Emergency services are letting some NSW residents return to their flood-ravaged homes during daylight hours under escort to assess the damage and start cleaning up.
But evacuation orders remain in place for many victims of the floods, which federal Opposition Leader Tony Abbott says have drawn a response that shows "Australia at its best".
More than 1000 people remain evacuated from Darlington Point, in the Riverina region, after the Murrumbidgee River peaked at 7.8 metres.
"This is the biggest flood since 1974, where it peaked at 7.9m, so it's come just under that," a State Emergency Service spokeswoman told AAP.
She said the river had started to fall, but the SES would make sure the community was safe before sounding the all-clear.
"We're in the area doing reconnaissance, and the council's getting engineers in to assess the integrity of the infrastructure in the area."
Evacuees forced to flee their homes in Wagga Wagga and Forbes - two of the worst affected communities anywhere in the state - have been allowed back.
Some areas of Forbes remain inundated and access roads are closed.
Meanwhile, residents in North Wagga Wagga have been allowed back to their homes during daylight hours, escorted by emergency services, to assess the damage.
"It's still a bit too dangerous to have everyone there for health reasons," the spokeswoman said.
The SES on Monday issued an all-clear for the last parts of the nearby town of Gumley Gumley that had been at risk.
The SES said the threat had also eased for Narrandera, where a flood warning had been issued, and the all-clear had been issued for residents in some streets.
Opposition Leader Tony Abbott visited Wagga Wagga on Monday to meet local residents and emergency services personnel and to help the recovery effort.
He said he was grateful "to everyone who is assisting with this monumental clean-up".
"This is a terrible tragedy for Wagga and for the people of the Riverina, but Australians are rallying around them," he told reporters.
"I've got to say this is Australia at its best. Three more local government areas have been declared natural disaster areas by the NSW government, bringing the total number to 49.
Leeton, Murrumbidgee and Upper Hunter Shires would now be eligible for a number of disaster assistance schemes to help with the cost of the recovery, NSW Emergency Services Minister Michael Gallacher announced on Monday.
"Although the rain has stopped for the time being, we will continue to monitor the situation as the floodwaters recede and the damage across affected areas becomes more evident," Mr Gallacher said in a statement.
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