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A previous version of this website encouraged people throughout Australia to contribute useful facts and travel related information about their town and/or district. The initiative met with mixed success and the following contributions for New South Wales and the ACT are published as an extract from the original.
Adaminaby Albury Armidale has a number of fantastic restaurants on offer such as the Mandarin Restaurant on Beardy street, Jean Pierres for fantastic French food - the pate is to die for, and the Sicilian Restaurant - Bettina and Angelo are always happy to serve you with a smile. The One Baht Thai Takeaway is also worth noting although it is takeaway only. Booloomimba has now been converted to a restaurant, with a lovely ambiance, offering inexpensive lunches and specials run daily. They specialise in finer culinary fare. There are many cafes of different styles, clothing stores and antique dealers. A store worth a particular mention is the 'Woolshed', which offers antiques and other collectables at inexpensive prices. Another store which is particularly pretty is the Closet, which is an antique/beautiful knicknacks store - you'll notice them from the bunches of flowers that they sell at the front of their store. There is accommodation for all budgets and tastes, though book early for April and October visits since they coincide with The University of New England Graduation period and accommodation is snapped up fast. All in all, if you are looking for a quiet getaway filled with fine dining, cafe visits and beautiful scenery, then Armidale is the place for you - only bring your woolies in winter - it isn't called New England for nothing! Hayley Randall
Ashfield Two popular beaches are Lighthouse beach and Shelly beach. If lazing on the beach is not all you want to do you can explore nearby Evans Head and Lennox Head beaches, visit the macadamia plantations, spend time at the maritime museum, wander around Bundjalung National Park, have a sunset cocktail cruise on the Richmond River or go for a tour on a Woodburn bus. Lucille Roberts, Hawker College
Balmain Balranald Batemans Bay has a population of 8,300 and is surrounded by beaches, inland water ways and bush land. It is renowned for it's seafood, particularly oysters, and activities such as boating, bowls, golf and tennis. Hawker College
Bathurst Batlow The Bega Cheese Centre, located next to the Cheese factory, offers you seven day a week:- cheese tasting and sales. "Grevillea Estate Winery", welcomes you to visit and stroll around the vineyards; to relax in the rustic, pioneering style, timber slab restaurant, where you will be served a delicious meal with a locally made wine of your choice to compliment it. The Old Bega Hospital established in 1888, is now the home for Valley Originals, a quality art and craft gallery which provides an outlet for many of the artists and crafts people from the area. If you are into sports, Bega has what you are looking for:- The local golf club has four squash courts, tennis courts and a gymnasium, all located within the Bega township. Visitors are welcome at any time. Horse riding is available for the beginner, with trail rides for the more advanced. The Bega Family Museum, occupies the former Family Hotel, built around 1857, on the corner of Auckland and Bega Streets. This is one of the original buildings of Bega, in which you will see an extensive range of old photographs which capture the mood, people, dress amd place of days gone by. Interesting pieces of machinery, and an assortment of pieces now regarded as junk, can also be viewed. On the picturesque banks of the Candelo River, Candelo Market Day, often with more than 300 stalls, is held on the first Sunday of every month. The markets are from 8am - 1pm. Lesley McArthur
Belford Often there is a magnificent sunset reflected on the smooth water of the bay. Around the corner is Green Point. This bushland by the lake was saved from developers. There are well marked short walking trails offering vistas of the bay and lake and fascinating descents into dark wooded valley and still wetland. Some trails are good for cycling. Allow a half a day to explore this area. The sunset is often best at 'Squid's Ink' at Belmont South. There is always smooth water and birds there. And if you visit around Christmas, cruise past 'Gracelands' after dusk. Social life happens at the 'Metro' a refurbished Sulman award winning classic modern building from the 1960's. Belmont is 25 minutes from Newcastle by car and one and a half hours from the start of the Sydney freeway. Janet Henriksen
Belrose Also, Berkelouw Books must be one of the largest second hand bookstores in Australia (many people travel to Berrima just to go to Berkelouw). If you get hungry, there are numerous great cafes and the White Horse Inn has fabulous food for lunch or dinner. There is also a massive lolly shop called the Lolly Swagman (very dangerous) and Mrs Oldbucks Pantry full of jams, chutneys and sauces (just as dangerous, but possibly healthier). If you get bored - which is unlikely - you can explore nearby wineries. Keir Dickson
Berry Bilpin
Blue Mountains Outdoor Activities: The Blue Mountains are a popular area for bushwalking (hiking), horse riding, rock climbing, canyoning, and caving. For the more sedate, there are many fine scenic lookouts, landscaped gardens open to the public, art galleries, and a wide variety of tours. Tourist Attractions: These include Jenolan Caves, Katoomba Scenic Railway, art and craft galleries, historic buildings, and scenic lookouts such as Echo Point. The lower mountains, up to Faulconbridge, are physically an extension of Sydney's western suburbs. However, the mild climate, fresh air, bush setting and local culture make them a quite distinctive region. The upper mountains, from Wentworth Falls to Mt Victoria, show much less city influence, have a colder climate, a distinctive culture, and a real mountain village "feel" about them. They also have the best scenery. In between, in all respects, are the mid mountains, from Linden to Bullaburra. David Martin Bombala As well as accommodation at the Inn, there's also have a lovely B&B. Bredbo is situated beside the Murrumbidgee River and is a short drive from the old "Cowra Creek goldfields" full of fascinating old relics from the goldmining era. Needless to say, we are close enough to the snowfields to smell the snow and staying in Bredbo is a fantastic alternative to battling the more crowded snow towns. Tammy Lawler
Brighton-Le-Sands ATTRACTIONS: Broken Hill City Art Gallery, a selection of Broken Hill landscape paintings and early century painting and prints. Royal Flying doctor service the daily tours of the base provides a fascinating insight into this unique medical service. Lucille Roberts, Hawker College. ATTRACTIONS (Cont'd): The Menindee Lakes which is approx. 1.5 hrs drive to the east, is a great place for camping & water skiing. Silverton which has an old jail, camel rides (?), gift stores selling opals etc, and a great pub where a horse drinks from the bar (this pub was featured in the Bryan Brown movie "A Town Like Alice"). The movie Mad Max 3 was shot around the outlying area of Broken Hill and Priscilla Queen of the Desert also had scenes shot in Broken Hill. You can also go on a tour through one of the Broken Hill mines. The Zinc Lakes is a great place to have a picnic and relax with the kids, whilst there are plenty of clubs & pubs for the adults. Jennie Hamilton Brookvale
Canberra, ACT Carlingford Cessnock
Chatswood Cooma has a very old-world atmosphere due to the historic buildings and landmarks. Most of the houses and other buildings were built when Cooma was first established and are still there today. Cooma is the centre of the Monaro region, and it is within a reasonable distance of most places such as the snow fields, Canberra and the coast -with each one being only about an hour a way. Hawker College.
Coonabarabran
Coraki
Cowra The Lachlan River bisects the town, separating the western part from the main section of town. During the early years of Cowra's history, it was the only natural opening that existed as a connection between the west and the south, and became the grand trunk line connecting New South Wales and Victoria, two of the richest colonies under the British Crown. The Lachlan Valley, with rich mixed farming land, is considered one of the most productive and fertile valleys in the world, with cultivation of lucerne, vegetables, cereals, canola, wine grapes and stone fruits being some of the major agricultural products. Apart from its eye-pleasing countryside, the district has many places of interest, both historic and contemporary, for the visitor. Cowra, with its numerous parks, provide both respite for the weary traveller as well as open entertainment areas for visitors. The parks provide an ideal picnic spot, with many having toilet facilities and free barbecue facilities. The Bellevue Hill lookout is perfect to get an overview of the town; its adjoining fauna reserve, where emus, kangaroos, wallabies and deer roam free, allows visitors to get closer to nature (Visitors beware! These are not tamed animals, and should be treated with respect!). For more energetic visitors, there is an 18 hole golf course in town, as well as numerous sporting venues. For those who like bushwalking, fishing or watersport, Wyangala Waters State Recreation Area, with Lake Wyangala (2.5 times the surface area of Sydney Harbour) behind the walls of Wyangala Dam, is not far from town. No visit to Cowra is complete without a visit to the internationally renowned Japanese Garden and Cultural Centre, with its authentically landscaped Japanese Garden. The Garden is open daily, so take a stroll through its manicured lawns and shrubs, or feed the koi carp in the lake fed by waterfalls cascading down the hillside. From the Garden, continue north along the cherry tree-lined Sakura Avenue to the POW Campsite, dismantled after the war but marked by a memorial cairn and viewing platform. This was the site of the only prisoner of war breakout in Australia on August 5, 1944. Sakura Avenue terminates at the Japanese War Cemetery and the Cowra War Cemetery north of Cowra. The Visitor Information Centre with its Rose Garden is a good starting point for the visitor to explore the numerous attractions around Cowra. Poe Lim
Cremorne Point You will enjoy a leafy walk with gorgeous outlooks to the bays of the lower north shore and the harbour. You can also take in the lifestyles of the rich and famous along the way with many lovely, harbour front homes, both old and new to observe along the way. Off the path on the east side of Cremorne Point there is a magnificent, rambling garden that steps down to the water. This was developed by local residents over decades and is still maintained today for everyone to enjoy. On the west side of the Point there is a public harbour front swimming pool - unknown to most and a delight to all with the harbour literally spilling in to fill it. The walk is easily accessed from the ferry wharves and is paved so can be enjoyed by everyone. If you walk up the hill from the water frontage of either Cremorne Point, Neutral Bay or Mosman you will hit Military Road (about 20-30 minute walk, but quite steep) which is the main artery leading to Sydney's northern beaches from the city. Along Military Road you will find an abundance of restaurants, cafes and shops. Neutral Bay boasts The Oaks hotel, with it's 100 year old oak tree sheltering the beer garden and a lively, local ambience in its choice of four bars: the tramway public bar, bistro, sports bar and beer garden. Mosman village offers some of Sydney's most exclusive boutique shopping. To make a day trip of it, Sydney's famous Taronga Zoo is just down the road on Bradley's Head Road, Mosman. Sophie Evershed
Cronulla Dee
Why
Dungog
Dural Ebenezer
Eden Eden also offers whale watching from Sept - Nov. while these majestic creatures are making their annual migration south. Charter boats offer deep-sea game fishing and diving expeditions all year round. There's also the Eden Killer Whale Museum, which houses the skeleton of 'Old Tom' a famous killer whale, and other sights include Kiah Inlet and the Old Davidson Whaling Station. 30km south is Wonboyn Lake and the best fishing on the coast. Lucille Roberts, Hawker College Ellalong
Every six months or so exotic Five Dock Park comes alive to the beat of Five Dock's very own festa. Whether you're interested in Italian momentos, carnival rides, pop music or Sicilian saints there is something for everyone in this family oriented event. Check local newspapers for details. Ruth Lewin Faulconbridge
Forbes There are also dolphin watching and whale watching tours, and nothing beats looking out over the Forster/Tuncurry breakwall at sunset and seeing a school of dolphins swimming down the channel. The best beaches to visit are One Mile, and Pebby Beach - Main beach gets very crowded during the summer. There are numerous shops, a good variety of restaurants and plenty of activities for the kids, including ten pin bowling, and a fair over the summer months. The best place for fantastic seafood is straight from the trawlers, at the Co-op in Tuncurry - get a kilo of prawns and eat them on the wharf with a bottle of Chardonnay at sunset. There is plenty of accommodation, and Forster is particularly geared towards families so there are plenty of self contained units. Book early in the summer months, as the population triples over the summer holiday period and accommodation disappears fast. Weather is great all year round, and it's only 4 hours from Sydney. Hayley Randall
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