to Warrumbungle Region COONABARABRAN | COOLAH | DUNEDOO | BARADINE | BINNAWAY | MENDOORAN E S CA PE
2 WWW.WARRUMBUNGLEREGION.COM.AU COONABARABRAN BRISBANE MELBOURNE SYDNEY FROM SYDNEY 449KM: APPROX. 5.5 HOURS DRIVE FROM MELBOURNE 983KM: APPROX. 11 HOURS DRIVE FROM BRISBANE 692KM: APPROX. 7.5 HOURS DRIVE FROM NEWCASTLE 358KM: APPROX. 4 HOURS DRIVE FROM DUBBO 144KM: APPROX. 1.5 HOURS DRIVE FROM TAMWORTH 183KM: APPROX. 2 HOURS DRIVE Road Trip DUBBO TAMWORTH
Warrumbungle is a Gamilaroi/Gamilaraay word meaning "crooked mountain", and for thousands of years it has been a spiritual place for the custodians of this land - the Gamilaroi, Wiradjuri and Weilwan people. Warrumbungle Shire is a meeting place for the nations of our traditional owners and custodians of the land. The northern part of the Shire is home to the Gamilaraay people while the southern area is home to the Wiradjuri people. The nations of the Weilwan and Kawambarai (Werriri) come into the Shire on the western border. The history, traditions and culture are recognised as an important part of the Shire’s history. WELCOME Yaama! Hello! 3
Experience Our Towns Take a Tour WARRUMBUNGLES 6 DARK SKY PARK 8 COOLAH TOPS 10 PILLIGA FOREST 12 ART + FOOD 14 COONABARABRAN 16 COOLAH 20 DUNEDOO 22 MENDOORAN 24 BINNAWAY 26 BARADINE 28 SUGGESTED TOURS 30 4 content s ROYAL HOTEL COONABARABRAN
5 DUNEDOO SILO ART
Wild + wonderful WARRUMBU The craggy peaks and spires, remnants of an extinct volcano, make Warrumbungle National Park a “must see” for anyone visiting regional NSW. Located 36 kilometres west of Coonabarabran, the Warrumbungles is serviced by an architectural awardwinning Visitor Centre and interpretive displays, while numerous campgrounds cater to bush camping through to powered sites. There are more than 42 kilometres of walking trails in the park, with a range of options to accommodate all fitness levels and ages. A Discovery Program runs during school holidays, offering visitors a closer look at local Aboriginal culture and other aspects of the park. 6 VI SI TOR CENTRE
WWW.WARRUMBUNGLEREGION.COM.AU TOP 10 THINGS TO DO 1 2 3 4 5 67 Experience NGLE S 7 TOP 5 1 White Gum Lookout is an easy 500 metre one-way walk with an unreal view WARRUMBUNGLES Experience 2 Plan your escape at the Warrumbungle Visitor Centre, which also features interpretive displays 3 Barbecue beneath the shadow of Split Rock at Canyon Picnic Area 4 Take on the 14.5 km Breadknife and Grand High Tops loop, regarded as one of the best bushwalking tracks in NSW 5 Take a walk with the Geotrails app and learn more about the 15 million-year-old ancient volcano that makes up the iconic Warrumbungles today
8 Where mountains meet the stars DARK SKY There's a reason Coonabarabran attracts stargazers from across the globe - the skies are so dark, the stars light up the night. Several years ago, Warrumbungle National Park was formally recognised as Australia's first Dark Sky Park. Low humidity and high elevation make it the perfect place to view the Milky Way in all its glory. Coonabarabran is also home to Siding Spring Observatory, the country's leading optical astronomical research facility, including the 3.9 metres Anglo Australian Telescope. As public opening hours are subject to change, visitors are encouraged to contact the site prior to their visit. Get a close-up view of the heavens with a stargazing show at a local observatory and learn more about planets, galaxies and nebulas. NOTE: "Dark Sky Park" is a prestigious official classification for low light pollution, creating the best place to view stars. Only a handful of locations in the world have been honoured with this title.
DARK SKY PARK Experience 9 PAR K 1 Look for planets as you hurtle through space on your way to Coonabarabran via the World's Largest Virtual Solar System Drive 2 Get a little closer to the skies with your own night star viewing at a private observatory 3 Take your own photos of the night sky and capture the cosmos 4 If you can't snap it, buy it, with an array of night sky prints to purchase at the Coonabarabran Visitor Information Centre 5 Escape the city lights and camp under the stars, with the Milky Way and Emu overhead from March to September TOP 5 SIDING SPRING OBSERVATORY
Stunning scenery COOLAH TO 10
BRACKENS HUT COOLAH TOPS Towering, ancient grass trees stand guard over one of Australia’s best kept secrets - Coolah Tops National Park. Located 30 kilometres from the town of Coolah, this scenic park features tumbling waterfalls, towering Snow Gums and stunning vistas. As one of only two sub-alpine parks in NSW, the park is a playground for bushwalkers and mountain bike riders. Prior to 1996, Coolah Tops was a forestry resource and remnants of the timber industry are scattered around the park, providing unique photo opportunities. Three designated camping areas and two historic huts are available to stay in. Easy to spot during the day are wombats, Eastern Grey Kangaroos and Red-Necked Wallabies, but after dark is when the magic happens, with large numbers of Greater Gliders soaring between the trees. Experience P S 11 1 If you're lucky, you may spot a WedgeTailed Eagle soaring majestically high above the valley 2 A short, but steep 20-minute walk will take you to the top of Norfolk Falls where you can marvel as water cascades over the 35-metre drop 3 Pack a picnic and soak up the scenery at the Bundella or Pinnacle lookouts 4 Set up base and stay overnight in the historic, rustic Brackens Hut 5 Dig a little deeper into the Coolah Tops with several 4WD tracks available TOP 5
Ancient secrets PILLIGA FO 12 SANDSTONE CAVES
DANDRY GORGE WWW.WARRUMBUNGLEREGION.COM.AU PILLIGA FOREST The Pilliga Forest is an iconic Australian landscape offering rugged beauty on a grand scale. Sometimes called the Pilliga Scrub, the forest is made up of Pilliga Nature Reserve, Timmallallie National Park, Pilliga West, and East State Conservation Areas. Close to the town of Baradine, Pilliga is a vast forest that spans more than half a million hectares and features 2000 kilometres of public access trails, so there’s a lot to explore either by foot or car. Set up camp at the free Dandry Gorge campground, with the rewarding Sculptures in the Scrub walk close by. Be sure to take a guided Discovery Tour of Sandstone Caves to find out about this important Aboriginal site and the Gamilaroi people’s connections to this ancient landscape. As you walk or drive, or even take to the sky in a helicopter, keep your eyes out for some of the park’s resident birds and wildlife, including rare Barking Owls and Malleefowls. Experience RE S T 13 1 Unlock one of the Pilliga’s hidden gems, Sandstone Caves, with a short walk around the site 2 Throw a couple of snags on the barbie at the Salt Caves and climb the fire tower for amazing views of the Pilliga above the vast treetop canopy 3 Spot a Glossy Black Cockatoo along one of the bird routes 4 Enjoy the stunning Aboriginal artwork along the Sculptures in the Scrub walk at Dandry Gorge 5 Wildflowers put on a wonderful show in the Pilliga, especially during Spring TOP 5 NOTE: Sandstone Caves is very special to the local Aboriginal people and they ask that visitors treat the area respectfully. Please tread carefully and stay on the track to preserve Sandstone Caves for future generations.
Meet the makers art+ FOOD Artisans have added another layer of richness across the Warrumbungle Region. From the delicious offerings of The Bee Farmer and Black Gate Distillery in Mendooran, through to the unexpected German-inspired wonderland of Pilliga Pottery, take home a perfect souvenir reminder of your visit. The unique creations of local artists and photographers depict the land and lifestyle and can be seen at a number of galleries and public art and sculpture installations. Why not put pen to paper and create your own masterpiece? As a predominantly farming region, food is at the forefront of our towns. From cafes to bakeries, traditional pub-style meals and the quintessential country Chinese restaurant, all tastes are covered. And the coffee? Well it's great too! 14 THE BEE FARMER BLACK GATE DI STI LLERY
ART + FOOD Experience 15 1 Get hands-on with an earthenware workshop at Pilliga Pottery 2 Sample the awardwinning delights of Black Gate Distillery and The Bee Farmer in Mendooran 3 Enjoy dinner or lunch in one of the many pubs scattered throughout the local towns 4 Check out the latest exhibitions on show at galleries across the Warrumbungle Region 5 Public murals, scattered around the region, make a great backdrop for your next family pic TOP 5 PI LLI GA POTTERY
16 A perfect country escape c o onabar Coonabarabran is widely regarded as the “Astronomy Capital of Australia” owing to its crystalclear, dark night skies. The town is home to the country’s largest optical astronomy research facility, Siding Spring Observatory, and is the gateway to the Warrumbungle National Park, Australia’s only Dark Sky Park. The area is ideal for stargazing with high altitude, low humidity, a non-turbulent atmosphere for viewing clarity, clean air and an average of 70 per cent clear night skies. Pronounced “koon-uh-barra-bran” (or Coona for short) one meaning of the name derives from Gamilaraay language as "inquisitive person", however, this has been widely debated. Established as a village in 1860, the town was an important stopover point for those travelling west to the coast. Not much has changed today, as Coonabarabran remains a vital connection for travellers, marking a halfway point from Melbourne to Brisbane along the Newell Highway, as well as being the start of the Oxley Highway. While Coonabarabran is the central hub of the Warrumbungle region, the country charm remains strong with beautiful shopfronts, numerous accommodation options and eateries.
SNAP SHOT ELEVATION 505 metres POPULATION 3477 INDUSTRY Agriculture Aged Care Tourism AVERAGE TEMPS Autumn: 8°C to 24°C Winter: 1°C to 16°C Spring: 8°C to 24°C Summer: 15°C to 31°C ANNUAL RAINFALL 746 millimetres FUN FACT Part of David Bowie’s filmclip “Just Dance” was filmed in the Warrumbungles COONABARABRAN Our Towns 17 abr an MEMORI AL CLOCKTOWER
18 c o onabar Astronomy Capital of Australia GARDENER ST HORSLEY ST HORSLEY ST TO SIDING SPRING WARRUMBUNGLES TO BINNAWAY MENDOORAN GILGANDRA TO GUNNEDAH NARRABRI TO PURLEWAUGH QUIRINDI TO BARADINE
COONABARABRAN Our Towns 19 Meet “Frank” at the Australian Museum’s Diprotodon Exhibition, housed in the Visitor Information Centre Take a stroll through the beautiful trees at Neilson Park on the Castlereagh River, and feed the geese Crystal Kingdom is the home to one of the world’s most unique mineral collections Continue the fun after sunset by booking into a private observatory for a night-time stargazing session Watch how many locals give you a wave as you snap a pic of the Clocktower Memorial in the centre of town TICK IT! abr an NEILSON PARK
20 Coolah Home of the Black Stump RI VER WALK Coolah is located one hour south-east of Coonabarabran and is the gateway to the beautiful Coolah Tops National Park. Coolah firmly stakes its claim as home of the original Black Stump. It was here that the colloquial saying "beyond the black stump", meaning "beyond the limits of settlement or civilisation", is said to have originated. A replica Black Stump and rest area has been established north of Coolah to mark its historic location. Coolah is situated on the picturesque Coolaburragundy River and nestled in a valley of the Liverpool Range. The town is surrounded by undulating hills and fertile river flats and is an attractive service town for the surrounding agricultural district. While in Coolah visit Pandora Gallery, which also serves as Coolah’s Visitor Centre, and hosts numerous displays throughout the year. TO MERRIWA TO BINNAWAY MULLALEY TO DUNEDOO
C O O L A H Our Towns 21 Grab a photo with a towering Giant Grass Tree at Coolah Tops View the latest exhibition on display at Pandora Gallery, which also houses the Information Centre The Long Tan Memorial, the first of its kind in Australia, commemorates the 18 casualties in the battle, including a young Coolah man For those with a keen interest in Aboriginal history, King Togee’s resting place, 29 km from Coolah, is worth a detour Admire the sculptures and scenery along the Coolaburragundy River Walk TICK IT!
Art, coffee and cycling come together in perfect unison at Dunedoo, located at the junction of the Golden and Castlereagh Highways. Pronounced “Dunny-doo”, the town is often recognised for its unique colloquial name. The name is said to be derived from the local Wiradjuri Aboriginal name for swans, which frequented the nearby lagoons. Set amongst the rolling hills and valleys surrounding the Talbragar River, Dunedoo is the perfect place for a relaxing stopover. In addition to classic country pubs, there is a bustling cafe scene, made even more popular with riders undertaking the Central West Cycling Trail. Enjoy a look around the boutique shops or picnic beneath the mature trees in Milling Park, which runs the length of the main street. Admire the beauty of Dunedoo’s new Silo Art, featuring local jockey, Hugh Bowman, who rode Australian champion mare, Winx. On your bike DUNEDOO 22 TO MENDOORAN TO MERRIWA TO DUBBO
D U N E D O O Our Towns 23 Snap a selfie in front of the super-scaled silo art in Dunedoo’s main street, part of the Australian Art Silo Trail Step back in time or onto the porch at the Dunedoo Historical Society and Museum Stroll through 33 acres of endangered Grassy Box Woodlands at the Dunedoo Woodland Learning Centre Explore the Central West Cycling Trail, which accommodates both day or weeklong rides Uncover local stories on the self-guided Dunedoo Railway Station Tour TICK IT!
There is something delicious happening in the mural town of Mendooran as local artisans perfect the art of honey and whisky making. Settled prior to 1840, Mendooran is known as the oldest town on the Castlereagh River. The village was gazetted in 1855 and known as "Mundooran", named after a tribal elder, Mundoo. The Cobb and Co change station known as the Mungramby Inn, is located west of Mendooran at Closeburn. Ancient Aboriginal burial sites nearby are evidenced by markings in large old gum trees. Mendooran’s location off the busy highways has its advantages. This quiet rural village on the edge of the Goonoo National Park offers a sense of peace and safety to the weary traveller. A great place for a short break in your journey or to spend a night or two at the Mendooran rest area. There's a great country pub, a playground for the kids to burn off some energy and loads of local personalities to entertain you. Oldest town on the Castlereagh 24 MENDOORA TO DUBBO TO COONABARABRAN TO DUNEDOO
M E N D O O R A N Our Towns 25 N Dining in the Royal Hotel dining room is a treat in winter where you can enjoy the large open fire Artists will be inspired by the scenery and birdlife along the river Book into Black Gate Distillery and meet the makers of handcrafted single malt whisky and dark rum Let the kids burn off some energy at the tractor-themed playground in town The picturesque rest area is a great place to camp, with dump point on site TICK IT!
Less than thirty minutes drive from both Coonabarabran and Coolah, Binnaway is a town where community spirit is thriving. During the 1920s, Binnaway was a bustling railway town acting as a vital transport link ferrying timber, grain and iron ore from rural NSW to coastal markets. To celebrate the town’s rail history, a railway signal tribute has been established in the main street. The Binnaway community has also restored the old railway barracks into accommodation. Relax in the local park or try your luck fishing in the Castlereagh River. Free camping is available at the Pumphouse Camping Ground, which features powered sites and hot showers available for a small cost. Have a great pub meal or light food at the cafe. The Royal Hotel, located in the main street, was also featured in the movie “The Shiralee”. For the rail enthusiasts RAI LWAY BARRACKS BINNAWAY 26 TO MENDOORAN TO COONABARABRAN TO COOLAH
B I N N AWA Y Our Towns 27 Unlock the history of Binnaway at the Railway Museum and Barracks Accommodation Cool off with a dip in the Binnaway Town Pool, open from October - March Take advantage of the free campground and barbecue facilities at the Pumphouse Campground Exciting showground calendar featuring local show and horse events throughout the year Sleep, eat, dance and drink at the local watering hole - the Exchange Hotel, built in 1939 TICK IT!
Gateway to the Pilliga BARADINE Set out from Baradine on your own adventure of discovery into the Pilliga Forest to uncover a treasury of wildlife, pioneer history, mystery and legend...a Yowie sighting is not guaranteed, but there is something in the Pilliga! Baradine is the gateway to the largest native Cypress Pine forest in NSW – the Pilliga scrub. The half a million hectares of native Cypress Pines and eucalypts that make up the Pilliga Forest are home to a variety of native wildlife, including the Pilliga Mouse. The wellestablished self-drive scenic bird trails through the forest attract twitchers throughout Australia and from around the world. The traditional owners, the Kamilaroi people, lived off the land here for thousands of years before European settlers arrived. These same people witnessed white explorers and acted as guides to show them the area. Officially proclaimed a town in 1865, the region was originally settled by farmers and graziers. In the years that followed, the town grew on the back of the timber industry and arable farming land was developed to further the town’s commerce. Baradine is the quintessential country town noted for its friendliness and hospitality. 28 COONAMBLE RD KENEBRI ST TO COONAMBLE TO PILLIGA TO COONABARABRAN
B A R A D I N E Our Towns 29 The award-winning Pilliga Forest Discovery Centre is the best place to plan your trip to the forest It’s a birdwatchers paradise, with more than 230 species recorded including the Glossy Black Cockatoo Visit the community garden and say hello to the local chooks Check out the display of traditional cultural artefacts and a local carved tree at the Aboriginal Keeping Place Wooleybah Sawmill and Settlement is a rare surviving and intact example of a bush sawmill and settlement dating from the 1930’s B A R A D I N E TICK IT!
BINNAWAY - COOLAH (self-guided day tour) • Binnaway - historical rail town, quaint stores and streetscapes, river views • Bilby Blooms - extensive Australian native plant nursery and guided tours • Black Stump • Coolah - Bakery and cafes, Pandora Gallery, shops and pubs, river walk • Coolah Tops National Park - via Pandora's Pass Car, bike and foot ON TOUR COONABARABRAN (self-guided day/evening tour) • SPACE Art Gallery - catch the latest exhibit • Crystal Kingdom - crystals, gemstones, jewellery and geological display • Great retail shops including independent fashion houses and gift stores • Visitor Information Centre - Diprotodon display and Aboriginal Keeping Place • Neilson Park - playground, exercise equipment and Yarning Circle nestled along the Castlereagh River • Historic building self-guided walk • Cap off the day with a night sky viewing at a private observatory BARADINE (self-guided day tour) • Pilliga Forest Discovery Centre - interactive display of the natural history of the area • Local cafe and pubs in the main street of Baradine • Birdwatching - self-drive tour perfect for bird lovers • Sculptures in the Scrub - artworks set above Dandry Gorge within the Pilliga Forest • Sandstone Caves - natural caves are a treat for photographers • Pilliga Pottery - cafe, pottery, bushwalks and more MENDOORAN - DUNEDOO (self-guided day tour) • Mendooran - a beautiful village with a classic country pub, unique buildings including the Art Deco Mechanics Institute Hall and popular free campground • Black Gate Distillery - handcrafted whisky and rum, tastings/sales on arrangement • Dunedoo - bustling little town featuring new silo art, antiques and fantastic cafes • Woodland Learning Centre - home to remnant endangered Grassy Box Woodland 30
COONABARABRAN BARADINE NARRABRI GUNNEDAH 31 DUBBO DUNEDOO GILGANDRA MENDOORAN PILLIGA FOREST PILLIGA FOREST GOONOO GOONOO COOLAH TOPS WARRUMBUNGLES GULARGAMBONE TOORAWEENAH TAMBAR SPRINGS MULLALEY PREMER CASSILIS PILLIGA COONAMBLE NEWELL HWY NEWELL HWY NEWELL HWY NEWELL HWY WARRUMBUNGLES WAY GOLDEN HWY GOLDEN HWY GOLDEN HWY OXLEY HWY CASTLEREAGH HWY MITCHELL HWY MITCHELL HWY TO MOREE GOLD COAST BRISBANE TO TAMWORTH ARMIDALE TO QUIRINDI TO WALGETT LIGHTNING RIDGE TO NYNGAN BROKEN HILL ADELAIDE TO NARROMINE TO WELLINGTON ORANGE BATHURST SYDNEY TO PARKES WAGGA WAGGA MELBOURNE TO MUDGEE LITHGOW SYDNEY TO MAITLAND NEWCASTLE COOLAH BINNAWAY
Coonabarabran Visitor Information Centre Free call - 1800 242 881 @warrumbungleregionvisitorinformation www.warrumbungleregion.com.au
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