Tour Duration: To suit, 5 days recommended
Coonabarabran is an ideal base for touring the wider area of the NSW Central West, as there is so much to see and do within close proximity to our motel. The town is located at the junction of the Newell and Oxley Highways, midway between Melbourne and Brisbane. The town is on the banks of the Castlereagh River and is nestled in the foothills of the Warrumbungles, one of the most accessible national parks in New South Wales. The Warrumbungle National Park has become known as the astronomy capital of Australia and is known as the first dark sky park in Australia, because the night sky is free of artificial light. Our tour is staying at the delightful Matthew Flinders Motor Inn where we will be warmly welcomed and made to feel like we are staying with friends….
Day 1: Home Port to Coonabarabran
Today we head west across the Great Dividing Range as we make our way to Coonabarabran located in the magnificent NSW Central West. Enjoy the sights and make a stop for a lunch break in one of the many fabulous regional cities or towns that are part of our journey today. We arrive late afternoon to a warm and friendly welcome at the Matthew Flinders Motor Inn, our home for the next 4 nights.
Matthew Flinders Motor Inn, Coonabarabran (subject to availability)
Day 2: Coonabarabran
Our day starts with a look through the very interesting mega fauna museum where we’ll find the bones of a giant Diprotodon! We are then joined on the coach by a local guide for a tour of town. Next visit is to Newcastle Hats, a local business that has manufactured stylish work hats and outdoor bush hats since 1988. The company created the concept of washable, squashable hats which is now common place in Australia. After a look around the showroom and manufacturing warehouse we have some time to purchase lunch before a visit to Crystal Kingdom. This is a private collection of crystals, minerals and fossils found only in the local area. The exhibit also contains some rare and colourful zeolite crystals. Returning to our motel we have time to relax prior to dinner. This evening we enjoy an astronomy presentation at our motel. We’ll be joined by Peter Starr from the Warrumbungle Observatory (not available during school holidays) where we can take a look at the night sky through some mobile telescopes.
Matthew Flinders Motor Inn, Coonabarabran (subject to availability)
Day 3: Warrumbungles
Our day begins with a short drive into the Warrumbungle National Park and Siding Springs Observatory, home of the Anglo-Australian telescope, one of the most advanced in the world. Perched high above the township and chosen because of the clear, dark night skies, Siding Springs is the centre for most of the optical astronomy research in Australia and home to Australia’s largest optical telescope. After last nights’ information we should get a lot out of this visit. The Warrumbungle Mountain Range juts abruptly from the expanse of inland plains to form a range of mountains born of violent volcanic action estimated to be some 13 million years ago. The National Park is home to hundreds of native animals and wildflowers. A National Park guide will give us a talk before we head on into the Visitors Centre. They have some picnic grounds here where we will have a picnic lunch before heading to the western side of the Park. This afternoon we make a brief visit to Tooraweenah, a tiny rural village on the south west edge of the Warrumbungle Ranges. The 16,000 acre Tooraweenah Run was taken up by squatter Andrew Brown in 1837. The first store was opened in 1841 and a village began to develop though it was never more than a small centre. One event memorialised in the town’s history is the Kookaburra March, wherein 23 men set out in 1916 from Tooraweenah on a march to Bathurst to recruit men for service in World War I. There is a veteran’s plaque on the village common. Most of the town’s buildings remain as they were in the early 20th century so a stroll around the village is a must. Our final afternoon visit is to the Wattagan Estate Winery, consisting of 12 acres of wine grapes planted in 1996. The vines are drip irrigated and the use of sprays is kept to a minimum. Whilst here, we enjoy a wine tasting. Herbs are also grown in the Wattagan Herb Gardens, a feature of the Estate. After our interesting day we return to the motel for dinner.
Matthew Flinders Motor Inn, Coonabarabran (subject to availability)
Day 4: Pilliga
Today we head to the complex known as Barkala Farm which also incorporates Pilliga Pottery. The beautiful woodlands of the Pilliga surrounding the farm provide inspiration for the work done here, ranging from garden pottery to beautifully designed kitchenware and decorative pottery of every shape and size. Using a local source of clay, they make their own cream earthenware and traditional terracotta clays to form into lovely shapes on the potter’s wheel and then decorate using their own unique and distinctive methods. Whilst here we are given a demonstration and shown the showroom where the final product is displayed. Following some time to look around the work, we enjoy our lunch at the on-site Blue Wren Cafe. The area is full of a wonderful array of bird life which we may spot during our visit. We then re-join the coach for the drive back to Coonabarabran to relax for the remainder of the day.
Matthew Flinders Motor Inn, Coonabarabran (subject to availability)
Day 5: Heading Home
Today we head for home so we farewell our hosts and begin the return journey. We’ll make convenience stops along the way including a lunch break. We arrive home later today having had a wonderful tour discovering Coonabarabran and her surrounds.
