The region is well known for its Bush Ranger past and a trip to the area wouldn’t be complete without taking in Australia’s history and heritage when travelling along Thunderbolt’s Way, fossicking for riches in gold, seeking out precious treasurers.

Take a look at the architectural heritage of the region to appreciate and understand the immense and colourful times of days past. Many buildings have been preserved and retain the romance of the era in which they were built. Taking a town walking tour will allow you to learn some of the history.

The region is the birthplace of the Nation thanks to the Federation Speech made by Sir Henry Parks in Tenterfield (October 1899).

The town of Glen Innes was gazetted at the height of the gold rush in 1852. The Celtic heritage is cherished by today’s Glen Innes citizens – so much so that a public-spirited group established the Australian Standing Stones, a megalithic array like those around which the ancient Celts danced.
The New England saw the origins of some of Australia’s most famous pastoral dynasties and their land holdings such as the Dangar Homestead (now Petersons Winery) just outside Armidale.

The courage and determination of explorers such as John Oxley opened the region up for colonial settlement. Before Oxley, the region was the home of the Kamilaroi people, Indigenous sites and sacred grounds still remain with a few being made accessible for public visitation. The Gwydir Highway takes you through Moree and some of Australia’s most ancient Aboriginal tribal lands.

Across all of Big Sky Country attractions such as The Pioneer Village (Inverell), McCrossins Mill (Uralla), Calala Cottage (Tamworth), Roxy Theatre (Bingara), Mount Misery Gold Mine (Nundle) all help to preserve the past and provide a snapshot into the region’s history.

The New England North West region is full of surprises so for more information on this attractions or some of the many others, drop into one of the many visitor information centres in New England North West – tempt and treat yourself!

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The Fossickers Way takes you from Nundle and Tamworth through Manilla and Barraba, Bingara and onto to Warialda before you head east to the ‘Sapphire City’ Inverell and on to Glen Innes and Tenterfield. Each location is a fossicker’s paradise. In Inverell, visitors can see some of the locally-mined gemstones at the Visitor Information Centre.

In a little under three hours the Kamilaroi Highway from Narrabri to Lightning Ridge takes you to the edge of the outback. It is the richest area of opal in Australia. Hundreds of miners search for the elusive black opal daily, hoping to find their fortune.

The New England North West region is full of surprises so for more information on this attractions or some of the many others, drop into one of the many visitor information centres in New England North West – tempt and treat yourself!

Technorati Tags: Attractions, australia, fossickers way, glen innes, gwydir highway, heritage, history, new england, new england north west, sapphire city, tamworth, tenterfield, things to do, tourist guide