Australia’s Country Way

Sydney to Tamworth

Sydney to Tamworth 407 KM | 5 hours

Head north from Sydney on the Pacific Highway and follow the signs from the Freeway to the city of Maitland in the Lower Hunter. From here take the New England Highway to Singleton. The highway first passes the winery region around Branxton, then leads you to Singleton, one of Australia’s oldest towns. Founded in the 1820s, this attractive settlement features historic buildings and several museums – it is also the access point for the pristine wilderness of Wollemi and Yengo National Parks.

Muswellbrook, the next major highway centre, is another historic town with an art gallery and several interesting urban walks. To the north, Scone is at the heart of a famous horse breeding area and the western gateway to Barrington Tops National Park. There are some delightful old buildings here and plenty of opportunities for horse riding. Nearby Quirindi, another renowned horse region is known as the ‘home of Australian polo’.  The Golden Guitar stands as a perennial monument to a true blue country heart, celebrated in earnest at the Tamworth Country Music Festival. The centre of the town has grown into a leafy hub of paved walkways, seating, palm trees and cafes offering a friendly and fuss-free city for all to enjoy. There’s a wealth of accommodation options including bed and breakfasts, farm stays, caravan parks, five star and premium hotels. Tamworth offers ready access to Warrabah National Park.

Tamworth to Glen Innes

Tamworth to Glen Innes 210 KM | 2 hour 30 min

From here the highway leads northeast and passes through Uralla – once the stamping ground of notorious bushranger ‘Captain Thunderbolt’ – and then brings you to the genteel city of Armidale. There’s a great deal to do here, and you’ll need a couple of days to pack everything in! Sightseeing suggestions are the excellent New England Regional Art Museum, the Aboriginal Cultural Centre, the University of New England and the area’s Heritage Walk and Drive. Out of town, you can visit spectacular Dangars Gorge and Falls. Guyra, on top of the range, is an attractive town with a diverse blend of attractions. Renowned for their natural beauty the New England Tablelands are distinct from one season to the next. The Glen Innes Highlands is packed full of adventure and experiences with distinctive seasons, gourmet foods along with its picaresque town and villages. Great for road touring, kayaking and canoeing, mountain biking, fishing for the mighty Murray Cod or meandering along its historic colonial main street or museums. This agricultural town has a proud Celtic Heritage and is home to the Australian Standing Stones – the National monument erected to honour all the Celtic pioneers of Australia – hosting the Australian Celtic Festival in May each year. The World Heritage Washpool and Gibraltar Range National Parks, Stone Henge and the Minerama Fossicking Gem & Jewellery Show are just a few of the other great attractions on offer. Said to be one of the world’s richest mineral diversity belts, sapphires are one of the many treasures to be found in the plentiful fossicking areas.

Glen Innes to Wallangarra

Glen Innes to Wallangarra 111 KM | 1 hours 23 min

Further north along Australia’s Country Way is Tenterfield where the famous saddlery still stands. Throughout the town there is nostalgia for forgotten eras preserved in landmark buildings commemorating citizens such as Sir Henry Parkes, Father of Federation. Located at the junction of the New England and Bruxner Highways, historic Tenterfield is the centre for a large sheep and cattle region. It was here that Sir Henry Parkes made his famous speech in 1889 – an event that ultimately led to Australia’s Federation in 1901 – and there are several museums and historic buildings to explore.

The town is also famous for its ‘Tenterfield Saddler’ connection, and you can visit the original 1860s saddlery. Before heading east, take a side-trip towards the Queensland border to explore the region’s national parks. Boonoo and Bald Rock are scenic environments of granite rocks, gorges and rivers that are ideal for bushwalking.

Then it’s a short journey to Wallangarra and the state border with Queensland. The old railway station has the Queensland rail gauge on one side of the platform and New South Wales on the other.

Wallangarra to Warwick

Wallangarra to Warwick 118 KM | 1 hour 20 min

The high altitude granite country signals the entry into Queensland and the Granite Belt. The Southern Downs is a land of contrasts from the stark high country around Stanthorpe to the rolling downs of Warwick and beyond. The weather, well-drained soil and viticultural expertise have transformed the region’s once fledgling wine community into a burgeoning industry based around Stanthorpe. Boutique businesses offer fine dining, cellar doors, food and wine packages and tours making this special part of Queensland easy to access and enjoy. Stock up at roadside stalls and cellar doors and in season sample fresh fruit and berries straight from the grower. Local festivals celebrate the harvest seasons and country life, they include the Small Winemakers Show, Opera in the Vineyard and the Apple and Grape Harvest Festival in Stanthorpe. National Parks abound with Girraween and Sundown being must sees. As you descend to the rolling downs, the town of Warwick is your next stop. It boasts some of Queensland’s finest sandstone buildings, a living reminder of our historical past. The Warwick Rodeo and Campdraft are famous across Australia and seasonal differences are celebrated at the Jumpers and Jazz Festival. in July

Warwick to Toowoomba

Warwick to Toowoomba 86 KM | 1 hour 10 min

Driving north from Warwick takes you to a major intersection. Those heading to Brisbane and the Gold Coast head east through Cunningham’s Gap, take a break here to admire the views from the Main Range National Park. Australia’s Country Way continues north through the small township of Allora, you can gain a sense of the history of the Darling Downs by visiting Glengallan Historic Homestead or head into the Goomburra Valley for a bush adventure. Author Steel Rudd lived near Nobby and wrote of the country life in “On Our Selection” which formed the basis of the Dad and Dave radio series. The rolling Darling Downs are fertile farmlands for grain, sunflowers, olives, cattle and gourmet delights. Toowoomba is the largest inland city in Australia, it is known as the Garden City for its parks, gardens, flowers and the Carnival of Flowers which takes place every September. It is at the junction of highways which head east to Brisbane and west to Queensland’s Outback. Toowoomba is a modern city thriving on the agricultural and resource industries with many attractions to keep you in town a few days.

Toowoomba to Kingaroy

Toowoomba to Kingaroy 154 KM | 2 hours

Australia’s Country Way runs along the Great Dividing Range with cool mountain National Parks such as Crows Nest, Ravensbourne and The Palms. Small towns boast art and craft stores and places to taste the region’s food and wine. Local historical societies give you a taste of times past in their museums and fossick through the antique shops for that special memento of the area. Dams provide great freshwater fishing opportunities. At Yarraman there is a road that connects to the north of Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast. Australia’s Country Way continues through the hilly forests of the South Burnett through Nanango, learn about forestry at Wondai’s South Burnett Tourism Industry Museum. Kingaroy is well known as peanut country, make sure you pick some up on your visit. A side road takes you to the scenic Bunya Mountains, so named after the Bunya Pines which were coveted by the Aborigines for their nuts. Spend some time in this area to taste the local produce, olives and wine. Accommodation includes bed and breakfasts, cabins, caravan parks, hotels, motel and camping. The South Burnett is prime wine country so make time to visit some cellar doors to taste and buy the local product.

Kingaroy to Monto

Kingaroy to Monto 320 KM | 3 hours 40 min

Travelling north, Australia’s Country Way heads towards the North Burnett towns of Gayndah and Mundubbera, a citrus growing area that produces most of Australia’s mandarins. A major intersection at Ban Ban Springs gives access to Bundaberg, Biggenden and Childers. Gayndah straddles the Burnett River and you have an opportunity to sample and buy local produce at the roadside stalls. Mundubbera is just off the highway at the junction of the Rural Getaway. Picnic by the river and buy local citrus and stone fruit in season. The Auburn River National Park is west of here. The Burnett River is famous for the Ceratodus or Lungfish, a relic of some 380 million years. These are a protected species but try your luck for freshwater fish in the lakes and rivers. Take in the local history at museums in Gayndah and Eidsvold. RM Williams lived in the Eidsvold area for many years and his life is celebrated in the RM Williams Australian Bush Learning Centre on the south side of the town. Monto is the gateway to Cania Gorge, a spectacular sandstone national park. Lake Cania provides a great venue for fishing and boating while there are many walks for keen bushwalkers.

Monto to Rockhampton

Monto to Rockhampton 250 KM | 2 hours 40 min

Driving out of Monto, the country is drier, with sandstone outcrops and more cattle in Sandstone Wonders. Camp at Kroombit Tops National Park and wake to incredible views from the sandstone cliffs. Listen out for musical notes chimed out by Mount Scoria’s six sided basalt peaks or go fishing for Barramundi, Golden Perch or Red Claw at Lake Callide, just 12 kilometres east of Biloela en route to Gladstone. Other natural wonders not to be missed in the Sandstone Wonders include Isla Gorge and Expedition National Park. While in Biloela visit the Queensland Heritage Park to enjoy the heritage displays which celebrate the our nation’s glorious past. Once you have headed out of the Sandstone Wonders to the highway’s end in Rockhampton, you pass by the once great mining town of Mount Morgan. The gold mine operated from 1882 for 99 years and has left its mark on the area. Spend some time in town and visit the many historical reminders of that era. Rockhampton is well known as the Beef Capital of Australia and now the resources industry and education are making their mark. Look out for the bull statues situated throughout the city celebrating the breeds grown in the area.