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Where Wild Rivers Run ...
Walcha is situated on the Southern edge of the New England
Tablelands and is easily accessible by the Oxley Highway or
Thunderbolt s
Way. The scenic Thunderbolts Way takes visitors between Uralla
and Gloucester, a time saving route between Newcastle and the
Tablelands.
The Oxley
Highway is a national highway that follows in the footsteps of
one of Australia's best-known early explorers - John Oxley, who
was the first European to camp at what is now Walcha in
September 1818. European settlers soon followed in the early
1830's, making Walcha one of the earliest towns settled in the
New England region. The Oxley Highway is easily accessed
travelling west from Port Macquarie, bringing visitors through
the coastal plains before climbing up the mountains with
magnificent views through rainforest, over valleys and tall
timbers. Alternately, turn east off the New England Highway at
Bendemeer.
Walcha's
National Parks and World Heritage wilderness experiences are not
to be missed. Oxley Wild Rivers National Park offers excellent
camping facilities with many recently upgraded camping areas,
including clean toilets and firewood for an open fire for those
starry nights. Many day use areas now have free gas barbecues,
picnic tables and well
signposted
walking tracks to let the visitor explore the man y
lookouts that offer spectacular views
of Apsley and Tia Falls .
Be sure to also visit Budds Mare for magnificent vistas over
wilderness. Obtain a permit and key at NPWS or Apsley Motors
before your 4 wheel drive expedition heads down to Riverside
Camping Area on the Apsley River amidst the Macleay Gorges
Wilderness or to historic Youdales Hut nestled deep in the gorge
system on the picturesque Kunderang Brook.
Werrikimbe
and Mummel Gulf National Parks also offer splendid camping at
Mooraback and New Country Swamp with beautiful walks through
rainforest or tall Eucalypt woodlands. Werrikimbe, Mummel
Gulfand Cottan-bimbang National Parks also offer limited
opportunities for car based touring, but a four wheel drive is
advisable. Walcha's "Open Air Sculptures" have been created by
local, national and internationally renowned artists, and are a
major attraction for visitors to enjoy whilst stopping in this
very picturesque town. Be sure to pick up a brochure from the
Visitor Information Centre to walk around and enjoy these major
artworks that have inspired people from all over the world to
come and stay in Walcha.
Fishing
season lures anglers from near and far to try their luck to
catch the elusive brown and rainbow trout in the many western
creeks and rivers that flow from the top of the Great Dividing
Range. These rivers are annually stocked with trout and access
onto private land is possible with permission from the
landholders. Pick up a brochure from the Visitor Centre for more
information.
Walcha's
History goes back to the early eighteen hundreds and unravelling
this history is best done at the Pioneer Cottage And Museum.
These ten buildings house early aboriginal artefacts, tools,
maps, early Pioneering machinery, the history of the wool
industry, and the first tiger moth aeroplane to spread
fertiliser in Australia. Be sure to take some time to stop in at
one of the best regional museums in Australia.
Walcha has
numerous fine restaurants with an array of cuisines, comfy
B&B's, motels and farm stay accommodation along with a very
tranquil caravan park with cabins, van and tent sites. The
community is best known for its friendly atmosphere and
hospitality and that's why people keep coming back to Walcha to
relax and take in the natural and man-made splendours. |
