Traveller’s Notes: What is the Kidman Way?
The Kidman Way is a 644-kilometre sealed touring route through the heart of New South Wales, running from Jerilderie in the south to Barringun on the Queensland border. It connects the Riverina in the south to outback NSW in the north, passing through Griffith, Hillston, Cobar and Bourke along the way.
The route is named after Sir Sidney Kidman, the pastoralist known as the 'Cattle King', who built one of the world’s largest pastoral empires across inland Australia in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. His vision was to open up the country’s vast interior, and the route that bears his name follows much of that spirit.
The Kidman Way is fully sealed and suitable for caravans and motorhomes throughout. It carries far less truck traffic than most inland highways, which makes it a more relaxed drive than comparable routes. The landscape shifts as you travel from irrigated farmland and citrus country around Griffith, to open plains through Hillston and Mount Hope, and then the red country opening up around Cobar and north to Bourke.
It’s not a fast road in the sense that there’s much to stop for. Cobar is the standout town on the route, with a good museum, a strong heritage streetscape, and solid free camping options nearby. Bourke marks the start of the northern end and is worth several days on its own.
We've travelled sections of the Kidman Way on multiple trips and have written about both Cobar and Bourke in more detail.
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The Kidman Way is a 644-kilometre sealed touring route through inland NSW, from Jerilderie in the south to Barringun on the Queensland border. Named after the 'Cattle King', it passes through Griffith, Cobar and Bourke.