New England Highway

The New England Highway is a scenic driving route that winds through the New England region of New South Wales, connecting the Hunter Valley to the Queensland border. This road trip offers a captivating mix of rolling green hills, historic towns, and World Heritage-listed national parks. It's a journey through pastoral landscapes, where you can explore colonial-era villages, taste local produce, and immerse yourself in the region's rich history and natural beauty.

Highlights & What to See

• Armidale – A vibrant university city with excellent museums, including the New England Regional Art Museum, and the nearby Waterfall Way leading to stunning waterfalls.
• Uralla – A historic gold-rush town known for the legendary bushranger Captain Thunderbolt's grave and the McCrossin's Mill Museum.
• Glen Innes – Famous for its Australian Standing Stones, a Celtic monument celebrating the region's Scottish heritage, and the beautiful Land of the Beardies Museum.
• Tenterfield – The birthplace of Australian federation, with the historic Tenterfield Railway Station and the nearby Bald Rock National Park, home to Australia's largest granite monolith.
• New England National Park – A World Heritage-listed wilderness with ancient Antarctic beech forests, dramatic escarpments, and excellent bushwalking trails.
• Wine and food – Sample cool-climate wines at cellar doors around Armidale and Glen Innes, and enjoy local cheeses, berries, and trout from the region's farms.

Suggested Time to Spend

Allow at least three to four days to drive the full length of the New England Highway from the Hunter Valley to the Queensland border, stopping at the key towns and natural attractions. This gives you time to explore each town's heritage precincts, enjoy a short walk in a national park, and savour the local food and wine. If you're short on time, focus on the stretch between Armidale and Tenterfield, which packs in the most highlights.

Nearby Areas Worth Combining

• Waterfall Way – A scenic detour from Armidale that leads to spectacular waterfalls like Wollomombi and Dangar Falls.
• Dorrigo National Park – Part of the Gondwana Rainforests, with lush walking trails and the Skywalk lookout.
• Oxley Wild Rivers National Park – Gorgeous gorges and waterfalls, accessible from the highway near Walcha.
• Port Macquarie – A coastal town with beautiful beaches and the Koala Hospital, a great start or end point for a road trip.
• Hunter Valley – Australia's oldest wine region, perfect for a pre- or post-trip wine tour.

Please check official sources for current details.