Discover NSW at your own pace on the Legendary Pacific Coast Drive. You’ll see spectacular scenery along the way, from rolling green hinterland, dotted with macadamia farms and banana plantations, to rugged national parks and great surf beaches.
The Central Coast and Port Stephens regions are known for wonderful beaches and beautiful sheltered bays, perfect for families as well as swimming, snorkelling and kayaking. The ocean beaches here are sublime and great for surfing and beach walks.
The breathtaking Katoomba area lies at the heart of the Blue Mountain's natural wonders. This area is also an ideal base for experiencing the region’s adventure activities. Stop at Katoomba for Scenic World’s railway, cable car, skyway and walkway for views of the famous Three Sisters rock formation.
The Grand Pacific Drive is one of Australia's most spectacular driving routes. Starting from The Royal National Park south of Sydney, this route takes you through rainforests and seaside villages as you follow the exquisite coastline.
From Wollongong to the Sapphire Coast you will find stunning beaches, spectacular wilderness, exhilarating bushwalks, delicious oysters, tasty cheeses, and charming towns and villages.
Drive south of Kiama alongside golden beaches and through rolling hills to Shoalhaven Heads.
Spend the afternoon in Jervis Bay swimming, surfing, beach fishing or simply lazing on the area’s pristine sands, or travel to the nearby town of Berry for a spot of boutique shopping.
From rolling vineyards to delicious festivals, magical Murrumbateman in the beautiful Yass Valley of southwest NSW is the capital of the acclaimed Canberra District wine region. You can enjoy tasting elegant wines at a fine range of cellar doors as well as finding gourmet food shops, fascinating heritage attractions, enjoyable tours, and natural wonders.
The Long Paddock road trip follows the historic Cobb stock route, from fascinating Echuca –Moama on the mighty Murray River to iconic Outback towns. The drive features public artworks and information boards along the way, bringing the history and heritage of this unforgettable drive to life.
Fossickers Way is a great touring route that explores the history and flavour of the beautiful New England region. Nicknamed gemstone country after the abundant sapphires and gems discovered here, you’ll discover gorgeous landscapes, historic country towns, delicious local produce and awesome events such as Tamworth’s world-famous annual country music festival and the Minerama Fossicking, Gem and Jewellery Show in Glen Innes Highlands.
NSW Food and Wine Trail is an itinerary that delivers gourmet creations, fresh local produce and beautiful natural attractions. Discover wonderful wineries, thriving orchards and delicious farm tours at your leisure, as you tour the heritage towns and villages on this wonderful route.
Day 3
Day 1
The drive from Tamworth to Inverell takes you through spectacular gemstone country. Barraba is an easy 70 minute drive north from Tamworth. A birdwatching paradise, Barraba is a charming town in the beautiful New England region of NSW and a popular base for outdoor adventure. On the banks of Manilla River, Barraba is near spectacular Mount Kaputar National Park and Split Rock Dam, a pretty spot for swimming, fishing and boating.
With more than 190 bird species including the rare Regent honeyeater, Barraba is popular with birdwatchers following bird routes along - old droving trails that are signposted. You can pick up birdwatching brochures from the Tamworth Visitor Information Centre on your way to Barraba.
Try your luck sapphire fossicking around riverside Inverell, nicknamed Sapphire City. This is gemstone country in the beautiful New England region. The discovery of sapphires dates backs to 1854 and Kings Plains is where one of the world’s richest gem-quality sapphire deposits was mined.
You can fossick for sapphires and other gems and quartz crystals in various locations, including Billabong Blue Sapphire Fossicking Park and Seven Oaks Sapphire Fossicking, next to pretty Frazer Creek. Many fossicking sites allow camping and you can enjoy bushwalking and birdwatching too.
Inverell Pioneer Village is a collection of historical buildings dating from 1841. Pick up brochures and maps from the Inverell Visitor Information Centre and explore the district. Visit the captivating Inverell Art Gallery, where you can browse and purchase a diverse range of works on display in two heritage buildings, including the old 1877 School of Arts.
There are exhilarating walking tracks in the Goonoowigall State Conservation Area, home to hundreds of wildlife species.
Day 2
From World Heritage wilderness to gem fossicking, fascinating heritage, and wonderful festivals, Glen Innes is a captivating town only 69km from Inverell. In the beautiful New England high country of NSW, this charming rural town is dotted with more than 30 heritage-listed buildings - the main street is a picture-postcard.
Known as the Glen Innes Highlands because of the early European settlers and verdant countryside reminiscent of the Scottish highlands, Glen Innes built the intriguing Australian Standing Stones as a tribute to its pioneers. The annual Australian Celtic Festival in May is a highlight of the wonderful events calendar.
You’ll discover more gems at the Minerama Fossicking, Gem and Jewellery Show in March, the largest of its kind in NSW. Other marvellous things to do include visiting the Land of Beardies History House Museum and taking a Country Art Escapes cultural tour.
Make sure you refresh with a stop at the Super Strawberry Farm, where you can enjoy delicious ice cream, milkshakes, jam and cake – all made from plump strawberries growing in an adjacent field.
The picturesque Emmaville is 56km from Glen Innes. Visit the famous Emmaville Mining Museum and browse the collection of mining artefacts and photographs that date back to 1893. Emmaville is also famous for its annual sheep races, held in March.
This splendid part of the New England region is home to many natural wonders, including national parks in the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage Area.
You’ll find plenty of places to stay in the Glen Innes area, from campgrounds and caravan parks to cottages, classic pubs and comfortable motels.
Day 3
Follow the New England Highway through Guyra, Armidale and Uralla. Uralla is home to boutique wineries, enticing cafes and pubs, vineyard restaurants and an artisan brewery and distillery. If you have time to explore a road less travelled, take the popular Thunderbolts Way, named after the bushranger, by travelling from Glen Innes to Inverell and then to Armidale.
The greater Armidale Area also offers World Heritage national parks, Australia’s second-highest waterfall, and cool-climate wineries. You can join Armidale Heritage Tours, in the township of Armidale, and discover grand cathedrals and colonial buildings. You’ll be delighted with the many things to do and see including the wonderful New England Regional Art Museum. It contains the important Howard Hinton and Chandler Coventry collections and works by famous artists Arthur Streeton, Tom Roberts and James Gleeson, to name just a few.
You can admire indigenous art at the Aboriginal Cultural Centre and Keeping Place. A short drive southwest of Armidale is Saumarez Homestead, a National Trust-listed 30-room Edwardian mansion built between 1888 and 1906. There are guided tours of this fascinating home.
Armidale enjoys a vibrant events calendar of festivals, exhibitions and the bi-monthly Armidale Farmers Market. You’ll find quality restaurants and cafes, and hip bars and classic pubs such as the Welders Dog and the Wicklow Hotel.
From gold and sapphire fossicking hip bars and art galleries to one of Australia’s last operating spinning mills, historic Nundle sits on the banks of the Peel River, and is home to colonial heritage, lovely shops, and fishing at the Arc-en-Ciel Trout Farm and Chaffey Dam.
Pop into the Nundle Visitor Information Centre for brochures and tips on the wonderful things to do and see in this lovely area. The fantastic Gil Bennet collection of rare minerals and sparkling crystals is in the centre. You can explore the colonial gold rush at the Mount Misery Gold Mine Museum and Cafe.
Gold fever struck the district in the 1850s. Many joined the gold rush, including Chinese migrants. Today, the annual Nundle Go for Gold Chinese Easter Festival celebrates their contribution to Nundle’s heritage. Check out too the other marvellous festivals and shows in the Nundle events calendar.
You can savour delicious regional produce at the Nundle Country Picnic in March in the pretty grounds of the Nundle Woollen Mill, which spins fine merino wool. You can buy colourful knits and woollen socks at the mill’s shop. You’ll find more enticing shopping at Odgers and McClelland in a beautifully preserved 19th century village store.
Places to stay include a riverside tourist park, cottages, a sheep station, motel and the 1860-built Peel Inn, a pub with a great beer garden.
Day 4
Tamworth is just under an hour from Nundle. From the world-famous Tamworth Country Music Festival in January to meeting friendly native animals, enjoying rodeo thrills and tasting delicious regional produce, Tamworth is an enticing destination at any time of the year.
Check out the country music memorabilia at the Big Golden Guitar Tourist Centre. The rich cultural scene extends to the Tamworth Regional Gallery. You can visit historic towns on scenic drives in the pretty countryside and enjoy bushwalking, fishing, horseriding and paragliding in the great outdoors.
The iconic Tamworth Country Music Festival is in January and attracts star performers from around the world and tens of thousands of fans to vibrant Tamworth, the heart of the region. The largest music festival in the southern hemisphere, this events has attracted over 700 artists featured in 2,800 scheduled events across 120 venues.
The kids will be thrilled getting up close to kangaroos, wallabies and other friendly animals at the Tamworth Marsupial Park and Adventure Playground. Another fun spot for the kids is the Tamworth Regional Playground, where there are flying foxes, a skywalk, a bike track and a cooling splash pad.
With green pastures and fertile soils, the Tamworth region grows bountiful produce. Treat yourself to delectable experiences, including a fine range of restaurants. The annual 10-day Taste Tamworth Festival in April celebrates the region’s fresh produce, cool-climate wines and other delights.
You can explore more historic towns such as Werris Creek, Gunnedah and Uralla on scenic drives in the undulating countryside.