Three Canberra Region Canola Trails

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Tue 15 Aug 2023 - Sun 01 Oct 2023

Each spring, fields of the Canberra region wake from their frosty winter slumber and burst to life with the golden glow of canola. Like sunflowers, canola is one of those exceptionally photogenic crops that draw visitors out on rambling country drives hoping to see the spectacle for themselves. Canola was first grown commercially in Australia in 1969 and these days, exports top-out at over one million tonnes so there are more fields full of cheery yellow flowers than ever before. Canola tends to flower between August and October but, of course, the weather might have something to say about exactly when the buds will burst to life. The unpredictability of the adventure is part of the fun – rain, heat, frost and the regular rotation of crops mean it can be tricky to find the best paddocks but you can sign up to receive canola alerts (yes, this is a thing now!) to maximise your chances of striking gold.

With the first alerts starting to trickle in, it’s time to start planning your canola road trip and while the crops look the same wherever they are, there is plenty to consider when mapping your canola road trip in the Canberra region. The towns, villages and history of each area add plenty to your visit so consider whether you want a foodie adventure, a bit of gold-rush history, bushrangers, wildlife or even just convenience to Canberra itself, there’s a beautiful road trip just waiting to be discovered.



The Canola Trail - best for food lovers

For the ultimate food and canola experience, hit the Canola Trail as it winds through Coolamon, Junee and Temora shires in the Riverina region. You can drive the whole thing or dip in and out with plenty of towns and villages offering the perfect excuse to stop and spend some time trying local delicacies from olives, lamb and cheese to chocolate, wine and whiskey.
Junee, home to the Junee Chocolate and Licorice Factory , is a great starting point for your journey. Sample the sweet treats, see the products as they are made and even make your own giant chocolate freckle. When you’re done, take the thirty-minute drive to Coolamon. Wind your way through the picturesque countryside filled with canola before stopping for lunch. Coolamon Cheese , set in a historic 1920s warehouse, is home to a licensed restaurant as well as offering cheese tastings and cheese-making tours. The cheese is made from local milk and favourites include the Australian native cheeses and the De Brie. Once you’ve fuelled up, head for Temora, forty minutes up the road, via more canola fields. Home to an Aviation museum and now also the launch pad for another aerial pursuit, the Goldfields Balloons Canola flights (more on that later!), this is the perfect place to settle in for the night before a sunrise flight over the golden fields.

The Hilltops Region -great for history lovers

Young in the Hilltops region is most famous for its cherries but it has another claim to fame, too. This was gold country and there are some sites around town commemorating gold rush history. You can see the place where the Riot Act was read by the Gold Commissioner when miners attacked the police camp. Just outside of town, the Lambing Flat Chinese Tribute Garden commemorates the contribution of Chinese people from the 1860s to the present day. It’s a lush oasis today there were a series of violent anti-Chinese riots in the area during the dark days of the gold rush. From Young, head east on Murringo Road for the forty minute drive to Boorowa. The road runs through the rolling hills studded with paddocks of canola.

Enjoy lunch in Boorowa, where there are great country food options including pubs, bakeries and cafes. While you’re there, take some time to follow the Shamrock Trails. The three heritage walks explore historical buildings and sites and the stories of bushrangers, settlers, convicts and gold fever around the town. The shortest trail takes around 25 minutes to walk, the longest a little over an hour.



From Boorowa, take the back roads through more prime Canola country to the twin towns of Harden-Murrumburrah. Make sure to check out Harden’s House of Honey , a sweet little shop bursting with all things bees as well as a huge variety of local honey. Nearby, you can snap a picture of the silo art by acclaimed Mongolian street artist, Heesco. The artwork is on the former Murrumburrah flour mill and shows the mill's history and the golden grain that delivered prosperity to the region.

There’s a lot of history to be found here, too with memorials to the light horse and the Harden Murrumburrah Museum. The museum holds artefacts from the gold mining era, rooms styled to show a chemist, a kitchen and a school room as well as displays relating to the history of the Light Horse Units of Harden and Murrumburrah. The museum only opens on weekends when volunteers are available but if you know you’d like to visit, you can phone ahead to make arrangements.

Cootamundra via Jugiong – a treasure trove of antiques and cricket history

Convenient to Canberra and with the bonus of a gourmet stop in Jugiong, this drive combines canola fields with a side of antiques and cricket history. Time your stop to coincide with morning tea or lunch at the Long Track Pantry in Jugiong because you won’t want to miss the treats on offer at this local institution. You can also stock up on jams, preserves, sauces and even ready meals and whatever you do, don’t miss the cake cabinet!



From Jugiong, the 35-minute drive to Cootamundra (or Coota, as the locals call it) meanders through rolling hills, sheep farms and, of course, canola fields aplenty. As you get closer to town, you’re likely to find canola around Old Gundagai Road, Rosehill Road and Jugiong Road. Cootamundra is home to the birthplace of Sir Donald Bradman. The cottage was refurbished in 1991 and now operates as the Sir Donald Bradman Birthplace Museum where you can see memorabilia commemorating Sir Don, cricket and the Cootamundra district. The Captains Walk , with 42 bronze sculptures of Australian Test Cricket Captains, and the Big Cricket Stumps at Bradman Oval, are two other sites for cricket lovers to check out in Coota.

If cricket is not your thing - no problem! Cootamundra has managed to pack in a surprising number of op-shops and antique stores meaning you can hunt for vintage and retro treasures as well as canola gold on your Cootamundra road trip. The Cootamundra Antique Shop Trail is packed full of gems and you often get much better prices here than in the big city op-shops. If you're ready to pop some tags, make sure you check the opening hours before you hit the road - many shops in Coota and surrounding towns generally close around midday Saturday and don't open at all on Sunday so weekdays can make for a more vibrant shopping experience.

Bonus trip:

In 2023, it’s not just wheels that will get you a front-row view of canola country – this year Goldfields Ballooning will be flying in to give you a bird’s eye view of all things yellow. This is a great opportunity to pair a ballooning experience with the magic of canola season. Flights will be launching from Temora and you can find more information and book here .


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