7 Small Towns In New South Wales With Unmatched Friendliness

New South Wales, located on Australia’s southeast coast, is the most-visited area of the country, and it’s easy to see why. From golden beaches and rolling farmlands to historic desert towns and vibrant inland communities, this region offers breathtaking scenery, rich culture, and a variety of experiences. But beyond the landscapes and attractions, what truly sets NSW apart are its small towns—places where welcoming locals greet you with a smile, and friendliness is as much a part of the scenery as the sunburnt red earth or coastal breeze.

Whether you're sharing laughs with locals on the Nickname Hall of Fame trail in Coonamble or sipping wine with a winemaker in Murrumbateman, these towns embody the laid-back warmth that makes a trip unforgettable. Here are seven small towns in New South Wales where unmatched friendliness is not just a promise, it’s a way of life.

Parkes

Named for Henry Parkes, the Premier of NSW in 1873, Parkes is a quirky town in the Central West region that’s known for two local landmarks. The first is The Dish, a huge 1960s radio telescope that helped beam the Apollo 11 Moon Landing to TV sets worldwide in 1969.

Parkes’ other unusual claim to fame is the Parkes Elvis Festival, which began as a small tribute party in 1992 and has now grown to a significant annual event featuring five days of performances, parades, and dances. The festival draws thousands to the town every summer and is so popular that it has its own train. The ‘Elvis Express’ brings revellers all the way from Sydney to Parkes. If you miss the festival, you can still remember the King at the Henry Parkes Center. This specialty museum includes an Elvis exhibit, an extensive vintage vehicle collection, and a display on Henry Parkes and the history of the town named after him.

Delve further into the past while enjoying Parkes’ beautiful scenery at Bushman’s Hill. The site of the gold mine that started the town, the hill has a walking path to the summit that winds past remnants of the mining operation. The top boasts beautiful views over Parkes and a cultural walk through Aboriginal signs and paintings.

Glen Innes

Located in the heart of northern NSW’s gemstone country, Glen Innes is a welcoming town with a fascinating past. There are over 60 heritage buildings in the town, many of which can be seen downtown. These include the impressive basalt stone courthouse, built in 1873, and the Club Hotel, built in 1906. Glen Innes is also home to the Minerama Fossicking, Gem, and Jewellery Show, an annual fair that takes place in March. The show is great for meeting friendly locals and out-of-towners who converge on the Glen Innes Showgrounds for three days of gemstone-related workshops, demonstrations, kids' activities, craft vendors, and food and drink.

The gem show isn’t the only iconic event on Glen Innes’ calendar. The town also hosts the Australian Celtic Festival in May. This celebrates the Celtic heritage of the region’s early European settlers with music, dance, art, and more. The event takes place at the Australian Standing Stones National Celtic Monument, which is open to the public year-round. The monument was created in 1991 and resembles the famous Stonehenge site in England.

Coonamble

Known as the ‘nickname capital of Australia’, Coonamble is a charming town in the Warrumbungle area that has a sense of humour. Stroll the town’s Nickname Hall of Fame to view billboards depicting caricatures of infamous locals and the funny stories behind their unusual monikers. It’s around a 20-minute walk through downtown to see all the stops, including ‘Gooey’ and ‘Icey.’

Every June, Coonamble hosts one of Australia’s biggest rodeos, the Coonamble Rodeo and Campdraft. Thousands of visitors flock to town to see bull riding, steer wrestling, calf roping, and the uniquely Australian tradition of campdrafting, which involves using horses to separate steers from the herd.

Surrounded by breathtaking wilderness, Coonamble is the gateway to three of Australia’s most popular natural attractions: Warrumbungle National Park, the Macquarie Marshes , and Pilliga Forest. The marshes are a great place to kayak or canoe, while Warrumbungle National Park and the Pilliga Forest are ideal locations if you want to strap up your hiking boots and take a wander through some outback wilderness.

Murrumbateman

If your ideal vacation involves sipping wine surrounded by rolling vineyards and friendly foodies, put Murrumbateman on your travel bucket list. This former mining town in the Yass Valley is now known for its boutique wineries, bustling farmers' markets, and warm hospitality.

Visit at the end of October to catch the Murrumbateman Moving Feast, a festival of the local wineries that pairs local wines with tasting plates. Each winery offers either a main course or a dessert with a complimentary glass of wine so you can sample, savour, and sip your way around town. If you miss the festival, have fun at Helm Wines, established in 1973 and known for its award-winning Rieslings and Cabernet Sauvignons. The winery’s tasting room is a heritage site, the 1888 Toual Public School House

See more history come alive at the Cooma Cottage, a quaint wooden building that was the former home of 1800s explorer Hamilton Hume. Today, the home features artifacts from the pioneer era and guided tours of the property. Before leaving town, don’t forget to stop by the Murrumbateman Chocolate Company to pick up a sweet souvenir. These locally made candies include handcrafted chocolates, coffee, tea, cakes, and more.

Junee

Tucked into NSW’s Riverina region, Junee is a pretty railway town with plenty of character and charm. Stop into the Junee Roundhouse Railway Museum, housed in the last steam engine depot in New South Wales and the largest roundhouse in the southern hemisphere.

Stop in at the Junee Visitor Information Centre in the Junee Library to pick up maps of the town’s self-guided tours, one covering the west side of town and the other the east. Be sure to also check out the Broadway Hotel, built in 1914 and now the town museum. Enjoy some agricultural history at the Junee Licorice and Chocolate Factory, a family-friendly attraction housed in a heritage flour mill building. Here you can watch the chocolatiers at work, try making your own candy, or visit the onsite restaurant to enjoy delicious snacks and live music every weekend.

Pooncarie

A tiny rural river town, Pooncarie is a close-knit community on the outskirts of the stunning Mungo National Park. This unique desert landscape is rich in history and wildlife, home to ancient sand formations, Aboriginal heritage sites, and native species, including kangaroos and emus. Visitors can take a self-guided driving tour of the park, starting at the Mungo Visitor Centre, or call into the centre to book a guided tour.

Get to know Pooncarie by wandering through the town wharf and stopping at the Old Wharf Cafe to fuel up with the locals. Nearby is Bilbarka Park, a downtown oasis where you can have a picnic under a shady tree, walk the trails, or fish the Darling River. Every October, Pooncarie hosts the annual Pooncarie Cup, a traditional outback horse race that dates back to 1891, when the Pooncarie Racing Club was first formed. The event features six races with family-friendly games and entertainment.

Bowral

The beautiful and friendly town of Bowral is the setting for one of Australia’s most colorful events, Tulip Time. This legendary flower festival takes place around September each year and boasts 80,000 tulips alongside 15,000 other blooming annuals in Bowral’s scenic Corbett Gardens. If you miss the festival, you can still enjoy wandering around Corbett Gardens year-round. The historic gardens opened in 1911 and are beautifully landscaped with spring bulbs, cherry blossoms, and magnolia trees.

If you’re looking for a quirky gift or unique souvenir, head to Dirty Janes, a local landmark. This vintage antiques emporium is home to 85 vendors selling everything from homewares and furniture to clothing and collectibles. After all that shopping, take a refreshment break at Millsheds Bar and Distillery, where you can sample their small batch gins, vodkas, and liqueurs. The award-winning distillery offers tasting sessions and tours, and regularly hosts local musicians.

Welcoming And Wonderful New South Wales

Meet Elvis, see Australia’s largest roundhouse, watch the solstice sun sink between standing stones, wander among the tulips, cheer on the rodeo. You may not know what to expect from New South Wales’ hospitable small towns, but you can always be sure of a warm welcome. Whether you’ve a specific event in mind, are planning a NSW road trip, or looking for somewhere to get away from it all, these laidback communities offer a relaxed break with one-of-a-kind adventures.