 'long waterhole' or 'rising sun'. Cotton is one of the main industries of the district, established in the early 1960s. Moree is known for its artesian hot-spring baths, and is a popular stop-over for travellers on their way to Lightning Ridge and Bourke. Moree is the main centre of the Moree Plains Shire Local Government Area.

Until the 1960s, the town was strictly segregated, with Aboriginals not allowed to enter pubs or clubs, use the swimming pool, or walk on the sidewalk. In 1965, members of the Freedom Ride tried to gain entry to the pool, leading to riots and international news coverage. The ban was repealed shortly after.

By car
Moree is at the intersection of the Newell Highway (A39), the Gwydir Highway (B76), and the Carnarvon Highway. The town is a 700 km/8 hr drive from Sydney, and 500 km/5:30 from Brisbane.

Moree is 120 km south-east of Mungindi via the Carnarvon Highway.

Moree is 115 km south-west of Boggabilla and 124 km south-west of Goondiwindi (Queensland) via the Newell Highway, and it is 106 km north of Narrabri via the Newell Highway.

Moree is 141 km west of Inverell via the Gwydir Highway, and it is 214 km north-east of Walgett via the Gwydir Highway, passing through Collarenebri.

Moree is 273 km north-west of Tamworth via the B95 through Manilla, Barraba, Bingara, turn left onto the Gwydir Highway (B76) just before Warialda; or 274 km north-west from Tamworth via the Oxley Highway (B56), turn right onto the Kamilaroi Highway (B56), continue through Gunnedah on the Kamilaroi Highway (B51), Boggabri, turn right at the roundabout onto the Newell Highway (A39), through Narrabri and continue on the Newell Highway.

Moree is 266 km north-west of Armidale via Bundarra Road, turn right onto Thunderbolts Way, through Bundarra, through Gilgai, turn left onto the Gwydir Highway (B76), continue through Inverell on the Gwydir Highway.

Grafton to Moree
A NSW Trainlink coach service runs between Grafton and Moree. Coaches stop at the Moree Train Station in Gosport Street

The eastbound service (Route 142) departs Moree M W F at 10:55AM, arrives at Inverell at 12:55PM and departs at 1:40PM, arrives at Glen Innes at 2:36PM, and arrives at Grafton at 4:40PM. The westbound service (Route 141) departs Grafton Tu Th Sa at 10:20AM, arrives at Glen Innes at 12:25PM, arrives at Inverell at 1:15PM and departs 2:15PM, and arrives at Moree at 4:10PM. Note the alternating direction of travel on alternating days, and no services on a Sunday

A map and timetable can be downloaded here

Bookings are essential - Coach drivers do not take payment or offer reservations.

Inverell to Moree via Goondiwindi
As of Mar 2021, Transport NSW are trialling a route (Route 499) between Inverell and Moree via Goondiwindi.

This coach departs Inverell F only at 4PM, arrives at Goondiwindi at 7:10 PM, and arrives at Moree at 8:50PM. This coach departs Moree F only at 5:40AM, arrives at Goondiwindi at 7:18AM, and arrives at Inverell at 11AM. Seats for this service can only be booked by phoning Reynolds and Fogarty directly.



Coach stops






Brisbane to Moree
Crisps Coaches run between Brisbane and Moree. 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 Moree at the Moree Visitors Information Centre 5:45PM.

Inbound coaches depart Moree from the Moree Visitors Information Centre M and F 7:30AM and arrive at Brisbane at the long-distance bus station in Parkland Crescent (outside Platform 10 at Roma Street Railway Station) 2:30PM.

Sydney to Moree
Trains run from Sydney to Moree daily (Route 243), departing Central Station in Sydney at 9:30AM, arriving at Werris Creek at 14:57PM, and arriving at Moree at 6PM.

The train departs Moree daily (Route 244) at 8:05AM, arriving at Werris Creek at 11:05AM, and arriving at Central Station in Sydney at 4:39PM.

Moree to Tamworth and Armidale via Werris Creek
It is possible to change trains at Werris Creek for services to Tamworth and Armidale, however bookings are not available from Werris Creek Railway Station itself, so reservations need to be made long before departure. The service (Route 223) departs Werris Creek daily at 2:57PM, arrives at Tamworth at 3:37PM, and arrives at Armidale at 5:35PM. The service (Route 224) departs Armidale at 8:19AM, arrives at Tamworth at 10:06AM, and arrives at Werris Creek at 11:07AM before continuing on to Sydney.

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

By plane
Moree is served by Moree Regional Airport. The airport does have some scheduled services by QantasLink but mainly provides general aviation facilities, maintenance and support for agricultural aviation in the local area. There are no ticketing facilities at the airport, but bookings can be made 1 hour before departure at the M & G Travel agency in Balo Street. Check-in time is 1 hour before departure. A taxi costs approximately $16 to the town centre, and car rental agencies are a short walk from the terminal.





Get around
A private vehicle is the most practical way of getting around Moree and to explore the district.

The nearest car rental agencies are at the airport.

By coach
There are three coaches per week in each direction running from the station to the town centre. Coaches are operated by NSW TrainLink.

In and near town




Go next
For destinations west and south-west of Moree, it is prudent to check your vehicle before departure.


 * Mungindi - north-west of Moree: 120 km via Carnarvon Highway through Ashley, through Garah (1 hr 19 min)
 * St George (Queensland) - northwest of Moree: 240 km via Carnarvon Highway through Ashley, through Garah, through Mungindi, continue across the state border on Carnarvon Highway (now National Route 46), through Thallon, pass Nindigully on the left, pass the intersection with the Barwon Highway/State Route 85 on the right, continue ahead on the Castlereagh Highway/A55 (3 hr)
 * Boggabilla - north-east of Moree: 115 km via Newell Highway/A39 northbound (1 hr 9 min)
 * Goondiwindi (Queensland) - north-east of Moree: 124 km va Newell Highway/A39 northbound, in Boggabilla turn left onto the Newell Highway (Merriwa Street) and continue northbound, cross the Macintyre River bridge, turn left at the roundabout into Marshall Street (1 hr 25 min)
 * Warialda - east of Moree: 80 km via Gwydir Highway/B76 eastbound, pass the turn-off to Biniguy, through Gravesend, cross the Gwydir River Bridge, pass the intersection with Allan Cunningham Road/B95 on the right (1 hr)
 * Inverell - east of Moree: 141 km via Gwydir Highway/B76 eastbound, through Warialda, through Delungra (1 hr 36 min)
 * Glen Innes - east of Moree: 208 km via Gwydir Highway/B76 eastbound, through Warialda, through Delungra, through Inverell (2 hr 22 min)
 * Grafton - east of Moree: 368 km via Gwydir Highway/B76 eastbound, through Warialda, through Delungra, through Inverell, through Glen Innes (4 hr 14 min) The intersection with the Pacific Highway/A1 is just east of Grafton.
 * Armidale - south-east of Moree: 268 km via Gwydir Highway/B76 eastbound, through Warialda, through Delungra, at Inverell turn right onto Tingha Road and cross the Macintyre River bridge, continue ahead as Bundarra Road, through Gilgai then turn left onto Guyra Road, continue past Inverell Airport on the left, in Tingha turn left onto Opal Street/Guyra Road, at Guyra turn right onto New England Highway/A15 southbound (3 hr 4 min)
 * Tamworth - 267 km south-east of Moree via Gwydir Highway/B76 eastbound, before Warialda turn right into Allan Cunningham Road/B95, continue south through Bingara, through Barraba, through Manilla (3 hr)
 * Narrabri - south of Moree: 101 km via Newell Highway/A39 southbound, through Gurley, through Bellata, through Edgeroi (1 hr 6 min)
 * Boggabri - south of Moree: 158 km via Newell Highway/A39 southbound, through Gurley, through Bellata, through Edgeroi, through Narrabri then turn left onto Kamilaroi Highway/B51, through Baan Baa (1 hr 45 min)
 * Gunnedah - south of Moree: 197 km via Newell Highway/A39 southbound, through Gurley, through Bellata, through Edgeroi, through Narrabri then turn left onto Kamilaroi Highway/B51, through Baan Baa, through Boggabri (2 hr 12 min)
 * Coonabarabran - south-east of Moree: 220 km via Newell Highway/A39 southbound, through Gurley, through Bellata, through Edgeroi through Narrabri on the Newell Highway/A39, turn right at the intersection with the Oxley Highway/B56 and continue on the Newell Highway/A39 (2 hr 25 min) Note: no fuel and settlements between Narrabri and Coonabarabran so fill up and check your vehicle before departing Narrabri or Coonabarabran. Mobile phone coverage is next-to-none on this section of highway. Gateway to the Warrumbungle National Park and the Pilliga Forest (also known as the Pilliga Scrub)
 * Collarenebri - west of Moree: 140 km via Gwydir Highway/B76 westbound, past the Bullarah Bush Cafe, turn right at the intersection with Merrywinebone Road and continue on the Gwydir Highway/B76 across the Grawan Creek Bridge, cross the Barwon River Bridge (1 hr 30 min)
 * Walgett - south-west of Moree: 215 km via Gwydir Highway/B76 westbound, past the Bullarah Bush Cafe, turn right at the intersection with Merrywinebone Road and continue on the Gwydir Highway/B76 across the Grawan Creek Bridge, cross the Barwon River Bridge, in Collarenebri turn left onto Herbert Street and continue on the Gwydir Highway/B76, turn left at the intersection with the Castlereagh Highway/B55 and continue southbound, cross the Barwon River bridge, pass the turn-off to the Kamilaroi Highway on the left, cross the Namoi River bridge (2 hr 19 min)
 * Lightning Ridge - west of Moree: 263 km via Gwydir Highway/B76 westbound, past the Bullarah Bush Cafe, turn right at the intersection with Merrywinebone Road and continue on the Gwydir Highway/B76 across the Grawan Creek Bridge, cross the Barwon River Bridge, in Collarenebri turn left onto Herbert Street and continue on the Gwydir Highway/B76, turn right at the intersection with the Castlereagh Highway/B55 and continue northbound on the Castlereagh Highway, turn right into Bill O'Brien Way (2 hr 48 min). Renowned for opals and its opal mine tours
 * Brewarrina - south-west of Moree: 347 km via Gwydir Highway/B76 westbound, past the Bullarah Bush Cafe, turn right at the intersection with Merrywinebone Road and continue on the Gwydir Highway/B76 across the Grawan Creek Bridge, cross the Barwon River Bridge, in Collarenebri turn left onto Herbert Street and continue on the Gwydir Highway/B76, turn left at the intersection with the Castlereagh Highway/B55 and continue southbound, cross the Barwon River bridge, pass the turn-off to the Kamilaroi Highway on the left, cross the Namoi River bridge, in Walgett turn right at the roundabout into Wee Waa Street and continue on the Kamilaroi Highway/B76, cross the Barwon River bridge and continue on the Kamilaroi Highway/B76, turn left at the intersection with Goodooga Road and continue on the Kamilaroi Highway/B76, cross the Cato Creek bridge, cross the Barwon River Bridge, turn right onto Bathurst Street/Kamilaroi Highway (3 hr 48 min)
 * Bourke - 445 km via Gwydir Highway/B76, continue through Collarenebri, through Walgett on the Kamilaroi Highway/B76, through Brewarrina (4 hr 46 min). Intersection with the Mitchell Highway and Kidman Way.