Pilliga Artesian Bore Bath

The Pilliga Artesian Bore Bath traces its origins to 1902, when a bore was sunk to provide the township with a permanent water supply after a severe drought. The pool itself was installed in 1980 and given a roof at some point after that. It’s a public facility attached to a primitive campground — no treatments, no bookings required — just 37°C mineral-rich water from deep underground, available around the clock.

The water sits at something close to body temperature. Shade is provided by the roof over the pool area. Dressing sheds are on-site, as are toilets and cold showers. There are no powered camping sites, but there’s space for vehicles, BBQ facilities, and the campground is pet friendly.

The setting is genuine outback NSW: 96km from Narrabri, 55km from Wee Waa, 3km from Pilliga township. One thing to know before you make the turn off the road — if there’s been significant rain, the approach can become boggy. A 4WD handles it; a low-clearance car may not. The campground sits close enough to the road that there’s some traffic noise.

At 4.3 stars across nearly 600 Google reviews, this place earns its following through the thing itself rather than the surroundings. The therapeutic value of the water has been recognised locally for well over a century.

The camping fee is $7.50 per night, with a maximum stay of four nights. Payment can be made online or in person at the Narrabri Region Visitor Information Centre or Wee Waa Library — there’s no payment facility on-site. The bore bath is open 24 hours, every day. The phone number is (02) 6799 6760.