New England is a region in the north-eastern area of New South Wales north of the Hunter Valley and inland from the north coast of New South Wales and the Northern Rivers. The New England region includes all of the high plateau area known as the Northern Tablelands. These Tablelands have four National Parks that are listed World Heritage Areas and form part of the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia.
The region also has historical buildings, fine museums, renowned art collections, superb fishing, fossicking, bushwalking, festivals, markets, pubs, clubs, fine restaurants and the breathtaking gold of autumn which is so much a part of the New England.
Cities
![](https://maps.wikimedia.org/img/osm-intl,7,-29.869038,150.610556,420x420.png?lang=en&domain=en.wikivoyage.org&title=New England (New South Wales)&groups=mask,around,buy,city,do,drink,eat,go,listing,other,see,sleep,vicinity,view,black,blue,brown,chocolate,forestgreen,gold,gray,grey,lime,magenta,maroon,mediumaquamarine,navy,red,royalblue,silver,steelblue,teal,fuchsia)
- 1 Armidale - New England's university city
- 2 Ashford - a good base for exploring Kwiambal National Park and Pindari Dam
- 3 Barraba - go birdwatching, enjoy Split Rock Dam and many half-day and full-day trips to natural atrractions
- 4 Bendemeer - gateway to the road to Port Macquarie
- 5 Bingara - an old gold-mining town, with a touch of art-deco
- 6 Boggabilla - home of the Wobbly Boot
- 7 Boggabri - home of the Drovers Campfire event
- 8 Bundarra - a picturesque little town on Thunderbolts Way
- 9 Delungra - a convenient rest stop for east-west travellers
- 10 Emmaville - discover its past mining history and scenic attractions
- 11 Ebor - take a picnic by the Ebor Falls
- 12 Glen Innes - New England's "Highland Capital", and a base for exploring many national parks
- 13 Gunnedah - known for the poet Dorothea Mackellar 'My country' (I love a sunburned country...), home of AgQuip agricultural expo
- 14 Guyra - a historic little town with a lot to see
- 15 Inverell - the 'Sapphire City', with Copeton Dam nearby
- 16 Manilla - renowned for paragliding and Keepit Dam
- 17 Moree - the 'capital' of the North West Slopes and Plains, hot water springs, cotton country
- 18 Mungindi - a real frontier town
- 19 Narrabri - home to the Australia (radio) Telescope and gateway to Mount Kaputar National Park
- 20 Nundle - location of Hanging Rock goldfield and lookout
- 21 Quirindi - gateway to the Liverpool Plains and its sunflower fields
- 22 Tamworth - Australia's Country Music Capital
- 23 Tenterfield - famous for the Tenterfield Saddler and the entertainer Peter Allen
- 24 Tingha - a former tin mining town with an interesting history
- 25 Uralla - a sophisticated New England town known for the bushranger Captain Thunderbolt
- 26 Urbenville - a scenic gateway to South East Queensland
- 27 Walcha - gateway to the Oxley Wild Rivers National Park
- 28 Warialda - where north-south meets east-west
- 29 Wee Waa - Australia's Cotton Capital
- 30 Werris Creek - a historic railway town
- 31 Willow Tree - the southern gateway to New England
- 32 Yetman - a welcome break for east-west travellers
Other destinations
There is a wide range of 27 main national parks in the New England region, plus some smaller parks and nature reserves.
- 1 Bald Rock National Park
- 2 Boonoo Boonoo National Park
- 3 Cathedral Rock National Park
- 4 Cunnawarra National Park
- 5 Dorrigo National Park - World Heritage listed park
- 6 Dthinna Dthinnawan National Park
- 7 Gibraltar Range National Park
- 8 Kings Plains National Park
- 9 Kwiambal National Park
- 10 Mount Kaputar National Park
- 11 Mummel Gulf National Park
- 12 New England National Park
- 13 Nowendoc National Park
- 14 Oxley Wild Rivers National Park
- 15 Tooloom National Park
- 16 Warrabah National Park
- 17 Washpool National Park
Understand
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9d/NewEnglandNP.jpg/300px-NewEnglandNP.jpg)
Climate
There is a wide variation in the climate of the region, especially if one includes the western slopes section, that is occasionally included. Guyra, Uralla and Walcha are noted for having very frosty nights that may cause diesel to solidify in vehicles causing the engine to stop or run abnormally. Usually the vehicle will run normally without intervention, when the morning warms, at about 9AM.
Tourist Information
- Armidale Visitor Information Centre, 82 Marsh Street, Armidale (next to Hungry Jacks Restaurant), ☏ 61 2 6770 3888, ✉[email protected]. M-F 9AM-5PM, Sa 9AM-3PM, Su 9AM-1PM.
- Bingara Tourist Information Centre, 74 Maitland Street, Bingara (Roxy Cinema complex), ☏ 61 2 6724 0066, ✉[email protected]. M-F 9AM-4:30PM, Sa Su 9AM-1PM. apply
- Glen Innes Visitor Information Centre, 152 Church Street, Glen Innes (next to Woolworths), ☏ 61 2 6730 2400, ✉[email protected]. M-F 9AM-5PM, Sa 9AM-3PM, Su public holidays 9AM-1PM.
- Gunnedah Visitor Information Centre, 83 Chandos Street, Gunnedah (next to Gunnedah Town Hall, near Coles), ☏ 61 2 6740 2230, ✉[email protected]. M-F 9AM-5PM, Sa Su 10AM-3PM.
- Inverell Tourist Information Centre (Coach terminal), 11/31 Campbell Street, Inverell, ☏ 61 2 6728 8161, ✉[email protected]. M-F 9AM-5PM, Sa Su 9AM-2PM.
- Moree Visitor Information Centre, 67 Alice Street, Moree, ☏ 61 2 6757 3350, ✉[email protected]. M-F 9AM-5PM, Sa Su 9AM-1PM.
- Narrabri Region Visitor Information Centre, 103 Tibbereena Street (Newell Highway), Narrabri (next to cricket ground), ☏ 61 2 6799 6760, toll-free: 61 1800 659 931, ✉[email protected]. M-F 9AM-5PM, Sa Su 9AM-2PM Closed Christmas Day and Good Friday.
- Quirindi - Liverpool Plains Visitor Information Centre, New England Highway, Willow Tree (next to King George V Memorial Park), ☏ 61 2 6747 1226. M-F 9AM-5PM, Sa Su 9AM-2PM.
- Tamworth Visitors Information Centre, 2 The Ringers Road, Hillvue (at The Big Golden Guitar), ☏ 61 2 6767 5300, ✉[email protected]. M-Su 9AM-4PM, closed Good Friday and Christmas Day.
- Tenterfield Visitors Information Centre, 157 Rouse Street, Tenterfield (corner of Rouse Street (New England Highway) and Miles Street, opposite the Subaru dealership), ☏ 61 2 6736 1082, ✉[email protected]. M-F 9AM-4:30PM, Sa 9AM-4PM, Su 10AM-2PM.
- Uralla Visitor Information Centre, 104 Bridge Street, Uralla (New England Highway), ☏ 61 2 6778 4496, fax: 61 2 6778 4654, ✉[email protected]. 9.30AM to 4.30PM daily Closed Good Friday and Christmas Day.
- Walcha Visitor Information Centre, 51W Fitzroy Street, Walcha (Oxley Highway), ☏ 61 2 6774 2460, fax: 61 2 6774 2462, ✉[email protected]. M-F 9AM-4.30PM; weekends 9.30AM- 4PM.
- Warialda Visitor Information Centre, 2/4 Geddes Street, Warialda (corner Geddes Street (Gwydir Highway) and Holden Street), ☏ 61 2 6729 0046. M-F 9AM-12:30PM, 1:30-4:30PM, Sa Su 9AM-1PM.
Get in
By road
Walcha, the south-east gateway to the New England, is 425 km north of Sydney via the scenic Thunderbolts Way (the shortest route from Sydney) and 184 km west of Port Macquarie. Uralla is 40 km further on along Thunderbolts Way, at the junction of the New England Highway.
Tamworth, Uralla, Armidale, Glen Innes and Tenterfield are the main centres located on the New England Highway, an inland route that links the Hunter Valley and Sydney to Brisbane. Armidale is also accessible from the coast via the scenic Waterfall Way via Raleigh, near Coffs Harbour.
Coach: Sydney to Brisbane and return via the New England Highway (includes Tamworth, Armidale, Uralla, Glen Innes and Tenterfield) daily on Greyhound; Greyhound on 132030. Greyhound
By train
NSW Trainlink trains connect Sydney to Tamworth, Walcha Road (for Walcha), Uralla and then terminate in Armidale. Brisbane-Sydney return (includes Armidale, Tenterfield): Daily on NSW Trainlink coach service. NSW Trainlink trains are air-conditioned and equipped with comfortable seats. Food, including hot lunches and dinners, is available from a buffet car onboard. It is essential to book NSW Trainlink tickets in advance.
By plane
Qantas runs regular services between Sydney, Tamworth (TMW IATA) and Armidale (ARM IATA), and Rex operate services between Sydney and Armidale. Taxi and car hire is available on-site.
Get around
See
- The village of Kentucky
Do
Eat
Eateries are plentiful in the cities and towns of the New England. Some of these are specialising in meals made from local produce. See under the individual destinations for more detail.
Drink
Drinking spots are readily available in the cities and towns of the New England.
Connect
There are quite a few places in the New England region where mobile (cell) phones do not have coverage (including Next G country models).
Free computer and internet usage is available at the Armidale Library, Faulkner St, during opening hours. phone: 61 2 6770-3636 for bookings.
For free computer and internet usage (during opening hours): Walcha Library, Derby St., Phone: 61 2 67742550
For internet services: Walcha Telecottage, 32w Fitzroy Street, Walcha NSW 2354; Phone: 61 2 6777-1111; Fax: 61 2 6777 1112; Email:[email protected]
Go next
There are about twenty seven major national parks, including the large, spectacular and easily accessible Oxley Wild Rivers National Park, plus over thirty nature reserves in the New England region.
Take a trip along Waterfall Way which passes through some of New South Wales' most scenic countryside and has been voted the number one tourist drive in New South Wales. Located along the route are five national parks, three of which are listed as World Heritage Areas by UNESCO and form part of the Gondwana Rainforest of Australia.