Page 181 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Australia

THE BL UE MOUNT AINS AND BEY OND  179

1 Rothbury An early
morning champagne
breakfast and hot-air
balloon flight over the Hunter
Valley from this town are a
luxurious way to start a day
touring the wineries.

Panoramic mountain view from Barrington Tops
6Barrington Tops 7Armidale
World Heritage * 22,000. ~ £ @ @ n 82
2 The Hunter Valley Wine Area Marsh St (02) 6770 3888. Open daily.
Society This group organizes ∑ armidaletourism.com.au
wine tastings from many local £ Gloucester. n 27 Denison St,
vineyards and offers excellent Gloucester (02) 6558 5252. Open Lying in the heart of the New
advice for the novice. Shiraz daily. ∑ visitgloucester.com.au England Tablelands, Armidale is
and Semillon are the two a sophisticated university city
most recognizable Hunter Flanking the north of the Hunter surrounded by some of the
Valley styles.
Valley is the mountain range state’s most magnificent national
known as the Barringtons. One parks, while concerts, plays, films
of the highest points in Australia, and lectures fill its many theatres,
its high country, the “Barrington pubs and university halls.
0 kilometres 5
Tops”, reaches 1,550 m (5,080 ft), Some 35 buildings in Armidale
0 miles 5 and light snow is common in are classified by the National
winter. The rugged mountains, Trust, testament to the land
Key
cool-climate rainforest, gorges, booms of the 19th century,
Tour route cliffs and waterfalls make including the town hall, court-
Other road Barrington Tops a paradise for house and St Peter’s Anglican
hikers, campers, birdwatchers Cathedral. The New England
and climbers. Its 280,000 ha Regional Art Museum holds the
(690,000 acres) of forest, with A$20 million Howard Hinton
1,000-year-old trees, are and Chandler Coventry
protected by the Barrington collections, with many
Tops National Park. The works by Australian
Tips for Drivers rainforest was declared artists, including Tom
a World Heritage Roberts and Norman
Tour length: 60 km (37 miles). Area in 1986 and a Lindsay (see p38). To
While there are no limits on the Wilderness Area in the east of Armidale
numbers of wineries that can be 1996 as part of the is the 90-ha (220-acre)
visited, three or four in one day Gondwana Rainforests Oxley Wild Rivers
will give time to taste and discuss of Australia (formerly National Park, con-
the wines leisurely. Don’t forget the Central Eastern Spinning wheel from the taining the 220-m (720-
Australia’s strict drink-driving laws
(see p561). Rainforest Reserves) Armidale Folk Museum ft) high Wollomombi
Starting point: Cessnock is (see pp30–31). Gorge, one of the
the gateway to the Hunter Valley Barrington Tops is a favourite highest waterfalls in Australia.
and is home to its major weekend escape for Sydney-
visitors’ centre. siders. Tourist operators E New England Regional
Stopping-off points: Apart from organize environmentally Art Museum
the picnic areas and restaurants friendly 4WD trips into the 106 Kentucky St. Tel (02) 6772 5255.
at the wineries, Pokolbin has heart of the wild forests, with Open 10am–4pm Tue–Sun.
plenty of cafés, a general store camping along the Allyn River, Closed 1 Jan, Good Fri, 25 Dec. -
and a bush picnic area. The hiking trails at Telegherry and 7 ∑ neram.com.au
Mount Bright lookout gives a Jerusalem Creek and swimming Y Oxley Wild Rivers
panoramic view over the region. in the rock pool at Lady’s Well. National Park
Barrington Tops is best 188 W North St, Walcha. Tel (02) 6777
reached through Dungog or 4700. Open Mon–Fri. 7 limited.
from Gloucester. ∑ nationalparks.nsw.gov.au