Leeton

Main Attraction

Fivebough & Tuckerbil Wetlands

Fivebough & Tuckerbil Wetlands possesses five kilometres of walking trails, viewing mounds, bird hides and an interpretive centre and is Leeton’s major ecotourism attraction.

This site is well known among birdwatching enthusiasts for hosting migratory birds, some from the northern hemisphere as far away as Siberia, China & Japan, during the warmer months. Species include glossy ibis, sharp-tailed sandpiper, whiskered tern, Australian bittern, brolga and the rare freckled duck.

Fivebough and Tuckerbil Wetlands, the latter located 12km north-west of Leeton, are Ramsar-listed and were designated as Wetlands of International Importance on October 21, 2002.

Education/Schools

Leeton has a strong educational presence including three major high schools (including two boarding schools attracting students from across south West NSW); three primary schools, an independent faith-based school, a special school, and numerous quality pre-school facilities. Shire schools are located in the villages of Whitton, Wamoon, Yanco and Murrami.

Leeton High School is a well established rural high school offering a comprehensive curriculum. The school has strong traditions in academic, cultural and sporting endeavours. The school has a diversity of cultural backgrounds amongst the student and parent community, reflecting the Leeton community. Current enrolments are around 500.

St Francis de Sales College is a Catholic co-educational and weekly boarding school providing comprehensive education across Years 7-12.  A strong emphasis is placed on developing both academic and cultural needs of students, including religious education. Current total enrolments are around 750, including around 200 boarders.

Yanco Agricultural High School is a co-educational fully residential agricultural high school, one of just three in NSW. Established in 1922, the school provides Years 7-12 students an all-round education in a stimulating and caring environment of schoolroom, farm and hostel. Vocational education covers five of the seven Industry Framework courses, and Equine Studies.

Murrumbidgee Rural Studies Centre serves the training needs of businesses, organisations and individuals. It has more than twenty staff on site plus access to other specialist staff at seven locations throughout the state. Specialist courses include training design and development, accreditation and certification, costing and budgeting, seeking funds, learner administration, evaluation, assessment, financial acquitting and reporting. The Centre boasts full equipped conference and training facilities for up to 550 in total. On-site accommodation is available for over 200 people in styles ranging from three star motels, single study bedrooms, or bunk-rooms. A swimming pool, tennis court and extensive playing fields are all on site.

Riverina Institute of TAFE focuses on industry courses such as primary industries and mechanical engineering, metal fabrication and welding, electrical, civil engineering, business services, information technology and general education. The Leeton Campus is part of the Riverina Institute of TAFE which encompasses a total of 19 campuses across southern NSW.

Other Educational Facilities include easy access to Charles Sturt University in Wagga Wagga, and in Leeton the Riverina Community College and a Brethren Independent School.

Sporting

Leeton provides local residents with the opportunity to participate in a wide array of sports that are coordinated by the local community. Residents also have the option to become immersed in cultural activities to consume their leisure time.   

Sporting group’s facilities in Leeton include: 

• Leeton Town Ovals- utilised for touch football competitions, rugby league, cricket, school athletics carnivals and special community events. 
• Leeton Golf Course- located centrally on Acacia Avenue, the club provides golfing enthusiasts with the perfect setting for a relaxing game on a country golf course setting. Behind the Golf Club building and adjacent to where the course begins, the Leeton Pro Shop offers purchase and hire of all the golfing gear required for your game. 
• Local Tennis Court complexes- located in the Leeton CBD as well as in the Parkview locality (situated just off the CBD).
•  Soccer fields- Leeton United Football Club has a junior and senior playing arm that is prominent locally and throughout the region at a competitive level. 
• Junior and senior AFL Clubs- with a well coordinated Auskick Program and Wednesday night junior competition. Leeton-Whitton Crows Football & Netball Club forms an integral part of the Riverina Football & Netball League (RFNL).
•  Senior & Junior Cricket Associations- cricket is played during the months of October through to March annually. Leeton District Cricket Association have their own five team A grade cricket competition and are well respected throughout the Riverina and surrounding region as one of the strongest league’s in south-west NSW. 
• Squash courts- local competitions run annually. 
• Leeton Swimming Pool- located in Palm Avenue and allows even small children a chance to swim with both a toddler and a wading pool as well as an Olympic-sized pool, waterslide and barbecue facilities. 
• Skate park- Leeton Skate Park features a large state of the art concrete bowl and is situated in a relaxed communal location. This community facility is opened every day at dawn and the gate to the Skate Park is locked again at 10pm daily.
•  Well maintained public parks and sporting ovals  
• Two bowling greens for lawn bowling enthusiasts- Leeton & District Bowling Club and Leeton Soldiers Club bowling group. 
• Health and Fitness Clubs 
• Clay Target shooting and Pistol Club- located 15kms from town on the way towards one of our neighbouring regional towns, Narrandera
•  Three fully equipped gym’s

Health & Medical

Leeton District Hospital is part of the Murrumbidgee Local Health District. It delivers emergency, medical, maternity, aged and surgical services to Leeton Shire. The 71 bed hospital employs over 50 nursing staff who also offers a outpatient community nursing service alongside outpatient allied health services.

Access is available to other medical services located in Griffith, and to the regional referral Base Hospital in Wagga Wagga for other medical and more specialised services such as surgical, orthopedic, psychiatric and pediatric inpatient care.

Leeton is well served by general practice medical centres; dental, optical and other secondary health services; and a range of community health services.

The aged-care needs of Leeton are well met by three dedicated facilities providing a wide range of on-site residences, rest home beds, and high-care nursing home beds.

Recreation

Leeton Shire offers a diverse range of recreational facilities for residents and visitors alike to consider. They are as follows:

Local Parks

• Mountford Park– located on the corner of Wade Avenue & Church Street, the park includes large grass area, swing sets, play equipment, slides, see-saws, spring riders for the little ones, a large bird cage, picnic tables, numerous barbeque areas and a shaded stage area. It is recognised by locals as the most popular family park in Leeton.
• Town Oval Playground– located in Palm Avenue, includes extensive grass area, swing set, slide, see-saw, spring dinosaur ride, outdoor netball courts and rugby oval.
• Gralee Park– located on Quandong Street/Yanco Avenue, the park provides large grassed area, barbeque set up, slides, large play equipment, swing sets and see-saw.
• Parkview Park– Located Park Avenue/Melaleuca Avenue, the large grass area, play equipment, slide, swing set, climbing equipment, see-saw, outdoor basketball courts and tennis courts (bookings essential) make this park a wonderful setting for a relaxing family outing.

Gogeldrie Weir

This tranquil setting provides locals and visitors with an extensive grass area with soccer field including nets, ideal picnic and camping location, kayaks, mountain bikes, fishing gear, camping equipment and balls as well as many entertainment items all available for hire on-site, kiosk selling refreshments, BBQ facilities, toilets and showers. Bookings are essential if looking to stage a special function such as a birthday party onsite in the fully equipped Function Shed.

Bird watching in Leeton Shire

Leeton Shire offers a number of different locations to view a wide variety of bird life, including many migratory birds during warmer months. These include:

• Fivebough Wetland- 174 bird species have been recorded at Fivebough Wetland and there are many viewing spots. Located just 2km north of Leeton, off Petersham Road, there are five kilometres of walking trails, viewing mounds, two bird hides and an interpretive centre. Another spot is the Hooey Road Lookout, which looks from the northern side of Fivebough Wetland back toward Leeton and can offer views of brolgas and ibis flying in to roost in the evenings.
• Tuckerbil Swamp- located off Cantril Road, west from Leeton near the Koonadan Historic Site. Keen bird watchers will find white backed swallows are common to the area and small numbers of these birds can be seen throughout the year along with various parrots and raptors. Australian bittern and brolga can be found in the Swamp.
• River Red Gum Forest Drives (NSW National Parks)- bird watchers can take several forest drives along the Murrumbidgee River between Yanco and the Leeton-Narrandera Airport. The ski beach area is worth a look and a good place to see parrots, chough and apostle birds.
• Stoney Point Road- drive north along Brobenah Road to the intersection and turn left onto Koonadan Road, after 2km turn right into Stoney Point Road. A wide array of bush birds live in the Murrami area, including parrots, honeyeaters and mistletoe bird.

Camping in & around Leeton

Camping sites are available at Gogeldrie Weir and throughout the river red gum forest.

Gogeldrie Weir offers many comforts to assist with camping, including barbecues, toilets, showers and a kiosk. Entry and camping fees apply. Many services are also available, such as fishing licenses, bait and EFTPOS. There are also tents, gazebos, fishing rods and kayaks available for hire. For information call (02) 6955 9267.

Locals and visitors welcome to camp in the river red gum forest but fires are not allowed from December through to March. For further information and maps, contact Leeton Visitor Information Centre on (02) 6953 6481

Cycling

Leeton Shire is easy to explore on bicycle, thanks to the many bike paths and mostly flat terrain.

Bike tracks are situated along Palm Ave and Yanco road with another along Acacia Avenue planned for construction.

Golf

Why not enjoy a game of golf while in Leeton? Leeton Golf Course is one of the most relaxing and leisurely courses in the Riverina and is centrally located to the Leeton CBD in Acacia Avenue (just off Palm Ave).

Opening times vary seasonally. For further information, call the Golf Pro Shop on (02) 6953 3292.

Indoor Sports

Community residents use the Leeton Multipurpose Indoor Stadium to engage in various activities including sports carnivals, school events, demonstrations and local sporting competitions.

Sports played in the Indoor Stadium include basketball, netball, volleyball, indoor soccer, hockey and badminton.

Alongside Leeton’s Indoor Stadium are outdoor netball courts (including a tarred court) and large football/sporting fields (Leeton’s Number One Oval).

If people wish to use the Multipurpose Indoor Stadium facilities, pre-booking is essential. For further information, please call Leeton Indoor Stadium on (02) 6953 3742 or 0428 525 766.

Transport

Road

Leeton is located in the centre of south west NSW, a four-hour drive from Canberra, five hour drive from Melbourne and a six-hour drive from Sydney. 

Leeton also has a taxi service available for transport within the town. Daily coach services are available to Sydney & Melbourne. 

CountryLink services the Leeton area providing access to Sydney via coach connection to XPT train transfer at Wagga Wagga.

Air 

For local residents and visitors opting to fly in and out of Leeton for business and leisure related purposes, our Shire possesses its very own regional airport in partnership with Narrandera Shire, the Leeton-Narrandera Airport, located just a short 15-minute drive from our township. 

Regional Express Airlines operates four regular daily return flights from Sydney into Leeton-Narrandera placing us in an easily accessible location. 

Alternatively, Griffith Domestic Airport is a short 40-minute car trip from Leeton and Wagga Wagga Domestic Airport is also situated just over an hour’s drive away from Leeton.

Shopping

Leeton has a broad range of retail shops including supermarkets, discount shops, electrical goods and furnishings, banks, newsagents, giftware, butcher and bakery just to name a few.

Well known for our country hospitality, customers are treated to service with a smile and retailers will often order stock in to suit individual needs.

• Supermarkets – Woolworths Leeton, Franklins Supermarket & Leeton Golden Apple Superstore
• Banks/ATMs – Commonwealth Bank, ANZ, Westpac, St George Country First Credit Union and NAB
• Australia Post
• Pharmacies- Len Wade Pharmacy & Len Wade Pharmacy
• Cafes- Luke’s Café, Amore’s, Sweets & Treats, Coffee Tree, Movie Café, Kacey’s  
• Service Stations – Shell Service Station, Caltex, BP, Woolworths, Leeton Tourism Supermarket
• Butchers – two local butcheries
• NRMA
• Micks Bakehouse
• Clothing – Darto’s, Spruce, Brad’s, Identity Fashions, Fashion Accents, Best & Less, Target Country, Two Friends, Laney’s
• Beauty – Beautopia Hair Body & Soul, Earth Craft Beauty, Gosh Beauty Therapy and Joanne Francis Spa
• Real Estate – Amato Real Estate, Glenn Preston Best Agents, Breed & Hutchinson Real Estate and Raine & Horne Leeton Pty Ltd.
• Leeton Mitre 10
• Go-Lo
• Numerous local hairdressers
• Sportspower Leeton
• Leeton All Sports
• Reject Shop
• Lanham’s Jewellers
• PowerPlus Leeton
• Aylett’s Automative
• Ace Smash Repairs
• SunRice
• Bell’s Smash Repairs
• Antionette’s Showcase Jewellers
• Leeton Newsagency
• Leeton Tyrepower
• Yenda Producers
• Leeton Leading Edge Video
• Leeton Video Rentals
• Leeton Laundromat
• Anytime Fitness
• Leeton Steel & Retail Pty Ltd
• Autogear
• MIA Tyre Service
• Leeton Toyota
• Riverina Motor Group
• Leeton Physiotherapy
• Leeton Medical Centre
• Les Watkins & Son Funeral Directors
• Lanham’s of Leeton (Ford)
• John Ryan Holden
• Eurell’s of Leeton
• Tony Forest Financial
• Riverina Office Machines
• Office Choice Leeton
• Travel Agent – Traveleaders Leeton
• Whitby’s Betta Electrical
• Restaurants/Takeaways – Leeton Fish Shop, Benvenuti Restaurant, Chung Hing Chinese Restaurant, DaGoodfella’s, Pages on Pine, Chan’s Restaurant, Hydro Tavern, Leeton Hotel, Wade Hotel, Leeton Soldiers Club, Yanco All-Servicemen’s Club, L & D Bowling Club, MIA Club and McDonald’s Leeton, Red Rooster & Leeton Tourist Supermarket

Entertainment

The Roxy Community Theatre is the primary source for entertainment for a range of different age demographics within our community.

This Leeton landmark is one of the oldest cinemas in Australia and has been screening movies since 1930.

The Roxy offers the best of old and new with a two-tiered auditorium and a new sound system. Renovations have transformed Leeton’s Roxy Theatre while still preserving historical features consistent with the Art Deco era.

This facility is generally open for Friday night and Saturday screenings and on certain occasion’s mid-day cinema sessions for special screenings including school holidays.  It also hosts the Leeton Eisteddfod each August and a variety of live shows during the year.

Group tours can be prearranged by contacting the Roxy Theatre in advance.

We also boast a number of cafes where you can relax over a coffee, while local restaurants such as Pages on Pine (French cuisine) and Benvenuti (Italian) provide our local residents and the travelling public with a fine dining experience.

Leeton has three registered clubs and numerous hotels to offer the ideal venue for you to mingle with friends, enjoy regular weekend entertainment and quality food.