Only 30 minutes’ drive from Wagga Wagga with a gorgeous heritage main street, fascinating shops, museums and foodie delights, Coolamon’s charm is ripe for exploring.

If you start at the top end of town, check out the Up-to-Date Store on Cowabbie Street.

Built in 1909, the Up-to-Date Store still has all its original fittings, including the Lamson Cash Railway that was once used to move money around the store’s different sections.

The Up-to-Date Store is a volunteer-led museum, open Tuesday to Sunday and entry is free.

Tucked behind the Up-to-Date store on Loughnan Street you’ll now find the Rustic Pantry, a friendly cafe serving homemade cakes, breakfasts and lunches.

Also at the top of the main street is the Coolamon Fire Museum, home to a formidable collection of more than 2000 firefighting artefacts.

The collection was pieced together over 30 years by retired firefighter Chris Barry.

Now, as the museum manager, it is Chris’ pleasure to use the collection to tell the stories of brave firefighters.

"Coolamon" is an aboriginal name meaning "dish or vessel for holding food or water". A plan showing the northern boundary of Coolemon (Coolamon) Holes Run in 1870 shows a cluster of numerous water holes which he referred to as Coolamon Holes.

Of course, a visit to Coolamon isn’t complete without a stop at Coolamon Cheese.

Open seven days a week from 10am to 5pm, Coolamon Cheese is the perfect spot for lunch, sharing a platter, having a quick snack and glass of wine, stocking up on your favourite artisanal cheeses, grabbing a Campos coffee or taking a tour of the Cheese Factory.

And if after all the eating and historical exploring you want to get back to nature, look no further than the Kindra Bike and Walking Trails.

Located within 52 hectares of the remnant bushland that is Kindra State Forest, there are a range of trails where you can bike or hike and enjoy the scenery, and there’s also lots of signage, seating, viewing areas and picnic spots along the way.

The main entrance to the Forest is on Lewis Street.