A local’s guide to Narrabri: coffee, pies and Nosh highlights

Ahead of this month’s Nosh Narrabri festival, we caught up with committee president Angie Jones to get her tips for the perfect weekend in New South Wales’ north-west. Naturally, Angie recommends you time your visit for Nosh Narrabri (30 to 31 August 2025), which sees some 3000 visitors descend on the banks of Narrabri Creek for cook-offs, demonstrations, stalls and workshops. Sunday’s Long Lunch sold out in record time but tickets have just been released for Saturday’s workshops (the cocktail pairing session sounds like good fun). Plus, there will be live music, food and wine tasting, and a cooking demonstration led by former MasterChef judge Gary Mehigan.

Here, Angie shares her advice for an indulgent weekend in Narrabri.

What brought you to Narrabri?
I grew up here but my husband is from Brisbane. We were living there when my parents said, “Okay, do you want to come and take over this pub [the Tourist Hotel]?” And we said, “Sure, we have no hospitality experience, but let’s do it.” We’ve been here for nearly four years and it’s been really good. 

Tell me something about Narrabri that most people don’t know.
It’s a very buzzy little town — there’s a lot going on here. When people come through, they’re always like, “Narrabri is really moving!”. A lot of young people who left are moving back and a lot of young people are moving here, not because they’re from here, but because they like it here.

Where can we find a good pie?
Get in early and grab one from Relish Pantry — get a pie and a coffee. The chef, Katrina White, also does frozen family pies and frozen meals, which are really yummy. She’s a long-term exhibitor at Nosh and she has catered our long lunch for many years. This time, she’s bringing a Festa Italiano theme to life with a shared spread of Italian food.

Where do we go to while away a lazy afternoon?
Head out to Burren Junction [about an hour’s drive north-west of Narrabri] and have a soak in the artesian bore baths.

And if the kids need to let off some steam?
The Pirate Park is really good — that’s the best playground in town. Take the scooters and let the kids have a scoot on the path around the lake. You can also take your dog for a swim there. And just across the road, the Wilga Hotel has a big beer garden. If you are here for the weekend of Nosh, we have a full kids zone with free activities, including a hands-on “mini milling” activity where kids can mill their own flour to make dough — so fun!

What does a perfect Saturday in Narrabri look like?
Definitely start the day at one of our fab cafes, One23 or Yield, for a coffee and some brekkie. Then visit the shops! Marval Designs, Barrakets and Kinfolk Collective are some of my faves, and Konnie at Blooms on Maitland also always has something fresh and locally grown to take home. Make sure you’ve done all this by 11am to hit Nosh when the gates open!

It’s a very buzzy little town — there’s a lot going on here. When people come through, they’re always like, “Narrabri is really moving!”.

And what’s happening at Nosh?
You’re going to walk along the river path, check out all of our exhibitors and watch the barbecue cook-off and Gary Mehigan’s cooking demo. You’re going to bring a picnic rug, sit on the grass, have a drink, listen to some music and enjoy our beautiful festival. 

Which stalls are you heading to first?
Smo-king Barbeque from Inverell is always good; I’ll get some brisket from those guys. And there’s The Big Salami — everyone always loves him — and Riverina Gin, too. We have a lot more exhibitors this year. I’m looking forward to seeing Gather & Graze, a new mobile charcuterie cart from Wee Waa, the next town over. We’ve given some community groups free stalls — local schools, the junior rugby club — and some of them are being quite creative with what they’re doing. That will be a bit of fun, I think. 

And what are you most looking forward to?
I’m excited that Gary is coming because he’s such a huge name and I think he’ll bring a lot of good energy and excitement. We have him doing a cooking demonstration and he’s also going to emcee and judge our barbecue cook-off. We have ticketed workshops and tastings, which we haven’t done before — I think that will be really fun. Plus, it will be a fully licensed event this year, which means our exhibitors can sell by the glass. So you’ll be able to sit and watch cooking demos and have a glass of wine while the kids play. 

Nosh Narrabri runs from 30 to 31 August 2025. The Food & Drink Festival is open from 11am to 5pm on Saturday, 30 August 2025 (behind Hogan and Leitch ovals on Tibbereena Street); entry is $2. Don’t forget your picnic rug! For more information, go to noshnarrabri.com.au.