New England Tableland Attractions

29,900 ha.The New England National Park extends over the steep slopes rising from the Bellinger River to the New England plateau (over 1400 m). Declared a national park in 1931 and enlarged in 1983, it contains one of the largest surviving areas of rain forest in New South Wales. Three different zones can be distinguished: sub-alpine flora with snow gums at the upper levels, temperate rain forest below this and subtropical rain forest with numerous ferns and orchids in the depressions. There are breathtaking views from Point Lookout of the almost vertical escarpment; in good weather the view extends as far as the Pacific.There are walking trails along the foot of the escarpment to the areas of rain forest and bush trails through the wilderness.

Glen Innes (alt. 1073 m; pop. 6140), the center of a lush farming district with rich deposits of sapphire and zinc, lies in a beautiful setting on the New England tableland, at the junction of the New England and Gwydir Highways. The area was discovered by two cattle herds around 1830 and the town was founded in 1852.There is a large Folk Museum in the former hospital (Ferguson and West Streets) with relics of pioneering daysThe Town Hall dates from 1875, the Courthouse (in which the notorious bushranger Captain Thunderbolt was tried) from 1874, the Great Central Hotel from 1880.

6500ha.Rock formations and buttresses such as Cathedral Rock and the Woolpack Rocks, massive granite crags which are frequently snow-capped in winter; the highest peaks after those of the Snowy Mountains (Round Mountain, 1584m); beautiful forests, marshland and a rich fauna. From the tops of the granite crags there are fine panoramic views.There is a camping site on Native Dog Creek and good facilities for visitors on Native Dog Creek (picnic area), with a footpath to Woolpack Rocks, bush walking, and rock-climbing.

Tenterfield (pop. 3300) is situated amid hills at an altitude of 860m and lies close to the border with Queensland. Originally this was grazing land, with fruit plantations, timber working, sawmills and mines (silicates, gold). The landscape is a glory of color in autumn.Tenterfield is famed as the place where Sir Henry Parkes, prime minister of New South Wales, made a speech while visiting the School of Arts (now a museum) in 1889 calling for the unification of Australia and thus launched the movement for federation.

Inverell (pop. 97000), known as 'Sapphire City', lies west of Glen Innes on the Gwydir River and on the Gwydir Highway, in fertile farming country. Industrial diamonds, zircons, zinc and sapphires are mined in the area. Visitors can hunt for precious stones with a permit obtainable from the tourist information office.Inverell features a courthouse (1868) with clock tower, a Pioneer Village (homestead and other buildings of around 1840), a church and an inn.

Lightning Ridge (pop. 2670) is surrounded by the famous Lightning Ridge opal fields, in which the valuable black opals are found. The veins of opals lie 20 m under the surface, and the landscape is patterned by spoil heaps and abandoned mines. Although the summers are very hot and the winters cool the opal miners do not live in underground dwellings as they do in White Cliffs and the opal fields of Queensland and South Australia.

Tamworth (pop. 35,100) is the commercial and cultural center of northern New South Wales. It is also known as the capital of Australian country music, to which thousands of fans flock in January for the annual Australian Country Music Festival.Tamworth City Gallery has a fine collection. From the Oxley Lookout in 400 ha Oxley Park there is a fine view of the town with its many parks and gardens.

Tingha (pop. 840) is a little New England settlement where large deposits of tin were discovered in 1870. In the town's heyday there were 6000 men working in the mines. A few mines are still being worked.On Copes Creek is a museum containing a collection of minerals and Aboriginal works of art.

Uralla (pop. 2300) was established in the 1850s after rich discoveries of gold in the area.Visitors can hunt for treasure in the fossicking area at the Old Rocky River diggings.The notorious bushranger Captain Thunderbolt was shot dead by the police in Uralla in 1870 and was buried in the local cemetery.

The little town of Bingara (pop. 1300) is situated on the Gwydir River amid wooded hills. Many precious stones have been (and still are) found in the rivers and streams in this area. The All Nations Gold Mine was closed down in 1948.

Walcha (pop. 1700) is on the eastern slopes of the Great Dividing Range and was first settled in 1832. John Oxley camped here on his 1818 expedition. The wooded hills and valleys were the first part of the New England Tableland to be explored.