Kandos Voyage Tips and guide

Contents

Kandos is a town of 1,300 (2021) in the Central West region of New South Wales. Kandos sits along the former Gwabegar Line, a railway line between Lithgow and the tiny village of Gwabegar, passing through Mudgee and Gulgong. Most of the line is disused, with freight still occasionally using the line up to Rylstone and north of Gulgong. Heritage rail tours still occasionally make their way up to Rylstone, which is often when Kandos is filled with the most number of tourists.

Kandos is on the Bylong Valley Way and an 18 km (11 mi) deviation from Castlereagh Hwy (B55). The turnoff at Ilford towards Kandos (and Rylstone) is about 65 km (40 mi) north of the exit from the Great Western Hwy (A32) near Lithgow and is fairly signposted. Overall road quality on the B55 is quite good with wide centre lines in certain areas, but the road quality drops the moment you turn onto the Bylong Valley Way. The speed may be signposted at 100 km/h (62 mph), but you'll struggle to ever reach it.

If you're headed southbound, turn towards Lue Road at Mudgee and follow the road for about 57 km (35 mi), passing Rylstone. However, the road quality on this section of road is similarly horrendous.

Booked NSW TrainLink coaches have taken on the replacement ever since the Gwabegar Line closed for passenger services. Many coaches often skip straight by and stay on the Castlereagh Highway, but several of them do – generally, however, there is usually at least 1 in each direction every day. All coaches depart or terminate at Lithgow Station with coaches passing Kandos starting/terminating at either Gulgong or Coonabarabran. As of April 2025, a coach ticket costs $8.40 from Lithgow ($8.05 for tertiary students), $3.60 from Mudgee ($3.45 for tertiary students), $7.20 from Gulgong ($6.90 for students) and $24.60 from Coonabarabran ($23.65 for students).

Occasional heritage trains – the Kandos Explorer – run from Sydney. They usually run at least once a year; keep an eye out on their website for the next heritage run.

32°51′32″S 149°58′29″E

Map of Kandos

The core of Kandos, for the most part, can be reached on foot (which works out great if you're arriving by coach). Some of the lookouts further afield will require a car, however.

• -32.8603149.97351 Kandos Museum, 22 Buchanan St, ☏ +61 2 6379 4600, [email protected]. W–Su 10AM–4PM. Originally built as the town's methodist church, this museum now mainly houses various historical records from the town. The museum also helps organise brief tours along with the Kandos Explorer of the town on the rare occasion a heritage train is in town. (updated Apr 2025)

• -32.859149.97261 Mountain View Bakery & Coffee, 22 Angus Ave, ☏ +61 2 6379 4258. M—Sa 5:30AM–6PM (closed Su). General town bakery + coffee shop. (updated Apr 2025)

• -32.8589149.97131 Kandos Hotel, 2 Angus Ave, ☏ +61 2 6379 4030. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: 10AM. Food/pub also available. (updated Apr 2025)
• -32.8595149.96932 Railway Hotel, 37 Ilford Rd, ☏ +61 2 6379 6888. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: 10AM. (updated Apr 2025)