Mungindi

Mungindi is a town (population 747 in 2016) on the Barwon River, straddling the New England region of New South Wales and the Darling Downs region of Queensland in Australia. Unusually, it is one of the few towns around in Australia where it's located in two jurisdictions, unlike other cities like Albury-Wodonga where they're considered as "twin-cities".

Understand
The name Mungindi means 'waterhole in the river' in the indigenous Kamilaroi language. The European explorer Major Thomas Mitchell passed through the district in the 1830s in search of areas for agricultural development. A ford just upstream from the present bridge became the location of a camp for drovers moving stock across the border, and a meeting place for the Kamilaroi people. A hotel was established in 1863, and the first blocks of land in the settlement were sold in 1888.

Mungindi is the only place in the Southern Hemisphere that keeps its name on both side of the border. The southern part of the district is in the Moree Plains Shire Council local government area (based in Moree), while the northern part of the district is shared between the Goondiwindi Region local government area (based in Goondiwindi) and the Balonne Shire Council local government area (based in St George). The state border runs through the middle of the Barwon River, but this is not marked on the bridge. For the sake of convenience, addresses will not give which state they are in, as Mungindi is small enough to navigate around and there is no restriction to crossing the state border.

''Note that the New South Wales side observes Australian Eastern Daylight Savings Time (UTC +11) from the first Sunday in October until the first Sunday in April, while the Queensland side observes Australian Eastern Standard Time (UTC +10) all year round. Hours are New South Wales Time unless indicated otherwise.''

By car
Mungindi is on the Carnarvon Highway, 120 km north-west of Moree in New South Wales and 120 km south-east of St George in Queensland.

Mungindi is 92 km north-east of Collarenebri via Gundabloui Road/Collarenebri-Mungindi Road and is 78 km south-west from North Talwood on the Barwon Highway (State Route 85) which heads west to St George and east to Goondiwindi.

Get around
Private transport is essential, as there is no taxi service nor a local bus service in Mungindi.

The nearest car rental agencies are in Moree, St George, and Goondiwindi.

Self catering




Banks
''Mungindi is not served by any of the major banks. It is advisable to do any necessary banking, and obtain necessary cash before departing for Mungindi, and to use EFTPOS whenever possible while there.''

ATM
The nearest 24-hour ATMs are in St George, Goondiwindi, and Moree.



Go next

 * St George - north-west of Mungindi: 120 km via St George Street/Carnarvon Highway (NR46) westbound, cross the Barwon River bridge, through Thallon, pass Nindigully on the left and the Barwon Highway (SR85) intersection on the right, pass the Castlereagh Highway (A55) intersection on the left (1 hr 18 min)
 * Dirranbandi - north-west of Mungindi: 105 km via via St George Street/Carnarvon Highway (NR46) westbound, cross the Barwon River bridge, at Thallon turn left into Noondoo-Thallon Road (last road on the left, past the showground), turn left onto the Castlereagh Highway then turn right onto the Castlereagh Highway (A55)/St George-Dirranbandi Road, continue ahead into Dirranbandi (1 hr 12 min)
 * Goondiwindi - north-east of Mungindi: 168 km via St George Street/Carnarvon Highway (NR46) westbound, cross the Barwon River bridge, turn right into Barwon Street and continue past the hospital on the right, continue ahead as Talwood-Mungindi Road, at North Talwood turn right onto the Barwon Highway (SR85), pass the Meandarra-Talwood Road (SR74) intersection on the left, through Toobeah, pass the Callandoon Pioneer Cemetery on the left, at Goondiwindi continue ahead on Lagoon Street (2 hr 38 min)
 * Moree - south-east of Mungindi: 120 km via St George Street/Carnarvon Highway south-eastbound, cross the Boomi River bridge, cross the Gil Gil Creek bridge, cross the Carole Creek bridge, through Garah, through Ashley, turn right onto Boggabilla Road (1 hr 20 min)
 * Collarenebri - south-west of Mungindi: 95 km via St George Street/Carnarvon Highway (SR74) westbound, cross the Barwon River bridge, turn left onto Norton Road/Gunnindaddy Road/Collarenebri-Mungindi Road, continue ahead to Collarenebri (1 hr 17 min)