Wild water leaps over giant chasms and into deep ravines, yet you have only to step from your car to witness such splendour.
How often can you visit World Heritage listed national parks so easily? Flanked in the east by these vast bush tracts, Armidale is also surrounded by nature reserves (the highest national park ranking) that protect irreplaceable natural treasures.
It doesn't matter if you're young or old, fit or not, these national parks and nature reserves offer a wealth of activities and sights to inspire the most dedicated couch potato. Giant granite tors lie like spectacular sculptures commissioned by nature; slow, meandering rivers like the Macleay provide peaceful canoeing; and wilder rivers test the skills of the more adventurous paddlers.
Many threatened species of flora and fauna live here and birdwatching, animal spotting and photography are rewarding pursuits.
Mount Yarrowyck Nature Reserve, west of Armidale, holds a special place in Aboriginal culture. Located within the traditional lands of the Anaiwan people, the reserve protects what is thought to be the most significant example of Aboriginal art in New England. The mountain itself stands sentinel as you trace its base to the rock paintings, secreted by Anaiwan artists on a ledge beneath a massive granite boulder. It's a special privilege to see this artwork and it's with the
co-operation and approval of the Armidale Aboriginal community that this site is open to public visitation. The walk to the site is an easy three kilometre round trip. It winds past some impressive features, like giant granite platforms, cleared by centuries of torrential rainfall.
Near Point Lookout in New England National Park a trail descends into a forest of gigantic Antarctic beech trees. These moss-covered giants cling to the steep slopes with trunks and roots resembling monstrous elephant feet, complete with toes. It’s a short and steep walk, but well worth the effort. And don't miss Cathedral Rock National Park, an extraordinary place where ancient granite tors dominate the landscape.
A tour through time...
Originally the Anaiwan were the predominant Aboriginal people in the area around Armidale but many other tribal groups also occupied different parts of the region. You can experience a rare link with their past at Mt Yarrowyck rock art site west of Armidale. The Aboriginal Museum and Cultural Centre at Walcha has a unique display of artefacts that tell some of the story of indigenous people.
The explorer, John Oxley, is recorded as New England's first white visitor. He recommended the tablelands for grazing and, in the 1830s, squatters made claims at locations like Saumarez and Gostwyck. The influence of early pioneer, Henry Dangar, who bought Gostwyck in 1834, can be felt in nearby locations like Dangars Gorge, Dangars Creek and Dangars Lagoon. Gostwyck Chapel, built in memory of a later Dangar who lost his life in World War 1, is within an avenue of stately elms that tower over and frame the road to Gostwyck Station. East of the chapel, Deeargee Woolshed dominates the horizon. Built around 1872, it's a most unusual design, having a terraced roofline and an octagonal shearing stand at the northern end.
First settled by Europeans in 1839, Armidale was named after the Scottish ancestral home of George James MacDonald who was the Commissioner of Crown Lands at the time. Before long the land was cleared and the first pastoral stations established. In the 1850s gold was discovered and so began the heady days of gold-rush fever, with the towns of Rocky River and Hillgrove growing up overnight. One of the first hydro-electric schemes in Australia was built to light the booming gold town of Hillgrove and today, remains of that venture can still be seen at Gara Gorge. McCrossin's Mill Museum at Uralla explains the miners' history and culture and displays relics of their workings. Walcha's Pioneer Cottage and Historical Museum takes you back in time and houses everything from small glass bottles to farm machinery.
National Trust listed "Saumarez Homestead", built for early pastoralist FJ White, is a significant example of early Victorian/Edwardian architecture. Located just south of Armidale, the house with its original furnishings, English-style gardens and extensive farm buildings, is open daily from September until June. Conducted tours of the house interior are available daily at 10.30am and 2pm Monday to Friday and also at 3pm and 4pm on weekends and public holidays.
Adventure in this region is only limited to your imagination.
Imagine yourself on a horse trek, exploring the gorge country on a canny, sure-footed mountain horse. Camp overnight, enjoy a hearty dinner and share bush tales around the fire. Closer to civilization you can ride along marked trails. And if you're a novice rider, there are people who'll teach you the fundamentals of riding.
For the ultimate adrenalin rush, when the rains come, go white-water rafting down wild mountain rivers. Or test your endurance by paddling a canoe the length of the Macleay River. There are challenging walks for experienced bushwalkers, through remote national park areas. Abseilers and rock climbers can defy gravity by scaling the region's sheer cliffs and mighty chasms. And four-wheel drivers can test their driving skills in real high country, remote or as close as you like.
Wouldn't you love to cast a perfect fly-line, catch a wily trout and then release him back to nature, wiser and more cunning and more able to match the next clever fisherman? It doesn't matter if you've never fished before, or you have no gear. There are fantastic fishing guides in the area who'll teach you to cast and catch, and who know the best fishing spots.
Does gold fever run in your veins? Hire a pan from Uralla Visitor Centre and head for the fossicking area nearby. It's set on a beaut stretch of creek with unlimited sands to wash the rubble and a lovely picnic area. Keep an eye out for gemstones as well.
Armidale is the gateway to the spectacular scenery along the Waterfall Way, the scenic touring route that links the high country of New England with the coast just south of Coffs Harbour. Discover the wild and rugged beauty of New England's World Heritage listed national parks and the dramatic gorge country. Experience the wonders of the Australian bush on a guided interpretive tour with one of the local tour operators who know the gorge country well.
Gone Fishing
To the east near Ebor, you can fish for that elusive rainbow or brown trout or visit the trout hatchery. Fishing guides organise tours into the remote gorge country (including heli-fishing), or you can canoe through Oxley Wild Rivers National Park to favourite cod holes (catch and release, of course!). These guides have a wealth of experience and will share their favourite fly fishing spots and organise your accommodation in remote wilderness lodges. The streams and river systems in the gorge country of Oxley Wild Rivers National Park provide a safe refuge for fish and have some of the best bass habitat in the country. It is well known for producing numbers of robust fish up to 2.5 kilograms.
Getting to the Area
Armidale, Walcha and Uralla are located on the Northern Tablelands of New South Wales and are well serviced by public transport via road, rail and air. Armidale is Australia’s highest city at 980 metres.
By car: From Sydney, Armidale is 567kms or 6.5 hours drive via the New England Highway. Via Thunderbolts Way, Armidale is 484kms or 5.5 hours drive from Sydney. From Brisbane it is 467kms or 4.5 hours drive. From Port Macquarie it is 256kms via the Oxley Highway or 3.5 hours drive. From the East Coast and Coffs Harbour it is 191kms or 2.5 hours along the scenic touring route known as The Waterfall Way. Walcha and Uralla are approximately 1 hours drive and 20 minutes drive respectively from Armidale.
By coach: McCafferty's/Greyhound Coaches operate daily services to Armidale and Uralla from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. Phone: 13 14 99. Keans Coaches operates a service from Scone, Port Macquarie and Coffs Harbour to Armidale, Walcha and Uralla three times a week. Phone: 1800 043 339.
By air: Qantaslink operates daily services from Sydney to Armidale. MacAir and Qantaslink operate daily services from Brisbane to Armidale. Phone: 13 13 13.
By rail: Countrylink operates a daily rail service to and from Sydney via Walcha Road and Uralla to Armidale. Departing Sydney at 9.35am, the XPLORER arrives into Armidale at 5.49pm. The return service departs Armidale at 9am, arriving into Sydney at 5pm. A connecting road coach operates to and from all locations between Armidale and Tenterfield. Phone: 13 22 32.
Climate: The New England region enjoys four distinct seasons - a warm summer, mild autumn, cold winter and a pleasant spring. Daytime temperatures range from 15 to 28 degrees (Celcius) in the warmer months and from 10 to 16 degrees (Celcius) in the cooler months. Rainfall is highest in summer and averages 800mm annually.
Population: Armidale Dumaresq Shire: 25,000; Walcha Shire: 3,115; Uralla Shire: 5,870.
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