Grenfell

A few years back, we stopped for a coffee in Grenfell and stayed 3 days, how’s that for captivation?  We’ve since returned and enjoyed it just as much. This is a town with a pleasant feel. The freedom camp encompasses the old railway station at the bottom of town. It has plenty of grassy sites, good amenities, and it’s only a block from the main street. There’s gold mining history to catch up on, grand buildings, and the community have crafted a huge quilt documenting the history of their town. Seaton Farm, there’s nothing fancy here, just life as it was in the Depression era when a farmhouse was little more than flattened out kerosene tins and ingenuity was required to keep the kangaroos from the crops. It’s an eye opener. On the other side of town is the mansion used in the filming of A Place to Call Home. There are 2 distinct layers of history in Grenfell, Main Street shows the wealth derived from the gold, behind it, George Street has some surviving examples of the early gold rush town. There is a colonial era courthouse as well. 

Inverell

A picture postcard town is the best way to describe Inverell and in autumn it glows. West of Glen Innes it is a little bit off the tourist trail and to be honest, we drove through several times, admired the town but kept on driving as we had other destinations in mind. What a mistake, this is a delightful spot to stay, and the Inverell Caravan Park is on the Macintyre River, there’s a river walk into town.

Mudgee

Mudgee is a neatly laid out medium sized town that wears its wealth well. Straddling both coal mining and wine industries it has wide streets and footpaths, green parklands and grand buildings. Not to mention those luscious full-bodied reds. I was taught how to wash a sheep at the Mudgee museum, though I think the volunteer would have preferred to show me their collection of wedding dresses. Woody on the other hand spent the afternoon discussing all things beer related at Mudgee Brewing Co. We can’t go past this town without staying and just having a wander. Any mention of Mudgee has us salivating over the steak we once had on a frosty winter’s night at the warmth of the Lawson Park Hotel with a local red wine. The wine was as good as the steak and the next day we went in search of a dozen.

Orange

Orange is a town that has to be visited if only to be surprised at how large it is. A word of warning though, it gets cold, really cold, and when Mount Canobolas turns down the temperatures you’ll be chilled to the bone. But it is a pretty city, with peaceful Botanic Gardens and treed streets. The showgrounds offer powered accommodation.

Gunnedah

Gunnedah, the spiritual home of ‘My Country’ poet, Dorothea Mackellar, “I love a sunburnt country”. Dorothea’s family were graziers in this region and the locals have embraced poetry with a passion. In the heart of town there is poetry on the backs of the public toilet doors, to cheer visitors no end. The Kennel Club has a well-appointed campground here and it’s close to town. Gunnedah is a ‘working’ town, there are silos and cattle yards and yes the trains rumble through the night but that is what travel is about.

Tamworth

Tamworth, the country music capital and home of the golden guitar. Peel Street is picturesque with shady trees and statues of our favourite country music icons. The Country Music Hall of Fame is well worth a visit with memorabilia of the likes of Slim Dusty, Smoky Dawson and Mary Schneider. I guess they’ll have a tribute to the Sheik of Scrubby Creek now that Chad Morgan has moved upstairs. The Big4 Caravan Park is centrally located.

Tenterfield

Tenterfield, the showgrounds are in the heart of town of this very historic town. It was here that Sir Henry Parkes gave his Federation speech in 1889 that set us on a path to the Federation of Australian states in 1901. Worth checking out is the Italianate Stannum (latin for tin) House 1888, home of tin magnate and benefactor John Holmes Reid. Stannum House was once considered for our first Government House.

No, I haven’t forgotten the song that will by now have overtaken your brain. Peter Allen’s grandfather’s saddlery, the one that the song describes in Tenterfield Saddler.

And before we leave Tenterfield there are pies… Kitchen Garden has the most warming and delicious pies that made us we wish we’d bought two each. On a chilly day, Woody had lamb & garlic with red wine and mine was a mushy pea pie. Kitchen Garden rocketed up our National Pie Chart to an impressive #2.

And there you have it, we’ll cross the Great Dividing Range next to pick out the great spots on the New South Wales coast. Just remember NSW has wonderful beaches.