Big Sky Country

Big Sky Country (New England) is a beautiful highland region, with magnificent mountains and many waterfalls, in the hinterland of the Holiday Coast, which extends northward from Port Macquarie to the border with Queensland. Its rivers, streams and artificial lakes (Pindari and Copeton Dams) offer good fishing and excellent facilities for water sports. Its fertile black soil produces wheat and, particularly to the west, cotton, and its excellent grazing nourishes sheep and cattle. It is a good area for gem fossicking (hunting for precious stones). At Glen Innes and Inverell there are sapphire reserves where the necessary equipment can be hired; a permit is required and can be obtained from tourist offices.