Wagga Wagga

Budget-friendly

Why Wagga Wagga

• Affordable regional city with lower costs than the coastal trail
• Base for farm work and fruit picking in the Riverina (counts towards 88-day visa extension)
• Beautiful Murrumbidgee River setting with Wagga Beach, walking trails, and free BBQ areas

Wagga Wagga — known simply as "Wagga" to locals — is the largest inland city in New South Wales with a population of around 57,000. Straddling the Murrumbidgee River in the heart of the Riverina region, it sits roughly midway between Sydney and Melbourne and just two and a half hours from Canberra. The name comes from the Wiradjuri language and is thought to mean "place of many crows." While Wagga isn't a traditional backpacker hotspot, it's an increasingly worthwhile stop for budget travellers exploring regional Australia. Home to Charles Sturt University (CSU), the city has a youthful energy, decent nightlife, excellent walking and cycling trails along the river, and a surprisingly strong arts and food scene. For working holiday makers, the surrounding Riverina farmland is one of NSW's most productive agricultural regions, making Wagga a practical base for racking up regional work days.

A day in Wagga Wagga

Hostel dorm

A$43

Food

A$20

Transport

A$3

Activities

A$7

About a day

A$75