PERCHED beside the Murrumbidgee River and its corridor of red gum, Narrandera blends elegance, environment and history.
An oasis of tree lined streets, shady parks and gardens, the town in the NSW Riverina, is a water sport haven.
Lake Talbot is the ideal spot for a day of boating and water-skiing, the backwaters of Rocky Water Holes provide a great spot for canoeing and the Murrumbidgee River boasts some great fishing spots.
Narrandera's Lake Talbot Water Park is a great place to visit to beat the heat, boasting a choice of refreshing pools and exciting new water features and water slides.
You can also BBQ or picnic under a canopy of trees while the Kookaburras wait for your left-overs.
Visitors can also explore Narrandera's bike and hike trails and Murrumbidgee River beaches.
Narrandera Flora and Fauna Reserve is a perfect spot for a stroll among the river red gum trees and offers a chance to spot koalas in their natural habitat.
The area boasts wetlands which are home to a wide variety of native birds, with a walking track offering a number of great vantage points.
It also has a number of bird-hides, which are painted in local Wiradjuri themes.
The water tower mural showcases a visual collection of landmarks, activities, flora and fauna that resonate with the community.
Narrandera also offers the chance to admire heritage buildings, take in some boutique shopping, or enjoy a coffee and some great food at one of the town centre's cafés.
Sandhills Artefacts is a great place to learn about Wiradjuri culture and has a variety of boomerangs, along with a number of other artefacts.
There are also numerous camping options, including two caravan parks which both offer drive-through and camping sites and are pet-friendly.
Free camping is also offered at several locations on the river's edge at Narrandera, the Shire's villages of Barellan and Grong Grong.
Barellan and Grong Grong are also well worth exploring.
Barellan is the home town of Australian Tennis Champion Evonne Goolagong-Cawley and Australia's biggest tennis racquet - a Dunlop wooden replica racquet with Evonne's autograph.
It is also a great place to sample local beer - community enterprise Barellan Beer brews a pale ale using locally grown barley which is on tap at the Barellan watering holes.
Kids will have a ball playing in Grong Grong's Earth Park - a wild playground that is natural, recycled and lots of fun.
