The main thing you notice when you first arrive in the New South Wales town of Goulburn is the huge 15 x 18 metre statue of a merino sheep sited on the road side. Celebration Australian style of what made Goulburn and the surrounding farming area rich.

 

Goulburn, in New South Wales, is an interesting  place, and was built as the first inland city in Australia. It therefore has lots of buildings filled with history and things to see.

Goulburn in New South Wales has plenty to explore including a rail heritage centre, cathedrals, a war memorial and a heritage centre.  The brewery in Goulburn is the oldest working brewery in Australia and still produces boutique beers. The brewery also offers beer tastings, a restaurant and an art gallery.

Goulburn's original steam-driven water pump house is a great place to visit.  Built in the 1880s it  is the only surviving water pumping station  in New South Wales. When at full steam it could pump more than 660,000 litres of water an hour.

The  Goulburn pumphouse is now a museum and gives the visitor an insight of how the delivery of water has changed over the last hundred years or so, from barrels delivered by cart right up to the modern day. 
 
The Blue Mountains

At their highest point the Blue Mountains are 3,600 feet above sea level and in the early days of colonisation deterred exploration into the interior from the Sydney Cove area. This vast area of New South Wales can easily be explored, but only if you have the time! A few places, such as Windsor, Bathhurst, Mudgee and the Hunter Valley are all within easy reach of Sydney.

The best way to explore the northern coastline between Sydney, the capital of New South Wales, and Brisbane, the capital of Queensland, is on either an organised touring holiday or on a self drive.

If you prefer not to drive there is a really great bus and rail network right up the north coast which takes in major towns such as Coffs Harbour, Byron Bay and Armidale.

The coastal Princes Highway is a good dual carriageway but there are more ordinary routes such as the New England Highway, which goes to the Northern Tablelands, the Newell Highway which goes to Moree and the Great Western Highway which goes straight through the Blue Mountains to Bathhurst.

Norman Lindsay Gallery and Museum
14 Norman Lindsay Crescent,

Faulconbridge

One of Australia’s most renowned but controversial artists, Norman Lindsay bought this fabulous mountain house in 1913 and it has since become testament to his work.  His paintings show his rejection of social, moral and sexual restraints of the times.

Visit Leura, off the Western Highway, and you will find magical gardens set out in the European style and 1920’s Art Deco Architecture. Art galleries, shops and cafés sit along-side up-market restaurants.

Everglades House
Travel some 3.5 miles from Leura to Everglades House and you will find a stunning Art Deco style house and lovely gardens with an arboretum, alpine gardens and grotto pool.  Peacocks roam around the grounds and the whole ambiance reflects the 1930 design revolution. Take the cliff drive to Katoomba and get panoramic views of the surrounding landscape.  Go to the end of Sublime Point Road and climb the lookout tower for more great views of the Jamison Valley.

Katoomba is a great place to choose as a starting point to tour the Blue Mountains. Although Katoomba is a bustling tourist centre, it still retains some of its former glory as a place where wealthy Sydneysiders went to spend time in the Blue Mountains during the 1870’s.

Not far from Katoomba is Echo Point, one of the areas most visited tourist attractions.  Echo Point has a good information centre and great views from the lookout towards the Three Sisters and Mount Solitary.  The Giant Staircase is not far away and beyond this is the Leura Forest.

To the west of Katoomba,  670 feet above the valley, is the Scenic Skyway cable car which leaves every ten minutes and provides spectacular views or, if you wish to keep your feet further on the ground, try the Scenic Railway which travels down to the valley floor and, it is alleged, is the steepest railway in the world.

Blackheath is a small village, 114km from Sydney in the Grose Valley, which has good accommodation and restaurants and is a great base for walking in the area.
Two miles from Blackheath along the Govetts Leap Road is the Heritage Centre providing information about the local flora and fauna as well as documented Aboriginal and European regional history.

The Govett’s Leap waterfall drops 450 m into the Grose Valley. Govett's Leap Road extends eastwards off the Great Western Highway out to the lookout which is the start of a network of walking tracks.On the Govett's Leap Road is a National Parks and Wildlife Heritage Centre which has information and displays about the many great walking paths and natural attractions, camping areas, guided walks, Discovery Programmes and historic site tours. tel: (02) 4787 8877.

The Centre marks the start of the Fairfax Heritage Track (2 km each way)which is suitable for wheelchair users and people with poor vision. It has wonderful views, abundant birdlife, waterfalls and rainforests.

Another track, 2.5km each way from Govett's Leap, is the Pulpit Rock Walk which goes north then east past Cripps Lookout to Pulpit Rock. It passes through rainforest to give nice views of Horseshoe Falls and there is excellent birdwatching which is at it's best in the late afternoon. This track joins with both the Popes Glen Walk, which goes west to Popes Glen Reserve, and the Rodriguez Pass Walk, which goes east past Trinity Falls.

Another track goes south from Govett's Leap past Bridal Veil Falls and Luchetti Lookout to Evans Lookout. This track crosses the Braeside Walk.

Other places of interest which should not be missed are Evans Lookout, Hargreaves Lookout and the Megalong Valley, Megalong Valley Farm and the Rhododendron Garden in Bacchante Street

Jenolan Caves

Located to the south west of the Blue Mountain ranges the Jenolan Caves, formed 340 million years ago,are the oldest caves known to man. They have nine chambers which are open to the public. 

Mount Tomah Botanic Garden
At an altitude of over 1000 metres and located in the northern Blue Mountains of New South Wales, the Mount Tomah Botanic Garden was constructed as the cool-climate garden of the Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney.

At the Mount Tomah Botanic Garden you will find over 5000 species of plants from the cooler parts of the world. Plants have been brought from South America, Southeast Asia, China, Africa, Papua New Guinea, New Zealand and the alpine regions of Australia.

Windsor

Governor Lachlan Macquarie had a vision for the Hawkesbury Valley, and proceeded to establish the five Macquarie towns namely Windsor, Richmond, Castlereagh, Wilberforce and Pitt Town. The town of Windsor however, is a testament to Macquarie even though some modern development has left its mark on the town.

What remains though is still of historical interest,  particularly St Matthews Church, the Court House, Tebbut's observatories, the graveyard at the church, and other buildings dating back to the early nineteenth century. Windsor was the third European settlement in Australia after Sydney Cove and Parramatta and was named after the famous royal town on the Thames,in London.

Located  57 kilometres to the northwest of Sydney, Windsor is the commercial and administrative capital of  the Macquarie Towns. It has a good street layout and its numerous historic buildings make it a great place to explore.

A good place to begin a visit to Windsor and Richmond is the Hawkesbury Museum and Tourist Centre which is at Thompson Square. It is open from 10.00 a.m. - 4.00 p.m. and offers good information about all the Macquarie towns as well as maps and guide book walks around Windsor and Richmond.

Whilst you are there, check out the Museum's exhibitions, which comprise Aboriginal artefacts as well as telling the story of the European settlement.

Other places of interest are Thompson Square, Macquarie Arms Hotel, Loder House, St Matthews Anglican Church, Windsor Court House and the John Tebbutt Observatory.

Tourist Information
Hawkesbury Museum and Tourist Centre
Hawkesbury Museum of Local History 7 Thompson Square
Windsor NSW 2756
Telephone: (02) 4577 2310

 

A town of some 38,000 people, and very popular as a tourist destination, Gosford is the main town of the Central Coast region.

 

The little rural settlements just out of town have long since joined together to create one continuous suburb stretching as far south as the Ku-ring-gai National Park.

 

Gosford is a great base for touring this part of New South Wales or you can just stay in this lovely town and enjoy leisure activities at the nearby sandy beaches. Surfing, sailing and swimming are all popular and, depending on the time of year, you may be able to find a little beach all to yourself.

 

The Forest of Tranquility Rainforest and Bird sanctuary lies in a valley of subtropical and temperate rainforest. Barbeque facilities, play areas and picnic spots are provided together with marked rainforest walks.

The forest hosts a broad range of native wildlife such as bellbirds, bower birds, brush turkeys, catbirds, king parrots, lyrebirds, whipbirds and wombats.

Forest of Tranquility
Ourimbah Creek Road
Ourimbah

The Australian Reptile Park

Home to lots of difference reptiles including huge goannas, snakes and crocodiles.
Australian Reptile Park
Pacific Highway
Ourimbah

Newcastle

Population 138,000

Newcastle is Australia’s second oldest city and stretches out to the sea. It is Australia’s only city centre surrounded by spotless beaches and a lively working harbour. With 200 years of history behind  it, Newcastle has developed into a lively city of contrasts.

Working wharves in the harbour are turning to leisure activities to breath new life into the area.  Newcastle can boast a vibrant arts culture and an up-and-coming food scene is slowly manifesting itself. The surf however, is world class, the pace of life is relaxed and the locals friendly.

 

Blackbutt Reserve
Carnley Ave,

New Lambton Ph : 4904 3344
Native flora & fauna in a city centre location with well marked walking paths and picnic areas.

Bogey Hole
Built by convicts this ocean bathing pool is located to the south of Newcastle beach behind King Edward Park.

Civic Theatre
Hunter St,

Newcastle. Ph: 4921 1561
One of Australia‘s prime regional theatres, The Civic theatre plays host to some of the world’s greatest artists.

 

Convict Lumber Yard
Scott St,

Newcastle. (Behind Customs House Hotel)

Australia’s first industrial site.

Hunter Region Botanic Gardens
Pacific Highway,

Heatherbrae.

Ph : 4987 1655

Beautiful and extensive gardens with well marked and looked after walking trails.

 

Kooragang Wetlands & City Farm
Ash Island,

off Pacific Highway,

Hexham.

Ph : 4964 9308.
Fish, birdwatch, walk, cycle.

 

Newcastle Jockey Club
Chatham Rd,

Broadmeadow.

Ph: 4900 8161
35 race meeting per year are held here.

 

Oakvale Farm & Fauna
2828 Nelson Bay Rd,

Salt Ash.

Ph : 4982 6222
A great day out where children can experience farm life.

 

Wetlands Centre Australia
Sandgate Rd,

Shortland.

Ph : 4951 6466
A sanctuary for wildlife & people. Well-developed and exclusive wetland area.

 

Newcastle has Fare Free Bus Zone and any state government bus is free within the city centre between 7.30am and 6pm all week.
Timetable information on the Newcastle bus and ferry services is available by phoning 131500 or visiting the website. Printed timetables are available from the City Administration Centre or Hamilton Bus Depot.

Park your car at the Throsby Car Park (opposite the Sparke Helmore building) on Honeysuckle Drive for just $3 a day. Walk from there over the railway overpass at Wickham Station and catch any park and ride bus to the city centre.

The fertile plains of the Hunter Valley play host to the first commercial vineyards established in Australia during the 1830’s. 

The Harvest Festival takes place from March to May and the Jazz in the Vines Festival in October.

The Hunter Valley is a great tourist destination with 74 wineries, most of which are open to the general public daily. There is also a good range of hotels and restaurants to choose from.

Famous names include Rothbury Estate, Tyrrells’ Vinyards, Brokenwood, Tamburlaine, Lindemans, McWilliams Mount Pleasant Winery, Lake’s Folly and Rothbury.

To the north of the Hunter Valley is the mountain range of the Barringtons. At 5080 feet Barrington Tops is one of the highest points in Australia and lis often dusted with light snow in the winter. Great for walking, climbing, bird watching and camping this beautiful park of Australia has everything from cool-climate rainforest, cliffs, gorges and waterfalls. There is 690,000 acres of forest and 1000 year old trees which are protected by the Barrington Tops National Park. The Barrington Tops
National Park was awarded a World Heritage Area status in 1986 and a wilderness area in 1996.

 

Armidale lies 525 km to the north-north-west of Sydney and 465 km south-west of Brisbane in an area at the heart of the New England Tablelands. A pretty and elegant city of tree-lined streets where Australian cosmopolitan and old colonial rustic charm live together with a certain amount of  accord. It is the main centre of the Northern Tablelands and has a  population of over 25 000 people. located some 980 m above sea-level, Armidale is home to the highest airport in Australia.
The city has four distinct seasons unlike most places in Australia and this justifies the why the area is named New England.

Sheep and the production of high-grade wool are the major part of the local economy, as is dairying, timber processing, potato crops and stone fruits.

There is lots of fantastic scenery around Armidale, including forests, mountain gorges and waterfalls (Wollomombi Falls are one of the tallest in Australia).  There are also four national parks nearby.

Glen Innes is known as Australia’s “Celtic Country” as it was settled mainly by Scottish, Irish, Welsh and Cornish immigrants in 1852.  It is bounded by the villages of Ben Lomond, Glencoe and Shannon Vale and the area celebrates this heritage with the annual Australian Celtic Festival.

The very glamorous sounding sapphire mining is still the areas main industry but there is also topaz, garnet and beryl.

 

To the north of the New England Tabelands is the little rural town of Tenterfield. With a population of 3,200, Tenterfield was the place where the famous Australian politician Sir Henry Parkes made his historic “one nation” speech.

Tenterfield is  715 km north-east of Sydney and 275 km south of Brisbane, it is a town of deciduous trees which are at their best in the autumn. It is located in a shallow valley some 882 metres above sea-level in the top northern sector of the New England Tablelands in an region of rocky mountains and pastoral vistas.

Other places of interest in the town and surrounding area are Sir Henry Parkes Memorial School of Arts, Centenary Museum and Art Gallery,Railway Museum, Boonoo State Forest and Woollool Woollool Aboriginal Place, Boonoo Boonoo National Park, Bald Rock National Park and Sundown National Park.

 

Tourist Information
Tenterfield & District Information Centre
157 Rouse Street
Tenterfield
New South Wales 2372
Telephone: (02) 6736 1082
Facsimile: (02) 6736 33

 

Inverell, with a population of around 10,000, is sometimes known as “Sapphire City” because the majority of the world’s sapphires are mined in the area. The Inverell Pioneer Village is a tourist theme town put together with buildings from all over the district which were originally built during the 1880’s mining boom.

To the south of  Inverell is the great Coperton Dam.

 

Tamworth is the Australian capital of country music, an association the town has worked hard to encourage and the Australasian Country Music Festival is held here each January.

With a population upwards of 40,000 and lying 390 meters above sea level, Tamworth is the commercial and administrative centre of the New England area.