A small mining town in the Outback, Cobar features a rich mining culture, along with heritage walks, historic sites and Aboriginal art. Explore museums, colonial architecture and working mines while visiting Cobar.
Things to do in Cobar
Since the late 1800s, Cobar has thrived in copper and gold mining, now showcased in a collection of intriguing displays at The Great Cobar Heritage Centre and Museum. You can also view artefacts and hear stories about the local Ngiyampaa people. From the centre, take the Cobar Heritage Walk to see historical colonial architecture and original miner’s cottages.
Climb up to Fort Bourke Hill Lookout for a bird’s-eye view of open-cut mining operations at Peak Gold Mine, which occupies the historic New Cobar Gold Mine. You can see smelter foundation remains from the original mine, just east of the Heritage Centre.
Feel like getting out of town? Drive to Mount Grenfell Historic Site, less than an hour away. Discover rock shelters with intricate Ngiyampaa Aboriginal rock art painted with clay and ochre pigments, as well as hand stencils. An art walk leads you through cypress pines to various rock-art sites.
Dining options in Cobar range from Asian fare at Cobar Thai to homemade pies at Maddie’s Café or Cobar Hot Bake. Visit Country Simplicity for comfort food and baked desserts.
Getting around Cobar
You can rent a car at Cobar Airport, about six kilometres from the town centre, or take a train from Dubbo, about three hours away. Within the small town, you can walk or use the various taxi services.