Hay: River experiences and stories from the region

Hay combines experiences on the Murrumbidgee River with stories from the region: Sandy Point Beach offers opportunities for swimming and fishing, while museums and historic sites offer insights into the past. This gives you different options when planning your trip – from spending time outdoors to exploring architecture, sheep shearing and military service.

River trails, beach and bicycles

The sealed Bidgee Riverside Trail follows the curves of the Murrumbidgee River through Bushy Bend Reserve to Sandy Point Beach. If you enjoy walking, you can make the trail an outdoor experience in its own right; it connects the reserve and the beach. At the end, you can go swimming or fishing. Another nature walk takes you through a regional park in South Hay on the Murrumbidgee River. There are also opportunities for wildlife watching there. These activities give you different reasons to experience Hay outdoors, without a visit to the beach and a nature walk needing to be the same kind of outing.

You could also consider a bike ride: the Hay Visitor Centre offers visitors free bicycle hire. If you would like to explore Hay by bike, this is a practical option available to visitors. The sealed Bidgee Riverside Trail is another choice for walking. Whether you prefer to walk, cycle or spend time by the water can help shape your stay.

Hay as part of a longer route

The Long Paddock is a 610-kilometre touring route along the Cobb Highway that passes through Hay, among other places. This makes it possible to consider the town as part of a longer drive. The route and the river experiences represent different ways to travel: one covers a longer distance along the highway, while the others include trails, the beach and nature in Hay. If you are planning a touring trip, you can include Hay as one of the stops on The Long Paddock; if you are mainly interested in the river and nature, the local walks and places to spend time outdoors offer a focus of their own.

Architecture, roses and regional history

Bishop's Lodge is an unusual iron house built in 1888 and designed by architect John Sulman. A historic garden with a remarkable collection of heritage roses surrounds the house. The architecture and garden offer a different way to experience Hay than the activities on the river: here, the focus is on a distinctive building and its garden design. Bishop's Lodge is therefore a standalone attraction for visitors interested in historic architecture or roses.

The Hay War Memorial High School Museum tells the story of military service in Hay and the surrounding district, from the Boer War to the present day. At Shear Outback, you can learn about the lives and working conditions of the people who shaped the sheep-shearing industry. The museum covers the history of sheep shearing and future technologies. Visitors can also meet the shearer and experience the sights and sounds of a working wool-shearing shed. These subjects are quite distinct: one museum focuses on the region's military service, the other on sheep shearing and the people who shaped the industry.

When choosing your holiday accommodation in Hay, your preferred focus for the trip can be a useful guide: would you like to spend time by the river, visit historic sites or explore Hay as part of a longer tour? The experiences described offer different reasons to discover the town – from nature and outdoor activities to regional history and sheep shearing.

For the broader travel overview: Hay Shire Council.