New South Wales

New South Wales Accommodation and Travel Info

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New South Wales Destinations

New South Wales was the first European colony to be founded in Australia. Although the continent had previously been visited by Dutch, French and possibly Portuguese mariners in the 17th and 18th centuries, none of their countries had seen fit to found an outpost here. However, in 1770, that great British mariner and navigator Captain James Cook planted an English flag on this great southern continent and claimed it for Great Britain. The general population was experiencing hard times in Britain during that period and the number of poor folk had never been higher. The prisons were over flowing with debtors and petty thieves, who were trying to fend off starvation. Even the hulks of old timber ships that were far too unseaworthy to salvage were converted to prison hulks and moored on the banks of London's river Thames. The decision of the British government at that time was that a proportion of these offenders should be transported to the newly proclaimed Terra Australis and there a self supporting penal colony would be established. This would save large sums of money annually, in that the government would no longer have to provide for the prisoners. Duly, in 1788, the "First Fleet", as it was known, set sail for Australia with Governor Phillips, a few government officials and tradesmen, some livestock and seeds, a number of soldiers to keep order and the first batch of convicts, to establish this new outpost of the Empire. They landed at Botany Bay, which was earlier charted and named by Captain Cook. However, it was not an ideal position so, as soon as the massive harbour was discovered not far up the coast, it was decided that that was a more suitable position to establish the colony of New South Wales. At a rugged spot on the harbour shore (named after England's Lord Sydney) they disembarked and immediately erected the first rough shelters. This point became known as The Rocks and thus it has been called ever since.

Australia's oldest buildings can still be found at The Rocks - churches, hotels, warehouses, cottages - all have been carefully preserved to commemorate those hard times. Slowly and with a lot of hard work by the convicts and all those that came out on following ships over the years that were to follow, this settlement grew around and spread out from the harbour. Today, that lively and colourful city is home to over four million people and the State of New South Wales, no longer just a colony, has a population in excess of five million people. Sydney is the State capital and the site where the 2000AD Olympic Games will take place.

New South Wales has glorious mountain ranges, mineral wealth in the ground that has helped to make the State prosperous (silver, gold, opal etc), arid semi desert areas, Lakeland's, over 1,500 kilometres of glorious coastline with some of the world's finest beaches, one of the best harbours in the world, prosperous farmlands, growing beef, dairy produce, wheat, rice, sugar and cotton and a number of first class universities. There is much to attract visitors in New South Wales, including great observatories, a zoo at Dubbo where animals roam freely, wide rivers, secluded rainforests, superb fishing and skiing opportunities and all the historic townships, many of which were founded on the gold dug from the earth there.

SYDNEY
Sydney's harbour is a prime drawcard for this beautiful city and probably its most famous shore side buildings are the HARBOUR BRIDGE and the dramatically designed OPERA HOUSE. The central business district is on the south shore, so residents of the north shore catch ferries back and forth across the harbour daily to commute to work. They have the choice of small or large ferry boats, or the hydrofoil, which is the fastest but dearest. In the middle of the harbour is a small, fort like looking, island building, known as PINCHGUT, where recalcitrant convicts were marooned in chains, to quieten them down. So little food was supplied to them that they got a pinched feeling in their guts fairly quickly, marooned out there in the dark with just rats for company. There are always numerous boats in the harbour, other than the ferries, as Sydney is a city of boating enthusiasts and many people arrive here from overseas by boat. Most of the huge waterside mansions have their own jetties too.

Most visitors to Sydney love to take a HARBOUR CRUISE, or at least ride back and forth on one or more of the ferry boats. They love to tour the Opera House and may even climb to the top of the bridge these days, under supervision. The SYDNEY EXPLORER bus service runs every 15 minutes and visits over 20 places of interest. Many folk enjoy taking a day ticket and hopping on and off as often as they choose, with informative brochures in hand. The main embarkation point is CIRCULAR QUAY, which is the south side ferry terminal, near the CBD, but passengers can climb aboard and buy a ticket at any of the many famous stopping places.

The harbour side BOTANIC GARDENS have been established for over 200 years and have much to delight nature enthusiasts. Sydney has a reputation for a wide choice of restaurants, especially those around the harbour side, some of which, like DOYLES, specialise just in the freshest seafood's - and Sydney is famous for its superb oysters. It also boasts superlative shopping opportunities. Homebush is the suburb where the 2000 OLYMPIC GAMES are to be held and already accommodation in this area is almost booked out for the duration of that event, as also are many of the top, world class city hotels, with spectacular views over the harbour.

DARLING HARBOUR is a small tributary that comes off the harbour fairly close to the south side of the bridge and here there are numerous attractions, such as prime hotels, the CASINO, POWERHOUSE, the CHINESE GARDENS and a great two storey shopping mall. It is also a popular stop on the city MONORAIL, from which good views of the city and water ways can be obtained. TARONGA PARK ZOO and LUNA PARK on the harbour's edge are popular with families and visitors and the Prime Minister's Sydney home - KIRRIBILLI HOUSE - can also be seen from the water. Fox Movie Studios has recently open and is proving to be a popular attraction.

KINGS CROSS is a lively area that comes into its own after dark, with night clubs that are operational much of the night. It is also the heart of Sydney's Gay scene. Gracious MANLY, on the north side of the harbour, has an elegant CORSO, delightful cafes, an AQUARIUM, many grand old homes and a great surfing beach. VAUCLUSE HOUSE is an historic property - the former mansion of explorer William Charles Wentworth. It is furnished in period style and is open daily for inspection. PARRAMATTA is an historic suburb, upriver from the city itself and reachable by ferry. This was where the first farms of the fledgling colony and the Governor's mansion were successfully established. ELIZABETH FARM homestead and the GOVERNOR'S MANSION can still be seen there, along with the earliest churches, town hall and other National Trust listed buildings galore. (BRISLINGTON, for instance, built in 1821, is a fine two storey stone building that is now a MEDICAL & NURSING MUSEUM). However, today Parramatta is no longer farming territory, but a tight packed residential suburb, which holds a WISTERIA GARDEN FESTIVAL every September.

North of Sydney is the HAWKESBURY RIVER, beloved of Sydneysiders as a weekend and holiday leisure venue, either on their own or in a hired boat. The riverside properties that are to be seen along this waterway are now worth far more than the owners originally paid for them. Then there's the NEPEAN RIVER, which runs through PENRITH, an outer north western suburb and home of some of Sydney's best known sporting clubs, on the way to the magical BLUE MOUNTAINS.

The Blue Mountains are about a two and a half hour drive from Sydney, out through Parramatta or Penrith and on, westwards, into the Great Dividing Range. Here, grand escarpments form dramatic backdrops in every direction. It is a very popular holiday destination, whether for a weekend, a week or more. There are lovely old guesthouses and hotels galore, usually surrounded by English cottage gardens and renown for their gracious hospitality. The most famous of these mountain villages are LEURA, KATOOMBA and BLACKHEATH. Leura has a dreamy '30s feel about it, (as has the incredible, old world HYDRO MAJESTIC HOTEL at MEDLOW BATH). BLACKHEATH has fantastic lookouts from which GOSSE'S BLUFF and other local geological marvels can be seen. (JEMBY RINJA is a great place to stay here, with family log cabins spaced through the bush, with walls of glass, so you can sit and watch the parrots feeding in the bush outside your sitting room). Katoomba has the THREE SISTERS (three cliff pillars), the SKYTRAIN, a cable car that crosses back and forth between two peaks, the SCENIC RAILWAY with open sides that plunges straight down the hillside and an ORIENTATION CENTRE, with lots of brightly coloured parrots hanging around hoping for a feed. There's a little steam train that operates on the ZIG ZAG RAILWAY at weekends too, a guesthouse that has murder mystery weekends, very picturesque, historic valley villages, MEGALONG FARM for the kiddies, the FAIRFAX HERITAGE WALKING TRACK and more.

CAVES COUNTRY
The New South Wales limestone caves territory is not far from the popular Blue Mountain towns and is also on the eastern side of the Great Dividing Range. WELLINGTON is the main town from which people explore this area. The town has a BOTTLE HOUSE and GARDEN RAILWAY, a CLOCK MUSEUM, DONOVAN'S FARM for the kiddies and the CAVES COMPLEX. Two spectacular caves are open to the public daily and there is a CAVES HOLIDAY LODGE, where family accommodation is available for those who wish to stay overnight. Then there are spectacular JENOLAN CAVES, that are more extensive and have many walking trails and other geological wonders to explore above ground. JENOLAN CAVES RESORT (sometimes known as CAVES HOUSE) is a huge, rambling, historic property, where accommodation of all varieties can be booked. Budget rooms, family rooms, apartments etc are all available, depending on how much one wishes to pay. Guided tours and walks are available several times daily and there are many in-house social and educational activities available to the guests most of the times. It is operational all year round as is the information centre.

There is even a SIX FOOT WALKING TRACK to Katoomba for those who are experienced bushwalkers. There's also the McKEOWEN'S VALLEY TRAIL for the less experienced. The full trail is about two and a half kilometres and can be comfortably completed in around two hours. It leads from the Caves House past the Devil's Coach house and the Devil's Head into the valley. Peregrine falcons nest at Kurrajong Heights along this trail and brush tailed rock wallabies may also be seen. Then the koala yard is reached, where injured koalas are nursed back to good health. Continue up a steep access road to the lookout and the peephole. The trail then winds back to Caves House via Carlotta's Arch. Other popular limestone caves in New South Wales are located at WOMBEYAN, ABERCROMBIE and YARRANGOBILLY.

THE NEWELL HIGHWAY
The Newell Highway is an alternative route for people travelling from Victoria to Queensland. Commencing at TOCUMWAL on the MURRAY RIVER in the south, it runs steadily northwards and slightly eastwards to MOREE in the north of the State and over the Queensland border into Goondiwindi. It is a pleasant, scenic road to travel, with less hassles than the more direct route between capital cities. Travelling from south to north, the attractions are as follows:

For a start, TOCUMWAL has all the attractions of the Murray River - the boating, swimming, fishing, water skiing and 24 sandy river beaches. Then there's a 36 hole GOLF CLUB, Australia's largest GLIDING CENTRE, several caravan parks and a number of good motels. The MINIATURE TRAIN DISPLAY in the old Railway Store is also a delight for train buffs of all ages. FINLEY has a beautiful public park, a HISTORICAL MUSEUM & LOG CABIN for a tourist information centre, with complimentary tea and coffee; BROLEY EMUS and AUSSIE WOOL QUILTS, made locally. There are bowling and golf clubs, an RSL club, a lakeside caravan park and several motels. Finley was voted New South Wales' Tidiest Town in 1996.

JERILDERIE has a FISH & RICE FARM, 'THE WILLOWS' historic homestead, BILLABONG PRODUCTS, a lake and delightful parks and gardens. An enormous windmill, Steel Wings, stands in Luke Park beside Lake Jerilderie. Here you can also photograph the old TELEGRAPH OFFICE, held up by bushranger Ned Kelly in 1879. Several farms in the area welcome B&B guests. NARRANDERA is a small town classified by the National Trust. It's LAKE TALBOT is very popular with locals and visitors. Nearby is a koala regenerating complex and the Bundidgerry Walking Track. There's also CRAIGTOP DEER FARM, the INLAND FISHERIES STATION, PARKSIDE COTTAGE MUSEUM, the TIGER MOTH MEMORIAL and MY DOLLS.

WEST WYALONG calls itself the Crossroads of Eastern Australia. It's an old gold town, with a photographable POPPET HEAD. Then there's BECKETTS' PIONEER FARM, the ROVERS' DEN, an HISTORIC MUSEUM, ABORIGINAL ARTEFACTS and the Green Corridor walking track. There are a number of motels, several caravan parks and KYWONG COTTAGE B&B available for tourists.

FORBES is another old gold town and is steeped in history. There's LAKE FORBES, the STOCKYARD COMPLEX, art galleries, wineries, the LACHLAN VINTAGE VILLAGE (a recreated settlers' hamlet), a WILDLIFE SANCTUARY, an ALPACA STUD, the RAILWAY ARTS TOURIST CENTRE and plenty of accommodation available at all prices.

PARKES is an old gold town, but today is far more famous for its mighty RADIO TELESCOPE (23 kilometres north of town), the great dish of which you cannot miss. Then there's the HISTORICAL MUSEUM, the MOTOR MUSEUM, PIONEER PARK VINTAGE MACHINERY MUSEUM and a collection of over 500 antique and modern dolls on display at the PARKVIEW MOTEL. There is plenty of accommodation available in Parkes and half a dozen festivals and major events taking place annually, such as Bush Tucker Day, a Jazz Festival and a Country Music Spectacular.

DUBBO is justly famous for its open plan, WESTERN PLAINS ZOO, but it also has a MILITARY MUSEUM, all the popular sports facilities, OLD DUBBO GAOL, MACQUARIE RIVER CRUISES, DUNDULLIMALHOMESTEAD (1840), potteries, galleries, JEDDA BOOMERANGS, JINCHILLA GARDENS, conducted tours and the TRACKER RILEY CYCLEWAY. GILGANDRA has an OBSERVATORY, a couple of museums, a FLORA RESERVE, an ART GALLERY and several outlying farms offering B&B accommodation.

COONABARABRAN is the jumping off spot for the WARRUMBUNGLE RANGES. This is spectacular, mountain country, with a number of old volcanic peaks thrusting skywards. The SIDING SPRINGS OBSERVATORY is an absolute 'must' while in the vicinity. There are numerous half and full day tours of the area available, including those run by Aborigines to Aboriginal sites. Then there is CRYSTAL KINGDOM (a world class minerals display), PILLIGA POTTERY. SKYWATCH NIGHT & DAY OBSERVATORY (hands on telescope viewing) and all the bushwalking and mountain camping you could desire. There is plenty of accommodation of all types in the township.

NARRABRI, in cotton growing country, is the jumping off point for MT KAPUTAR NATIONAL PARK, with its dramatic peaks and unspoilt bushland. There mare a number of geological wonders to be seen here, including SAWN ROCKS. Again, this is old volcano country and it shows. The Australian TELESCOPE VISITORS CENTRE is worth visiting. LIGHTNING RIDGE, one of Australia's finest opal fields (especially for the treasured black opal) is easily reached from here, but be prepared, because it's a bit rough.

MOREE is also in the heart of the cotton growing district and is famous for its ARTESIAN SPA BATHS, which are supposed to be a sensational experience. The public parks are particularly spectacular in late spring, when the big old jacaranda trees are in full bloom. Other town attractions include the MOREE PLAINS GALLERY GALLERY OF ABORIGINAL ART, TRAWALLA PECAN NUT FARM and the BIG PLANE TAVERN. At the GWYDIR CARAPARK there are also artesian thermal pools.

THE RIVERINA
The Riverina area of New South Wales is the southern central part of the State, stretching from Balranald in the west to Tumut in the east and from Narrandera in the south to Hillston in the north. Much of it is rich pastoral territory, well irrigated by the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area scheme. It has good roads throughout the area and has a wide variety of attractions to lure tourists and travellers.

Those that enjoy bushwalking or a taste of adventure should aim for the high country around TUMUT, which looks at its most spectacular in autumn, when the FESTIVAL OF THE FALLING LEAF takes place. From here to KIANDRA mountain lakes form part of the giant SNOWY RIVER SCHEME. Blowering, Jounama and Talbingo lakes are a paradise for water sports lovers. Between Tumut and Talbingo you enter the MT KOSCIUSKO NATIONAL PARK, Australia's highest territory. Up here there are caves and thermal pools as well as the opportunity for white water rafting. MT SELWYN SKI FIELDS are very popular with serious skiers in winter months. CABRAMURRA is Australia's highest township.

JUNEE was first settled in 1845 and now has many elegant historic buildings, including the old railway station and MONTE CRISTO HOMESTEAD (1884). COOTAMUNDRA holds a WATTLE TIME FESTIVAL every August and ARDLETHAN is the home of the Australian kelpie dog, to whom a memorial has been erected in Stewart Park. In NARRANDERA they hold an annual JOHN O'BRIEN FESTIVAL to commemorate the bush balladeer This territory is also where many of our finest race horses are trained and bred.

From LEETON to GRIFFITH it's rice growing all the way. And out from Griffith there are eight wineries offering free tastings. Visitors are not allowed to bring any fruit or rice into this zone, for fear of contamination. Around Leeton too are four wineries that welcome visitors, as well as the SUNBURST CITRUS FACTORY and RIVERINA CHEERSE. FIVENOUGH SWAMP, out of town, is an extensive wetlands area beloved of bird watchers.

The Riverina has its outback side from BALRANALD to HATFIELD and BOOLIGAL. Stretching from the WILLANDRA LAKES area (long since dry and now desert territory), this has been catalogued a World Heritage area. The infamous HAY PLAINS have cattle stations in excess of 100,000 acres, as it takes numerous acres per head of cattle to feed them, not numerous head of cattle to the acre. There's the historic ONE TREE HOTEL, on the plains out of Hay, as well as several National Parks in the area. This is also known as the BLACK STUMP country (or the Back O' Beyond), where they fiercely cherish their old country ways.

WAGGA WAGGA is a major Riverina township. It is an important Air Force base and the home of KENDELL AIRLINES. A large country town, it has a plethora of excellent parks and gardens, including an open air TREE CHAPEL and the SHAKESPEARIAN GARDENS. Then there are the historic walks and a HISTORICAL MUSEUM, a BOTANIC GARDENS & ZOO, COLLEGE WINERY, AURORA CLYDESDALE STUD & PIONEER FARM, antique galleries and a variety of organised local tours available. Add the MURRAY COD HATCHERIES & FAUNA PARK, potteries, the military camp, the huge LIVESTOCK MARKETING CENTRE, sports clubs, a racecourse, their annual GUMI FESTIVAL and all the good accommodation that is available and you have an important rural centre here.

SOUTH COAST
The coastal area south of Sydney is divided into several regional areas - the Sapphire coast, Eurobodalla, Shoalhaven, the Southern Highlands and the Illawarra. Each of these regions has numerous tourist attractions and is popular with holidaymakers from near and far.

THE SAPPHIRE COAST
Unspoilt beaches, fantastic fishing and areas of pristine wilderness can be found aplenty in the area between EDEN in the south and BERMAGUI in the north of the Sapphire coast. Eden was a major tuna fishing port with an important cannery until its overseas owners decided to close it recently, which was a big loss for the people of this little township. The harbour is still used by commercial fishermen, but not to the extent it once was. Now there are more privately owned boats to be seen here. In the township is a KILLER WHALE MUSEUM, as a tribute to the area's earliest settlers. Whales are still seen regularly offshore in the breeding season. They have a tendency to bask off of tiny nearby BOYDTOWN, from where one can take a whale watching trip, to get to close quarters with these leviathans. Boydtown, on TWOFOLD BAY, was the site of Scotsman Ben Boyd's whaling enterprises in the 1840s. He was an entrepreneur who employed nine whalers and built his own 100 metre jetty and lighthouse. The distinctive lighthouse still stands, no longer in use and close by, on the water's edge, is his old SEA HORSE INN, which is a popular tourist attraction with restaurant today. WONBOYN LAKE, 30 miles south of Eden, is one of the State's best fishing grounds. The old DAVIDSON WHALING STATION on Twofold Bay is the last of the New South Wales' whaling sites.

There is a huge, Japanese owned WOOD CHIPPING MILL, where tours can be taken and, nearby, BEN BOYD NATIONAL PARK sweeps down to the ocean beach and is very popular with picnickers and bushwalkers. There are a number of caravan parks in and around Eden and at Wonboyn Lake. There are also plenty of motels, apartments and a backpackers' hostel.

MERIMBULA is one of the most popular towns on this stretch of coast, as it has superb beaches, lake cruising and fishing, a good shopping centre, plenty of accommodation at all prices and entertainment galore for all the family. There's MAGIC MOUNTAIN FAMILYRECREATION PARK, the AQUARIUM, the HISTORIC MUSEUM, YELLOW PINCHWILDLIFE PARK and MILLIGANDI LEISURE FARM. Eateries there are galore.

BEGA is about 40 minutes drive north of Merimbula. Here, the cheese factory, with its free tours and tastings, hosts many visitors annually. It is also renown for the GREVILLEA ESTATES WINERY and all the surrounding dairy farms. BIG GAME FISHING is available here. Then there's the OLD BEGA MUSEUM, if you've time to linger longer.

North of Bega is a lovely little unspoilt village - COBARGO - and nine kilometres away BERMAGUI and WALLAGA LAKE. Bermagui is synonymous with fishing - marlin, tuna and all the big ones. But, once caught, they are tagged and released. MONTAGUE ISLAND is nine kilometres off shore and this is great diving territory. Ocean fresh fish and fat prawns can be bought from the fishermen as they dock daily. Wallaga Lake is the largest body of water south of Sydney and is great for all water sports, as well as prawning. It is overlooked by Mount Dromedary. CAMEL ROCK is another famous local feature. Close by are beautiful State and national parks.

EUROBODALLA
This 110 kilometre stretch of the south coast has three main townships - Narooma, Moruya and Bateman's Bay and a number of smaller hamlets, some of which are of considerable historic interest. CENTRAL TILBA is one of those delightful villages, a couple of kilometres detour off the highway. It is a unique 19th century town, classified by the National Trust, nestling in the shadow of Mount Dromedary. There's an old pub, a 100 year old cheese factory (15 varieties and free tastings), old world tea rooms and more. Don't miss it. It is a stone's throw from its sister village, TILBA TILBA, where an Easter Festival is held annually. Tilba's WOODTURNINGGALLERY also has many fine pieces on display and for sale. TILBA LEATHER is also worth a peep. Then there's BROOKLANDS DEER FARM, where children can hand feed the animals too.

NAROOMA is tucked between surf beaches and scenic WAGONGA INLET. There are many sports facilities in this long established seaside resort and boat cruises are very popular. The beaches are magnificent, scuba diving is the order of the day with many and fishing is also one of the reasons people stay here.

MORUYA has the south coast's principal airport, with flights to Melbourne and Sydney daily. It was first settled in 1827 by an Irishman, Francis Flanagan, who began to farm there. In 1851 there was a gold strike in the area, which ensured the settlement prospered. The district has many beautiful buildings at least 150 years old. It is a serene spot, with cruises available up the DEUARIVER into the DEUA NATIONAL PARK. Boating, fishing, horse racing, bushwalking and arts and crafts are the main lifestyle here.

MOGO is a quaint little hamlet, dating back to the gold rush days. You can still pan for gold in MOGO GOLDFIELDS PARK, or visit SOMERSET FARM (MOGO ZOO), as well as all the little crafts galleries and antique shops. BATEMAN'S BAY is situated at the mouth of the CLYDE RIVER and it is flanked by many really fine beaches. There is a marina catering for craft of all sizes and every sporting facility you can think of. There are a number of caravan parks right on the beach and plenty of accommodation overlooking it. There's ocean and estuarine fishing and a trip to the offshore TOLLGATE ISLANDS usually pays big dividends for anglers. Charter a boat and go after the black marlin out at sea, if you wish. Closer inshore the oysters, scallops and prawns are delicious. There are many scenic forests drive out of this township and other local attractions include the BIRDLAND ANIMAL PARK & SHELL MUSEUM and the HISTORICAL SOCIETY MUSEUM. Bateman's Bay has accommodation of all types for all wallets.

SHOALHAVEN
The Shoalhaven Shire offers 160 kilometres of glorious coastline and some quite spectacular countryside. It stretches from Durras North in the south to Berry in the north. In southern Shoalhaven Shire MURRAMARANG NATIONAL PARK provided a beautiful backdrop to all the great beaches. The wildlife throughout here is particularly prolific. AT PEBBLY BEACH on very hot days the kangaroos often come down to the ocean for a swim! TABOURIE LAKE offers two excellent surf beaches, a waterside village, caravan parks and a museum. BURRILLLAKE is another top water sports paradise, with accommodation to suit all pockets.

ULLADULLAH offers a safe harbour with a breakwater and its major event is the BLESSING OF THE FLEET every Easter Sunday. MOLLYMOOK BEACH has a championship standard golf course and a nine hole course with magnificent ocean views. There are many detours off Highway 1 along this stretch, each leading to a pleasant seaside township and scores of beachside caravan parks.

BERRY (the Town of Trees) and KANGAROO VALLEY are a couple of hamlets worth visiting. The scenery is superb, the ambience old world and the sandstone HAMPDEN BRIDGE was built over a century ago and is much photographed. There are many crafts shops in Berry and a hotel known as 'the Friendly Inn'. On the first Sunday in every month, people come from far and wide to visit the BERRY COUNTRY FAIR.

SOUTHERN HIGHLANDS
As the name suggests, the southern highlands of this region have some spectacular country to lure Nature lovers of all ages. There's the FITZROY FALLS escarpment, GLOW WORM GLEN and SUTTON FOREST, to name but three of the myriad attractions. At BUNDANOON, a HIGHLAND GATHERING is held every April. MOSS VALE is an important town in the area. Its tree lined streets are the hub of this rural district. Galleries and antique traders abound here. Leighton Gardens is worth a visit and there's a good variety of accommodation available.

At BERRIMA there's the OLD GAOL and COURT HOUSE to view and plenty of restaurants if you are in need of a meal. MITTAGONG has many fine sandstone buildings dating back to the 1880s and the nearby WOMBEYAN CAVES are always a drawcard. BOWRAL is known for its fine gardens and for its annual TULIP TIME FESTIVAL, at the end of September. It is also known for its BRADMAN MUSEUM and thus attracts many cricket lovers. BURRAWANG has an 1860s general store and holds a FOLK MUSIC FESTIVAL over the Queen's Birthday weekend each year.

ILLAWARRA
The big industrial city of WOLLONGONG is the heart of the Illawarra region, but its major seaside resort is undoubtedly KIAMA. Here there are nine beaches, with the JAMBEROOMOUNTAIN escarpment forming a scenic backdrop. The area's natural features include the BLOWHOLE, CATHEDRAL ROCKS and the MINNAMURRA RAINFOREST. MERINDA LAKE CRUISES, WILD COUNTRY PARK, the AVON DAM and the ILLAWARRA LIGHT RAIL steam train rides are also great drawcards with holidaymakers.

Wollongong has all the facilities of a major city, as well as scenic lookouts over the ocean and the beach rock pools. There is a SCIENCE CENTRE at Fairy Meadow, hang gliding in STANWELL PARK and bushwalks and waterfalls galore in the surrounding national parks. There are also PARAGLIDING opportunities, a GO KART CENTRE, RIDING SCHOOLS and TRAIL RIDING, the SYMBIO KOALA GARDENS, several beautiful dams in the outlying areas and SKIRMISH ADVENTURES for paintball professionals.

BROKEN HILL & THE OUTBACK
In the far west of New South Wales, BROKEN HILL stands alone and isolated, although it can be reached by air, rail and good roads these days. It is a mining town, where mountains of minerals (mostly silver) have been extracted from below ground during the past century. It has a very distinct and proud personality of its own, having come into existence out 'back of beyond' and having had to create all its necessities in the Outback for itself. It has a very strong Union background and indeed the town was virtually run by the mining union during its boom days. There is still a strong union influence to be found in Broken Hill today. Many massive old buildings, not the least the grandiose Trades Hall, are a tribute to the hard lives of the miners and their families in times past.

There's so much to see and do in Broken Hill you'd better plan to stick around for a few days, but pre-book your accommodation if possible, because it can sometimes be difficult to find, although there is a wide range, from hotels to caravan parks, with bed and breakfasts and numerous motels in-between. There's a big VISITORS INFORMATION CENTRE in the middle of town and it should be your first port of call, near the dramatic black poppet head with giant ant sculpture. This centre also offers clean toilets and a good little cafe with friendly service, which is typical of the township. Take a slow walk around town and study some of these old buildings, including some mighty old pubs. They are quite impressive. There are many early miners' cottages also, which are still occupied. There are some good murals on some of the walls in town and a number of new historical enterprises to lure visitors, but do visit the FLYING DOCTOR SERVICEBASE and SCHOOL OF THE AIR. It's quite educational. As is DELPRAT'S TOURISTMINE underground tours and the RAILWAY, MINERAL TRAIN MUSEUM. You'll want to look through PRO HART'S GALLERY. He has two floors of astoundingly good work on display, only part of which is his own. JACK ABSALOM'S GALLERY is also nearby. The ANTHILL GALLERY is Broken Hill's municipal art cornucopia - Pro Hart being a native son of the Silver City and ants being his trademark. Their newest and most unusual art gallery though is sited out of town on a rugged hillside. It is a collection of huge abstract sculptures by world famous artists and is a favourite subject with photographers visiting 'The Hill'. It is known as the SCULPTURE GALLERY. SILVER CITY TOURS and numerous others do a good job with day and half day guided small parties. Out of town some 15 minutes drive is SILVERTON, a small old mining hamlet that would have faded into a ghost town long ago, if film makers hadn't discovered it a few decades ago. It became an integral part of such legendary films as "A Town Like Alice', "Priscilla, queen of the desert', 'Razon Back', 'Mad Max' and many more. A colourful geological formation out in the desert from Silverton is known as THE BREAKERS and it was in that isolated area that these films were shot. The little old pub in Silverton is a favourite watering hole with visitors and there are other buildings people like to photograph around the pub that have been used in the aforementioned films.

WHITE CLIFFS
Way out across the arid plains from BROKEN HILL is WHITE CLIFFS, a small and very isolated opal mining town, where the residents live underground and mine off their living quarters. There are several good underground motels and B&Bs and at least a night in one of these is a worthwhile and comfortable experience. The temperature out here in high summer can climb into the high 40s and even the 50sC. They have built ingeniously comfortable underground quarters and there is an interesting SOLAR ENERGY program of huge dishes to attract the sun and bring them electricity to light their homes and power their generators. Tours can be taken to White Cliffs from Broken Hill by air conditioned minicoach, either full day or overnight. They also include a tour of the small township, which has a basic caravan park for the cooler months alongside the small municipal swimming pool, though last time we were there the park and the pool were empty. Much opal is still found here and visitors may tour some of these mines if they wish to do so for a small fee.

Also out in the bush are the MENINDEE RANGES and the MENINDEE LAKES, with their strong Aboriginal connection, CULTURAL CENTRE and rock carvings. This is Outback country, remember, and if driving, one should always carry plenty of water, spares, petrol and preferably a mobile phone. Emus and kangaroos abound out here and care must always be taken to drive at a speed whereby you will not hit any of the wildlife. TIBOOBURRA is another tiny Outback town in the middle of harsh, rugged desert country. It has many fascinating old buildings, murals, the STURT NATIONAL PARK and, further out still, there's tiny MILPARINGA. A hundred and forty kilometres to the north west of Tibooburra is CAMERON'S CORNER, a bush camping stopover point on the way to Innamincka, for four wheel drive owners planning to head down the Strezlecki Track. This is the point where three States adjoin each other.

MURRAY RIVER TOWNS (west to east)
WENTWORTH: Captain Sturt not only left Sydney and, travelling west, surmounted the Blue Mountains by whale boat in the early 1800s, (searching for the great inland sea everyone thought must be there but wasn't), he also found the source of the Murray River and decided to follow it to its end. When he came down to its junction with another mighty river, which he named the Darling at about the half way mark he blazed a river gum in 1830. That tree with his blaze can still be seen today. By the 1840s, a township (named after the explorer William Wentworth who passed that way) had growing around this spot and it was at its busiest when the paddle steamers were in their heyday. It was an important port for southern New South Wales wool farmers, to ship their produce to Adelaide. It was so busy then, that the storekeepers owned their own steamers, to bring supplies up river from Adelaide or down river from Echuca. By the end of the century, the Customs House was processing up to 500 vessels a year.

Today there are a number of old buildings still standing in town, including ST JOHN'S CHURCH, the OLD GAOL, the historic WHARF and the 1870s COURT HOUSE. Additional attractions include the dry berthed paddle steamer RUBY in FOTHERBY PARK, the FOLK MUSEUM, the COD RIVER AQUARIUM, the CANOE TREE, plus river boat cruises and Lock 10 and its weir. Tours can be taken through the old gaol and its exhibits. Aboriginal culture tours and river cruises can also be enjoyed and there are houseboats for rental. The town has a mixed white and Aboriginal population and it is surrounded by prosperous vineyards and orange groves. A good spot to stay is COD RIVER CABINS on the Darling River. From these well equipped family cabins you can fish out of your back door. At nearby MERBEIN there's Kremor's MODELAIRCRAFT DISPLAY and there are also a number of popular licensed Services Clubs in town, some of which can get rather rowdy at night.

MOAMA is the sister town to Echuca in Victoria, just over the river bridge. People who stay in Moama always slip over the river to sample the attractions there. However, Moama has a wealth of highly popular, riverside caravan parks, some very big licensed sports clubs and the MOAMABRIDGE MINIATURE RAILWAY. The BOWLING CLUB is particularly spectacular inside. DENILIQUIN is 15-20 minutes drive north of Moama and is a lovely old country town, with a wealth of attractions of its own. The chief of these would be the excellent PEPPIN MERINOCENTRE & HERITAGE MUSEUM, in the old State school, alongside the tourist information centre and one of the nicest little restaurants you will ever eat in. The area grew around its prosperous merino wool industry and the old Peppin stud was responsible for developing a strain of merino sheep superior to that originally imported here from South Africa and Spain. It is still an important wool growing area and very conscious of the part it has played in making Australian wool so famous around the world. It is also an important rice growing centre and people come from Asia to inspect the huge mill here. 'Deni's ISLAND SANCTUARY in the EDWARDSRIVER in the middle of town is a wonderful place, where they have developed a natural, unspoilt flora and fauna reserve, beaches, walking tracks and picnic areas for everyone's enjoyment. You reach it by suspension bridge from close to the Town Hall. Water skiing and canoeing are popular on this tranquil river. The TOWN HALL and the COURT HOUSE are National Trust listed and worthy of note. Every Australia Day weekend in late January Deni holds a SUN FESTIVAL and every Easter they hold a JAZZ FESTIVAL FLOAT PARADE. The UNITING CHURCH contains some superb stained glass windows. The WARING GARDENS and the DENILIQUINFOREST are also worthy of some exploration.

TOCUMWAL is a Murray River town and is sited at the southern end of the Newell Highway. It is also on the railway system of both New South Wales and Victoria and is thus an important railhead for the farmers of the district. Here you will find the SPORTAVIA GLIDING SCHOOL run by a former world champion. There is an interesting quarry 11 kilometres north of town known at THE ROCKS, and here brightly coloured rock can be seen. This particular rock has been used for many important civic buildings, such as the Sydney Opera House. There is a fine GEM MINERAL GALLERY, the RIVERINA QUARTER HORSE STUD, which welcomes tourists and TUPPAL WOOLSHED out in the bush 20 kilometres west of town, which is the largest historic shearing shed in the southern hemisphere, although it is no longer operational. It is fascinating to walk through though. Over 200,000 sheep would be shorn at one time here, at the turn of the century, once mechanisation was introduced. Tuppal played a big part in the early development of the area. Today's tourists in Tocumwal usually come for the river sports though. BAROOGA is on the New South Wales side of the river across from Cobram and is famous for its big sporting clubs, whose poker (fruit) machines used to attract hundreds of thousands of Victorians over the border annually, until they were licensed in Victoria also. There's the BINGHIBOOMERANG FACTORY in Barooga and the DAVEILE ANTIQUE LAMP GALLERY, which is a most fascinating place to visit.

MULWALA lies to the north of the river opposite its twin town - Victoria's Yarrawonga - and it has a number of tourist attractions of its own to offer, including an excellent PIONEER MUSEUM (see Australia's first aircraft, a very early washing machines, the first mechanical harvesters and much more). Then there's TUNZAFUN, LINLEY PARK ANIMAL FARM and a GIANT WATER SLIDE to keep the kids happy for hours. LAKE MULWALA is the main drawcard and the WATER SKIING CLUB has 14 world and national champions among its members. Its GOLF CLUB is also reputed to be the biggest in the southern hemisphere with two 18 hole and a 9 hole course, plus first class accommodation, restaurants, live entertainment, competitions and more. There's boat hire, boat cruises, canoeing and all the water sports available to holidaymakers here. There are a number of highly popular caravan parks, resorts and time share apartments bordering the lake, with their own jetties. Fishing for Murray cod is a popular pastime and most people like to photograph the historic bridge and weir gates.

ALBURY is a major city on the Murray, conveniently sited half way between Melbourne and Sydney on the busy Hume Highway. As such, it has plenty to offer tourists - first class accommodation at all prices, a huge shopping centre, riverside parks and gardens, an airport, INDOOR GO KARTS, JOY FLIGHTS, RIVER CRUISES, the BOTANIC GARDENS, DAY TOURS, a HISTORIC BUILDINGS WALK, vast LAKE HUME, with all its water sports facilities and surrounding resorts and accommodation; together with a TROUT FARM, where you can see them at different stages of their development, catch your own, or buy some freshly caught. Then there's HARVEY'S FISH FARM, which is quite different again, plus the REGIONAL ARTS CENTRE, the crazyETTAMOGA PUB11 kilometres up the highway and eateries of every kind to suit every budget.

CENTRAL COAST
Heading north up the Pacific Highway from Sydney towards Queensland, with the appropriate detours beach wards, as applicable, this area is rich with natural and manmade attractions. The entire coast is popular with holiday makers of all ages and tastes, because of the great climate, relaxed lifestyle, excellent amenities, superb fishing and boating opportunities and for its myriad scenic splendours. It is also the most popular region for retirees to settle for their remaining years of carefree, active life. GOSFORD, at the head of BRISBANE WATER, is reachable in an hour by fast train service from Sydney and that has increased the number of holidaymakers who choose to stay there these days. The old sandstone COURTHOUSE and GAOL were built in 1848. Poet HENRY KENDALL'S COTTAGE can also be visited. In and around town are scenic lookouts over the Brisbane Water.

The TUGGERAH LAKES are a very popular spot with holiday makers and comprise LAKES TUGGERAH, BUDGEWOI and MUNMORAH, all of which offer great water sports and accommodation at all prices, in the caravan parks, motels and apartments that can be found on the lakes' shores. THE ENTRANCE (to the lakes system) township is just as popular and also has ocean frontage. Nearby little Toowoon Bay is also a popular spot. These lakes are surrounded by beautiful forests that make wonderful full and half day exploratory drives. On the lakes there are all the water sports, prawning, boat cruises and more.

NEWCASTLE AREA
Although NEWCASTLE is an industrial city, it has much to offer holiday makers within the city, as well as throughout the surrounding areas. To its south is the vast and beautiful LAKE MACQUARIE (four times the size of Sydney Harbour), with 150 kilometres of foreshore and access to the ocean at SWANSEA. There are pretty and secluded bays and inlets galore and plenty of friendly little townships with jetties and a wide range of accommodation to be found around its shores, which include 15 kilometres of clean beaches. Houseboats and boat hire are also available in many of the lakeside townships. The city of Lake Macquarie is 140 kilometres north of Sydney via the F3 Expressway. The WATAGAN STATE FOREST comes right down to the lake and the wineries of the Hunter Valley are only half an hour distant. Nearby attractions include many sports clubs, art and antique galleries, museums, forest walks, local bus tours and DOBELL HOUSE, the home of the famous artist, in WANGI WANGI.

Newcastle is an historic city, founded in 1804 as a penal settlement, when coal mining commenced there. It has many early buildings in a state of excellent preservation. It also has a respected ART GALLERY, a CIVIC THEATRE, mighty CHRIST CHURCH CATHEDRAL, plus great shopping and medical facilities. It has a flourishing CONSERVATORIUM OF MUSIC and some really great beaches on the outskirts of town. Tourists can find much of interest here, while ignoring the less attractive industrial section.

The two most popular areas with the residents of Newcastle and its surroundings are the HUNTER VALLEY and PORT STEPHENS. The Hunter Valley incorporates such delightful townships as RAYMOND TERRACE, MAITLAND, DUNGOG, SINGLETON, CESSNOCK, CLARENCETOWN (once a major inland port), MERRIWA and WOLLOMBI. The river is popular for water sports and the flanking hillsides are smothered in vineyards, from which the superb Hunter Valley wines are produced. The wineries all welcome visitors and many have award winning restaurants and accommodation to please even the most discerning guests. Most of these small towns have a number of historic buildings (many of which are National Trust listed) and connections with such old industries as timber, gold mining and crop growing.

TAREE in the MANNING VALLEY was settled by white men in 1831, as there was plenty of cedar about in this district Coastal shipping also formed an important part in the town's development. Today, at low tide on the banks of the Manning River, piles of Sydney sandstone can be seen. It was the ballast from the days when sailing ships ran empty into this busy port. At CROKI, much of the character of an old river port has been retained and at WINGHAM the old wharf is still standing. There is a MANNING RIVER AQUATIC FESTIVAL held in Taree in January each year. They claim it is known as the 'Bathurst of speedboat racing'. Taree is sited 330 kilometres north of Sydney and has potteries, art galleries, museums, WOODWORM TOYMAKERS, LAVENDER GARDENS, BIMBIMBI BIRDLIFE, KRAMBACH WILDFLOWER GARDENS BLUEBERRY FARM, a GRASS SKI PARK, an AERO CLUB and nearby TIMBERTOWN, (a recreated 19th century timber settlement, with much lively activity going on throughout the day).

NORTH COAST
PORT MACQUARIE is the result of the State surveyor general, John Oxley, finding the mouth of the Hastings River and deciding a port should be built there. He named both in 1818. A penal settlement was established three years later. ST THOMAS' CHURCH, the COURT HOUSE, the cemetery and the museums preserve the history of those harsh times. Settlers found they could easily grow tropical crops in the pleasant climate and some of Australia's firsts grapes were harvested here. Today it is quite a large town, very popular with residents and holidaymakers, as it has so many attractions beyond the great beaches and surrounding State parks and forests. These include NEVER NEVER RAINFOREST SAFARIS, SKIPPER A CLIPPER BOAT HIRE, EVERGLADES TOURS and other tour operators of note. Accommodation there is aplenty, at the widest range of prices.

KEMPSEY is the second oldest town on this stretch of coast and has some great old buildings. This extremely fertile valley is perfect dairying country, although it was formerly covered in fine cedar trees. The remaining forests are of Blackbutt, brush box, turpentine and some pockets of red cedar. It is a noteworthy area for forest drives, bird watching and bush walking. Close by is TRIAL BAY, out of SOUTH WEST ROCKS, where the roofless remains of the old convict prison, its cells and flagellation equipment can still be viewed on the headland. During World War 2 it was reopened for several years to house 500 German prisoners of war.

VALLA BEACH is off the main highway, a few kilometres to the east on the Oceanside. Here is an excellent holiday spot known as VALLA PARK BEACH RESORT. It has accommodation at all prices, caravan and camping sites and all the resort facilities anyone could want. It has won numerous awards. The address is PO Box 84 Nambucca Heads 2448.

NAMBUCCA HEADS is a very pleasant spot, where the Nambucca River meets the ocean. Here again it is quiet and peaceful, with a laidback atmosphere and all the facilities for water and other sports that holidaymakers could require. This is Hibiscusland, they claim. Nearby is DORRIGO STATE PARK, a particularly scenic place.

COFFS HARBOUR is a major north coast holiday resort with its own busy airport. You are now in Australia's largest banana growing territory. It has a long strip of beachside caravan parks and a number of ocean facing, more upmarket resorts, as well as hundreds of apartments and motels rooms available in the busy township. Tourist attractions include a terrific shopping centre, the fishing wharves, THE BIG BANANA, the BOTANIC GARDENS & MANGROVE BOARDWALK, the OPAL CENTRE, the CLOG BARN, a ZOO, the AQUARIUM & PORPOISE POOL, KUMBAINGERIE ANIMAL SANCTUARY, RAINFOREST TOURS, ORARA CARRIAGES (offering horse drawn carriage rides through the bush), MERINO MAC'S AGRADOME (sheep shearing and more), whale watching, white water rafting, scuba diving, the JETTY MARKETS, art and crafts galleries galore, parasailing, THUNDERDOME go karts, RALEIGH WINERY, VALLEY TRAILS horse trekking and still more. Twenty minutes or so's drive north of Coffs Harbour and you'll be in the small township of WOOLGOOLGA, with its Sikh population. Visitors are welcome to inspect the SIKH TEMPLE, if they show it due respect. There are also other buildings around town that will immediately suggest the Indian influence.

GRAFTON is a quiet township much of the year, but when its avenues of huge jacaranda trees come into full bloom, people come from hundreds of miles to see this brilliant spectacle and to take part in the JACARANDA FESTIVAL (usually in early November).

CASINO, LISMORE and BALLINA are the main towns in the sugar cane growing area (or Summerland, as the locals call it) and here you should watch out for cane trains and sugar refineries. The cane is harvested from mid October on through to mid November, depending on when it was sown and its position. They still set light to the cane fields and you can smell it from quite a distance. At night it is quite spectacular, especially if flying into Casino by air. Ballina (first settled in 1840 as a timber cutting centre) is also a popular seaside township, with some very fine beaches and plenty of pelicans to be seen. There are some marvellous forest drives to be taken from here, to places like MINYON FALLS, for instance. About 10 kilometres east of the main highway, BYRON BAY is a controversial spot, where long time residents jealously guard their green environment and fight new developers every inch of the way. It is a magnet for backpackers, hippies, caravanners and campers and those who are curious to see some of the hinterland homes built by a few of our show business multi millionaires. There is a CLUB MED to be found here. The beaches, fishing and surfing are magnificent. It is the most easterly point in Australia and has a brilliant white lighthouse up on the headland, from where there are some excellent views to se enjoyed. It is an arts and crafty little township and has accommodation available at all prices, but locals do not welcome people with no visible means of support. All the farmers from the hinterland come down into Byron Bay regularly to meet with each other in the restaurants and they are a fairly close group of people.

Further north again are BRUNSWICK HEADS, POTTSVILLE, BOGANGAR and KINGSCLIFF, all small seaside resorts, popular with familles who prefer a quieter, less controversial atmosphere.

MURWILLUMBAH

MURWILLUMBAH is a lovely little railhead township in the far north of the State, nestling at the foot of MT WARNING and the NIGHTCAP RANGE. It is spectacular country, with pretty valleys and many of the folk living quietly in the bush out from here are artists and crafts persons. There is an excellent VISITORS INFORMATION CENTRE between the highway and the riverbank in town, where one can picnic under the shady trees. There are many drives from here up into mountain and rainforest territory and the wide stretches of the TWEED RIVER offer marvellous boating and fishing opportunities. This is still sugar growing country, such as the CONDONG MILL, but just about the top end of it. CRYSTAL CREEK RAINFOREST RETREAT is one of the finest places to stay in this area. Not far away are PIONEER PLANTATION and AVOCADOLAND, as this is tropical fruit growing country. Further towards the beach are the TERRANORA LAKES and all their attractions and licensed sports clubs. TWEED HEADS township is immediately south of the Queensland border and has every amenity any holidaymaker could want or need, including scores of shops, supermarkets, a post office, medical centres and accommodation right across the board. Bestriding the TWEED RIVER, it also offers great boating and cruising opportunities, as well as some fine swimming beaches. There is a FISHERMEN'S CO-OP too, where you can purchase fresh fish, frozen or ready cooked.

NORFOLK & LORD HOWE - THE OFFSHORE ISLANDS

There are a couple of major islands well offshore, which are popular with holiday makers and they are LORD HOWE ISLAND and NORFOLK ISLAND, both of which can be reached by air or sea. Most choose to fly there from Sydney or other New South Wales coastal towns though. Lord Howe is a crescent shaped island, 700 kilometres offshore. It is just 12 kilometres long and along its eastern shore is a lagoon, protected by the world's most southern coral reef, which is quite spectacular. The island vegetation is dense and subtropical and there are over 200 noted plant species. It is an old volcanic island and the only cleared land is 120 hectares of rich loam. It was discovered, uninhabited in 1788 and became a provisioning stop for passing ships. Today, the 200 inhabitants rely on the tourist industry for their income.

Captain Cook came upon Norfolk Island in 1774. It is 1,600 kilometres east of Sydney. It was later founded as a penal settlement and the old gaol buildings (1836-1855) can still be viewed. It was a very harsh place of incarceration and a number of prisoners died there. When Captain Bligh's (of The Bounty) descendants found their island in the Pitcairns could no longer support them, they came to Norfolk Island and their descendants can still be found living there and speaking their own particular dialect. The island is just eight miles long by five miles wide. It was original covered with rainforest, but that has long since been cleared, with the exception of a few of the famous Norfolk pine trees. These trees were considered quite valuable as masts in the days of the great sailing ships. Kingston is its township and the place where passengers land by air or sea. It is also the home of renown author COLLEEN McCULLOCH. The CASTAWAY HOTEL on Taylor's Road is a good spot to stay in comfort.

Australian State Information