After a comfortable nights' stay at Wagga Wagga Country Cottages it's off to Lockhart for some exploring. Lockhart is a short 40 minute drive along country roads from Wagga Wagga.

As well as amazing views, the Galore Hill Scenic Reserve covers an area of more than 500 hectares of bushland so there’s a wide variety of fauna and flora to discover and is a great spot for bird watches with more than 140 different species of birds in the area. Australian bushranger Daniel ‘Mad Dog’ Morgan is believed to have hidden out here. There are marked trails to explore the caves he is believed to have used to evaded authorities.

A 20minute drive from Galore Hill and you’re in the charming town of Lockhart. A main attraction in the main street is the Greens Gunyah Museum with an array of artefacts, photographs and machinery. A key feature of the museum is the Doris Golder Wool Art Gallery. Each piece in the collection is made from 100 percent wool, handcrafted by local artist Doris Golder. Doris spent more than 14 years creating the rare pieces of art, during which time more than 30 portraits were completed. Also scattered across the Lockhart shire are some impressive large-scale murals and sculptures - all worth checking out while here.

Continue the art trail in the Lockhart Shire by taking a short drive from the Lockhart township to Milbrulong to check out the colourful water tower mural. There's a picnic area here too, perfect for a snack or lunch break under the shadow of the artwork.

A short drive from Lockhart is The Rock Nature Reserve - Kengal Aboriginal Place. A NSW National Parks and Wildlife site, this location is one of the region’s most iconic landmarks and is a must for the nature lovers. Rising 364m above the plains, the views from the top are superb; to the west a patchwork of farmland, to the south and east rolling hills and ranges - even Mt Kosciuszko on a clear day. As well as its natural beauty, The Rock Nature Reserve - Kengal Aboriginal Place is a significant Aboriginal Place for the traditional custodians of these lands, the Wiradjuri People.

Hope you've enjoyed your day out exploring the Lockhart shire. This trip has shown some of the highlights for you, but there’s certainly much more to see + do, so see you out and about again in the Wagga Wagga + Surrounds region soon.